Champions:The Crusaders celebrate their Super Rugby final win against the Lions at Ellis Park.Credit:AP
The turning point came in the 39th minute when Lions flanker Smith inexplicably took Crusaders fullback David Havili out in the air.
Havili,who had his eyes transfixed on the ball,had his undercarriage whipped out from under him and landed in an undignified heap. Although early fears he had been injured were quickly allayed,there was no doubt Smith was about to be issued a one-way ticket to the showers.
Referee Jaco Peyper had no option but to tell the No.7 to go and take the walk of shame,explaining to Smith it was his responsibility to look after the man in the orbit. Not even the massive crowd,a spectacular blanket of red inside the famous ground that was hosting its first final in the Super competition,could muster the energy to disagree. They knew Smith had to go.
"Now we have really got a fight on our hands,"Lions coach Johan Ackermann,who was in his final game in charge of the team prior to moving to England,said during his half-time speech. He wasn't joking.