The Otago Daily Times understands that he will play at second five-eighth for the New Zealand Barbarians against New Zealand Maori at Whangarei on June 12.
To get ready for that game Smith asked the Green Island selectors to play him at second five-eighth in the club match against Pirates at Miller Park yesterday. Pirates beat Green Island 20-13.
He fitted neatly into that role, scored a brilliant individual try, tackled fiercely and put in some deft kicks to gaps.
"I was happy with my form in the midfield and enjoyed playing club rugby again," Smith said after the game.
The utility back, who started his premier rugby at first five-eighth, has played at wing, and fullback over the last few years. The last time he played at second five-eighth was in 2006.
"Centre is my favourite position but I am happy to play anywhere to fit in with the needs of the team," Smith said.
Southern won its first game for six weeks when it beat Harbour 29-16 and moves back into contention for a semifinal spot after nine of the 14 rounds.
The Gallaway Trophy points after nine rounds are: University A 37, Pirates 31, Alhambra-Union 26, Dunedin 26, Southern 23, Kaikorai 22, Taieri 21, Harbour 19, Green Island 8, Zingari-Richmond 0.
• Powerhouse centre Tumua Ioane put terror into Harbour defence with his strong burst up the centre and paved the way for Dunedin's 16-8 win at Kettle Park.
Dunedin led 11-3 at the break and looked to have put the game out of Harbour's reach, when Ioane burst down the blindside early in the second spell.
He fended off five defenders and fullback Louis Tili was on hand to score the try and stretch the lead to 16-3.
Dunedin should have sealed the game there but strong defence by the Harbour loose trio of Brad Griffiths, Angus Duckett and Eben Joubert stopped it from scoring more points.
Harbour broke out of its own territory after 10 minutes and halfback Johnny Legg scooted over for the try to reduced the gap to eight points.
Harbour lost a try when the touch judge put his flag up for a dangerous tackle by Harbour captain Pete Mirrielees.
Second five-eighth Michael Walding turned the game in Dunedin's favour in the first spell with his strong tackling and he followed this up with a big burst up the centre.
Will Henry and Keith Cameron were workhorses in the Dunedin front row. Cameron was a strong tackler throughout.
Loose forwards Joe Dobson and Gareth Evans were vigorous.
Dunedin 16 (Louis Tili, Shaan Davis tries; Tili 2 penalty goals), Harbour 8 (Johnny Legg try; Craig Sneddon penalty goal). Halftime: Dunedin 11-3. Referee: Ben O'Keefe.
• Fullback Kieran Fowler played a key role in Pirates' hard-fought 20-13 win over Green Island at Miller Park.
Fowler burst 20m through weak defence to score his team's only try when Pirates attacked down the blindside after just eight minutes. Pirates led 8-0.
Fowler's kicking was also on target and he landed five penalty goals from eight attempts, to score all Pirates' points.
Green Island fought back after the early setbacks through the brilliance of second five-eighth Smith and the accurate goal kicking of first five-eighth Alex Davies, to lead 13-11 at the break.
Smith, in his first club game of the season, scored a brilliant individual try when he burst through the Pirates defence from the 22m.
Pirates tightened its game in the second spell by putting kicks over the top that put Green Island on the back foot.
The aggressive Pirates front row of Shane Parata, Shaun McCarroll and Daniel Johnson played a key role and the Green Island scrum went backwards for most of the second spell.
Green Island was forced into errors and ill-discipline led to three second half penalty goals by Fowler.
The other key players in the Pirates pack were the loose forwards Warren Kearney, Garth Swan and Josh Clark. Clark also played a key role in the lineout.
Lively halfback Steve Bruce was the other Pirates back to impress.
The best Green Island forwards were lock Brendon Hollows, who won his share of lineout ball, and flanker Josh Beer, effective at the breakdown.
The improving Green Island team gave the second team in the competition a hurry-up but kicked away too much ball.
Pirates 20 (Kieran Fowler try, 5 penalty goals), Green Island 13 (Ben Smith try; Alex Davies conversion, 2 penalty goals). Halftime: Green Island 13-11. Referee: Todd Pullar.
• Richard Crowley celebrated his first game of the season with two tries as Kaikorai demolished Zingari-Richmond at Tahuna Park yesterday.
The accomplished right wing displayed blistering pace as Kaikorai ran in 11 tries to two.
It scored its first try after three minutes, added five more in the first half, to lead 36-0 at the break, and scored five more in the second spell.
It was the most tries Kaikorai had scored in a game in recent times, beating the 10 it scored against Eastern in 1995 and 1997.
The backs scored eight of the tries and it was only in the last quarter, when the game had lost its structure, that Zingari scored two tries to gain a semblance of respectability.
Halfback Tomasi Palu set the Kaikorai backline alight with quick, accurate passes building on the foundation laid up front.
Prop Jim Stevenson was a dominant scrummager and strong ball-runner, lock Steve Fleck was an honest toiler and blindside flanker Jamie Williams excelled in support play.
There was little cheer for Zingari, which has conceded 363 points in nine matches and has yet to register even a bonus point.
Captain and No 8 Chris Bell tried everything to rally his players and halfback Troy England was a great trier, but these are worrying times for the Zingari club.
Kaikorai 69 (Richard Crowley, 2, Tomasi Palu, 2, Matt Direen, Danny van der Voort, Fetuu Vainikolo, Jamie Williams, Jim Stevenson, Guy Ferguson, Steve Fleck tries, Cam Rutherford 7 conversions); Zingari-Richard 10 (Charlie Henley, Chris Bell tries). Halftime: 36-0. Referee: Tim Baker.
• Former All Black Kees Meeuws played a key role in Southern's commanding 29-16 win over Alhambra-Union at Bathgate Park.
He was part of a strong front row with Ean Griffiths and veteran Warren Moffat that controlled the scrum and gave the backline the ball it needed to score five tries.
Meeuws was skilled at the pick and go that gave Southern front-foot ball, enabling it to apply pressure.
Southern stepped up a notch with its more structured game and strong defence.
Alhambra-Union had some good patches, with centre Paula Kinikinilau looking dangerous. It was inspired play by individuals but the team lacked cohesion.
The game was still close at the break, when Southern led 17-13. But Southern took control in the second spell, scoring two more tries to shut Alhambra-Union out of the game.
The inside pairing of Lewis Hancock and Ben Main was efficient. Main showed a touch of genius with a scissors pass with Hancock that bamboozled the defence.
Luke Herden was the powerhouse in the midfield and made two breaks that led to tries.
Southern 29 (Blair Polwart, Ben Main, Lewis Hancock, Sam Crompton, Hamish Buick tries; Hancock 2 conversions), Alhambra-Union 16 (Tim Bryson, Ben Pereira tries; Luke Reihana 2 penalty goals). Halftime: Southern 17-13. Referee: Liam Scanlon.
• Despite remaining competitive, Taieri was on the receiving end of a resurgent University A side that made amends for its shock loss in the previous round.
The University forward pack dominated at Peter Johnstone Park. Locks Alby Herron and Josh Townsend were outstanding, particularly in the lineouts.
They complimented the work of Simon Forrest, Wyatt McKay and Sam Buchanan as toilers in the tight five, as well as support players to the outstanding loose forward trio of Paul Grant, Hoani Matenga and captain Brad Cameron.
Cameron, led by example, both in defence and on attack.
Henry McLernon always posed a danger at halfback, and the midfield combination of Ryan Grant and Andrew Parata was rock solid in defence and always a threat on attack, with speedsters David Thompson and Brad Nicol looming out wide.
Taieri made too many mistakes in the face of an uncompromising University side.
Its loose forward trio of Charlie O'Connell, Jeremy Corliss and Nathan Young was inspirational in the face of what appeared overwhelming odds.
Both captains agreed with the decision of referee Adam Morrison to call the game off a few minutes early, due to what appeared to be a serious injury to Taieri's Hamish Kirk.
University A 40 (Andrew Parata, Paul Grant, Alby Herron, Ryan Grant, Brad Nicol, David Thompson; Tom Halse 5 conversions), Taieri 14 (Jeremy Corliss, Mike Kerr tries; Blake Koteweg, Tom Davie conversions). Halftime: University A 21-7. Referee: Adam Morrison
