Smitty’s not done yet
15 Apr 2008
John Smit has unfinished business with the Boks.
In an exclusive interview with Keo in the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine, Smit explains why he didn’t walk away from Test rugby after the World Cup.
‘If I wanted out because I feared the next opponent or the next challenger to my position, then I would be a coward,’ he says. ‘You have to fight for what you believe in and you have to be prepared to take on the challenge of the next guy or the next team. I want to be part of a Bok team that wins in 2008 and not be that guy in the stands commenting on what I did as captain in 2007.’
Smit also reveals what was said in his meeting with Peter de Villiers earlier this year, the demands of playing for a French club, how he misses the Super 14, his unflattering views of the Six Nations, and why the Boks should always beat Wales at home.
Also in the new issue of SA Rugby:
– Heyneke Meyer reveals his disappointment at missing out on the Bok job, how he would have dealt with the new laws, what makes Victor Matfield the best player in the world, his relationship with the Bulls, the importance of structures and why he may never coach again
– Why Gary Gold and Dick Muir will have more power than any previous Bok assistant coaches
– Private ownership in South Africa (and why Regan Hoskins thinks it’s inevitable)
– How Gerhard Vosloo turned his life around in France
– Keegan Daniel on the new laws and gaining weight
– Danni Cipriani: England’s rising star
– Johan Ackerman reflects on a 20-year rugby career
Click here to see article layouts from this issue via SA Rugby magazine’s Facebook group.
27 Comments
15 Apr 2008, 07:57 am
Dragons
15 Apr 2008, 07:58 am
Smitty the WC winning captain of SA! Sounds like a comic book character! Captain South Africa!
15 Apr 2008, 07:59 am
That interview with Meyer was very interesting! He had some great plans for SA!
15 Apr 2008, 08:03 am
“The site may be a little unstable tonight – software update”
Quote unquote.
15 Apr 2008, 08:05 am
Is it Russel Crowe?
15 Apr 2008, 08:10 am
Yup, Crowe owns the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
15 Apr 2008, 08:21 am
Johan Ackeram, 20 yrs in rugby…….WOW!!!
15 Apr 2008, 08:32 am
3 Mauler, what Heyneke have to say? I would have liked to have seen how he would have approached the new laws.
15 Apr 2008, 08:33 am
Smit is the best!!
15 Apr 2008, 08:52 am
Still think Smitty is the best captain we have had since Francois…. Glad that he can still show his mettle.
15 Apr 2008, 08:53 am
Why Gary Gold and **** Muir will have more power than any previous Bok assistant coaches
-> I reckon PDV is gonna be taking on a modern manager type role as found in football.
Keegan Daniel on the new laws and gaining weight
-> Please tell me how
Danni Cipriani: England’s rising star
-> Yep, his good. Honestly believe we have our own Cipriani in Rose. Just needs to be managed and developed properly.
15 Apr 2008, 09:05 am
Biggles
He said guys like Kanko would be very important under the new laws. And how strategic planning for each test would ensure that every test is taken seriously and they would play the best possible team for every test. I will make a few notes of the interview and post it after lunch.
15 Apr 2008, 09:07 am
Eight Ball
I think Teichman was a much better captain than Pienaar! Pienaar won the WC but further thats it!
15 Apr 2008, 09:33 am
Smitty we need you at the Lions, you big Vic and Butch have the experience that is badly needed.
15 Apr 2008, 09:53 am
dawn @ 5
i said the same on the kanko thread.
15 Apr 2008, 09:58 am
The mauler
And your opinion is correct for you, I think why I say Pienaar (because I did rate Teichman) is because of how well he did with the public as does Smit. Teich really didn’t come across very intelligently and wasn’t articulate so he didn’t endear non rugby fans to the sport, if you get my drift!
15 Apr 2008, 10:35 am
eight ball – i agree. It was Maarkgraaff who destroyed the Bok winning team in 1996 and lost the first home series to the All Blacks. Pienaar was a great captain but was not as good as Tiaan Strauss, the forgotten 8.
15 Apr 2008, 10:38 am
smitty for president!
15 Apr 2008, 13:11 pm
Tiechman was an average player
15 Apr 2008, 13:43 pm
– Johan Ackerman reflects on a 20-year rugby career
sh*t now I got to buy it
15 Apr 2008, 16:00 pm
lee – Tiaan was a good no 8 – but apparently he and Francois never saw eye to eye which is why Kitch went for his golden boy. It paid off for him, and it paid off for Jake when he kept Luke W out of the bok set up.
15 Apr 2008, 16:01 pm
I am more interested in the “private ownership” thing. I am thinking of sending a proposal to Johan Rupert to buy the Cheetahs ! We can finally have some cash to buy some good players.
15 Apr 2008, 18:37 pm
G13G,
If Gary was an average player then all Bulls to date never even made ‘has beens’.
15 Apr 2008, 18:41 pm
Cheetah,
You guys have good players, what you don’t have is self belief. best SA side in local matches but fall apart against international opposition.
hate to admit it (as a SHarks supporter) but expected the Cheetahs to lead the SA charge in this years S14.
16 Apr 2008, 00:21 am
Good stuff. Appointing Smit is the best thing De Villiers could have done.
16 Apr 2008, 09:57 am
Love the cover photo. Most magazines use photoshop to cover-up blemishes; but your design team have made blemishes look cool… I’m going to get into a fight tonight to look like Jon Smit…
16 Apr 2008, 10:05 am
Well done on the cover – looks great. Looks forward to reading the magazine
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