Ben Smith is eternally grateful for all those painful training sessions Sir Gordon Tietjens put him through over the years.
The All Blacks outside back is in Hamilton preparing for his side's Rugby Championship match against Argentina on Saturday night, took some time to reflect on what Tietjens had done for his own career, on the day the guru called time on coaching the national sevens side.
Smith was a player in hot demand for Rio, before opting to stay with the Highlanders and All Blacks.
He was part of the gold‑medal winning sevens side at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 ‑ a year after debuting for the All Blacks and two years before being recalled.
The 30‑year‑old, who has gone on to become the world's premier fullback, was full of thanks to Tietjens for all those long tough slogs, which helped turn him into the player he is today.
Smith says something he probably learnt from him was that when you train under Titch he always tries to make sure that you are really struggling, and then he tests you.
Tietjens resigned as New Zealand sevens coach earlier today after 22 years being incharge.
According to Stuff.Co.NZ, Ben Ryan is one of the candidates to replace Tietjens, saying that he beat Titch at his own game and they should break the tradition and sign him as he is free and available.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks host Argentina at 7.35pm this Saturday in Hamilton, while the Wallabies will play the Springboks at 10.05pm.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
