BIOGRAPHY.
Stockport born Steve Smith played his rugby for the Manchester based
Sale club and earned 28 caps spread over ten years from 1973 and 1983.
One of the most gifted scrum halves of his generation, Steve was
immensely effective in creating opportunities close to the try line, but
his pass was sometimes criticised for being too slow. Due to an
inconsistent selection policy he only played in nine matches from his
debut in 1973 to the end of the 1979 season, the scrum-half slot
occupied by numerous players including Jan Webster, Mike Lampkowski,
Malcolm Young and Peter Kingston. The 21 year old commenced his career
in an 18-9 defeat by Ireland in 1973, but the next two matches against
France and Scotland were won to earn England a five way share of the
Championship. That year Steve was also part of the England side that
defeated Australia 20-3 at Twickenham courtesy of tries by Andy Ripley,
Tony Neary and Alan Old. After playing in two matches the following
year, Smith appeared on just four occasions between 1975 and 1979, twice
as a replacement. However, Steve then went on to win 19 consecutive
caps, commencing with a 10-9 defeat by New Zealand at Twickenham. A week
before that game Smith had been part of the Northern Division that had
beaten the All Blacks 21-9 at Otley. Steve and fly-half Alan Old helped
the north win valuable territory and both scored tries, while forwards
Tony Neary and Roger Uttley destroyed their opponents in the loose.
England tried to beat the All Blacks by employing a similar gameplan,
but used the wrong personnel, omitting Roger Uttley and preferring to
partner Smith with the running fly-half Les Cusworth. The upshot was a
scrappy performance by England and the defeat was seen very much as a
missed opportunity.
Steve featured in all four matches of the 1980 Grand Slam season and the
success England achieved that year was just reward for many of the old
guard who had endured the dark days of the 70s. Smith played superbly
throughout the campaign and scored his only two international tries
against Ireland and Scotland respectively. His try at Murrayfield was
one of five scored by England that day and resulted from a typical drive
forward by the scrum. He was also called up as a replacement for the
British Lions but did not play in any tests. Steve was appointed captain
following the premature retirement of Bill Beaumont part way through
the 1982 campaign, and his five match tenure saw two wins, two losses
and a draw. He commenced his period in charge with a defeat by Ireland
at Twickenham, but England recovered to win their remaining matches with
France and Wales. In 1983 England began their campaign poorly, losing
to France and drawing with Wales, which led to Smith being dropped for
the Scotland game and stripped of the captaincy. However, despite being
so firmly ostracised, he eventually did play in the match when
replacement Nigel Melville was injured. England lost the game 22-12,
their first defeat by Scotland at Twickenham since 1971, and it proved
to be Smith's last appearance for his country. That year he was also
called up as replacement by the Lions for a second consecutive tour, but
did not play a test. In retirement, Steve helped establish the world
famous Cotton Traders company in partnership with England teammate Fran
Cotton, and at one point they supplied half of the world's international
teams with kit. Steve also became a television commentator, and his
down to earth appraisals were in contrast to the more traditional style
of Nigel Starmer-Smith and Bill McClaren. (Jon Collins)
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