Eddie Jones has rated George Smith as the best player he has ever seen and says Australian rugby's greatest sin was letting him go overseas.
Smith left Australia after 11 seasons with the Brumbies to join French powerhouse Toulon, ending his Test tally on 110 games before a one-off appearance against the British and Irish Lions in 2013. 
Jones labelled Smith, who is set to return to the Queensland Reds for the 2017 season, as the most gifted player he had seen in his time.
"It's the biggest crime of Australian rugby," said Jones at Laffo's Long Lunch, an event to raise money for disabled students to attend St John's College at Sydney University. "How Australia let him go at 28, it's a crime. Can you imagine if New Zealand let Richie McCaw go at 28? It's just ridiculous. He should be the most capped player for Australia ... It's one of the great sins of Australian rugby
"I've never seen a kid who can play the game as much as he can. He was an 18-year-old playing for Manly in his first first-grade game and I remember Ewen McKenzie and I sat there and watched the video. We had him signed by the Wednesday of the next week ... He could read the game, he had attacking skills, he had defensive skills, he was just a terrific player."
Smith, a back-rower who took his services to Japan and Europe, says he was not pushed out the door - the decision in 2010 was based on family circumstances.
"I was never forced out of Australian rugby, I never felt that I was forced out. At that time of my career when I did leave, I had different motivations," Smith said.
"I wanted to explore outside Australia, that was my big thing. It's quite a demanding season on families, Super Rugby, because you're travelling so much. When I left it was a family-based decision. I never felt forced out. I can see when players may feel that way but in my personal experience it was never that way. I've always had the feeling that I was invited back if I was well enough to play the game."
Jones was in his element at the lunch on Elizabeth Street on Thursday as he mingled with former teammates and friends.
Asked which player had the best attitude and preparation, Jones singled out former Australian breakaway Simon Poidevin, but couldn't help himself with another subtle sledge at the Australians. "He worked so hard and when you played with Poido, you knew he was going to put his body on the line," Jones said. " ... If Australia had more like him it wouldn't be 2-0."
Jones has made just one change for the final Test with back-rower Teimana Harrison replacing England's injured No.7 James Haskell.