Highlander Smith backs Pumas for Super Rugby

Aaron Smith says the Argentina Super Rugby side could be the one to beat

Super Rugby and All Blacks World Cup winning scrumhalf Aaron Smith has moved to play down the Highlanders chances of retaining their title by talking up the new Argentina side.

Super Rugby will expand to an 18 team format in 2016 with a new teams from Argentina, South Africa and Japan.

The new are Japan Sunwolves, an unnamed Argetine team and the return of the Southern Kings from South Africa.

The Highlanders won their first Super Rugby title in 2015 but Smith says that they won’t be the Super Rugby team to beat in 2016.

“It’s going to be tough but that excites me to, that’s a challenge in itself, I’d never won any big trophies (before this year) so it’ll be nice to see the challenge it brings but I don’t think the target’s on our back,” said Smith at the NZ Super Rugby jersey launch.

“It’s a fresh competition, everyone’s going for this Argentinian camp, they’re pretty much the Pumas so I’ll be going for them,” Smi