Ben Smith has announced that he is indeed staying with the Highlanders and All Blacks for the upcoming season.
Smith announced the news via his Facebook page were he posted a video of himself at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
In typical southern fashion, Smith showed his choice by opening and toasting with a Speights beer over a bottle of champagne.
In the video Smith cited his family as one of the man reasons for his decision to stay along with the fact that he had some "good footy" still to play for the next few years.
It will be more relief than elation for Hansen as Smith has probably always been the one of the three he has seen as the most likely to stay.
He hoped, rather than knew, that Smith was exploring his overseas options just to know what they were rather than with genuine intent to move.
To be certain he was making the right choice about staying, Smith had to know what exactly he would be rejecting. To make an informed decision, negotiations with Pau had to get right down to the detail.
Nine times out of 10, leading All Blacks with plenty still to offer, explore the offshore market simply to confirm what they already know - that they are better off staying where they are. Smith was a late developer.
It took him an age to believe in himself and become the player he now is and having reached his promised land as vice-captain and regular starter, it would be surprising to see him give all that up when every good judge would consider he's still in his prime.