Wednesday 19 August 2015 13:42, UK
Wallaby great George Smith talks to Sky Sports about enjoying his pre-season and how he hopes to make his mark at Wasps.
Having racked up 111 Tests since making his debut, the flanker retired from international rugby with immediate effect in 2010. However, he then made a temporary return to the Brumbies in 2013, which in turn led to his involvement for Australia in the British and Irish Lions tour later in the year.
Five years on from the initial retirement, it seems Smith's pedigree is still too good to be ignored by the Australian coaching staff.
Michael Cheika confirmed earlier in the summer that George Smith was not out of his plans in his set-up. In fact, if not for having two of the best fetchers in world rugby in David Pocock and Michael Hooper at his disposal, Cheika may well have already asked Dai Young to make good on his promised blessing to release Smith for the World Cup if required.
The 35-year-old would not need to travel far to play in the tournment, though the prospect has never stopped him over the course of his career.
Following a glittering time with the Brumbies, during which he won a Super Rugby title, Smith was one of the first stars to make the move to Toulon in 2010, before spells at Stade Francais at Lyon in the Top 14. When he wasn't in France, he was in Japan, playing for Suntory Sungoliath, but now the man named in Australia's team of the decade in 2005 has settled in London.
And despite his year-round travels protecting him from the rigours of each pre-season in recent times - and this year's has been even longer, due to the delayed start to the Premiership - the loose forward has not lost his enthusiasm as the years have passed.
"I really enjoy the pre-season, to be honest," said Smith with a smile. "I didn't enjoy it when I was younger but these days I quite enjoy it because it allows me to set what limits I can get to.
"This is my first full pre-season for a number of years and the first few weeks, there was a hell of a lot of lifting tin in the gym, but we've grabbed hold of the ball now over the last few weeks and had a few ball-handling skills which has been great.
"But yeah, it's totally different from a decade ago to now."
Smith's reasons for retiring from international rugby in 2010 were largely based around his family, and their blessing was vital in making his most recent move.
"That was a big factor in me coming here," he added.
"Although we really enjoyed our time at Lyon and in France, the opportunity to bring my family to London and experience the London life - although we've been here in the past on holidays, we've never actually been here to live - was something that I wanted to do.
"It's something that my wife is really excited about.
"I've got four children and they're very adaptable to different environments and they were keen as well, so that was a big factor."
Hopefully there are things that the players in the team can learn off me. Whether it be me training and they can pick up something from that, or me saying a couple of key points within a session, then that is only advantageous for the team.
Adapting to a lifestyle is one thing, but adapting to a different competition is another. For Smith, whose time in the game has given him perspective on his role in the squad, it's important to stick to the way he plays the game, regardless of which competition he is competing in.
"I'm not going to change as a player," said Smith.
"Obviously I will change to different styles within the structure of a game, but they've signed me as George Smith the player, not George Smith to come and play exactly how Wasps are and change his whole game to play a different style.
"Instinctively, I'm going to play as a normally do but I'm going to play within the structure of the game and what the Wasps team requires."
The Manly-born Smith has not lost the natural attacking style of Australian rugby players.
"I want to be part of a team that throws the ball around and is very adventurous with the ball and I feel that this team will continue to do that as they have done in the past."
Smith says the Wasps community has provided an enveloping welcome to him, and he wants to repay the club by sharing the experience he has gained during 15 years at the top.
"I think that all players that come to the age that I'm at have a wealth of knowledge that can be passed on.
"Hopefully there are things that the players in the team can learn off me. Whether it be me training and they can pick up something from that, or me saying a couple of key points within a session, then that is only advantageous for the team."
"I understand the game a lot better than I did a number of years ago.
"I understand why people do things on a field: why you run lines, why a game plan is made for this certain team but not another team. My understanding of the game has matured."
And the Australian would like to stay in the game when he finally calls time on his career.
"I wouldn't say coaching but I feel I could be a mentor to back rowers in some capacity," said Smith.
For now though, it's all about contributing on the field. Last season, Wasps surprised a few teams in the Premiership, and were within touching distance of a rare win against Toulon in the Champions Cup quarter-final, which means greater expectation from the fans this year.
For Smith, that expectation is not limited to the fan base, as he and his colleagues build towards an improved season.
"I think we should expect that from ourselves as well, it's not just from the fans.
"As a group, we have a high standard I feel and we want to reach it. I think that is the same of every team and what they are trying to do."
George Smith was speaking at the launch of Wasps' new Under Armour kit for the 2015/16 season www.waspsshop.co.uk which will be worn in the Singha 7s at the Ricoh Arena this Friday
