Rugby-Smith vows to do better for All Blacks in semi-final

FILE PHOTO-Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - New Zealand Training - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - September 28, 2023 New Zealand's Aaron Smith during training REUTERS/Paul Childs/File Photo

RUEIL-MALMAISON, France (Reuters) - New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith said he would deliver an improved performance in Friday’s World Cup semi-final after admitting his erratic display in last weekend's quarter-final against Ireland might have cost his team dearly.

Smith, one of the game’s all-time greats and a World Cup winner eight years ago, said he made a slow start at the Stade de France then let his team mates down by earning 10 minutes in the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on just before halftime.