Lashing the Lions
20 May 2009
Losing to the British & Irish Lions would result in a lifetime of regret for Bok captain John Smit.
In the Lions tour collector’s edition of SA Rugby magazine, the Bok captain reveals how his fear of failure drives him to success.
‘I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t scared of failing against the Lions. The fear of failure is with me in everything I do. I’m sitting here talking to you and feel that fear creep up inside me. But I’ve learnt that it’s how I manage that fear that will determine my success or failure.’
Smit says he doesn’t want to end up like Percy Montgomery, who was part of the Bok team that lost to the Lions in 1997, and never got the chance to put things right.
‘You have to understand how fine the line is between a lifetime of regret and having an enduring memory of success in a Lions series. I can’t imagine what it must be like for Monty, one of the greatest Springboks in history, to know that he’ll never ever have the chance to beat the Lions in a series. I don’t want to live with that sort of regret …’
Smit also talks about his time with the Boks as a 19-year-old in 1997 and what he learnt from their loss to the Lions. He also explains why he’s so loyal to Peter de Villiers, how the Boks will approach the Lions series from a tactical point of view and whether he’ll be able to hold his own at tighthead.
Also in the new issue:
– Jake White picks his Bok XV to face the Lions in the first Test in Durban
– Peter de Villiers on why Brian O’Driscoll should have been the Lions’ captain, the Bok game plan, whether he would have picked a fit Butch James and adjusting to the global ELVs
– Paul O’Connell is expecting the biggest challenge of his career when he leads the Lions in South Africa – but he is confident they can shock the Boks
– Former Springbok captain Gary Teichmann and the Rolls Royce of fullbacks André Joubert were at the frontline when South Africa lost to the 1997 Lions. Over a beer or two, the pair chat about past mistakes and how John Smit’s Boks can avoid history repeating itself
– The Springboks have played the Lions in 43 Tests across 12 series since the teams first met in 1891. SA Rugby magazine relives some of the most memorable moments
– What John Smit’s side can learn from the All Blacks’ 3-0 series win against the Lions in 2005
– While Shane Williams has struggled to reproduce the form that saw him named IRB Player of the Year in 2008, he could still prove to be the Lions’ most lethal attacking weapon in South Africa. So what makes the Welsh winger so special?
– Victor Matfield on facing Paul O’Connell, why the Lions tour is so special, playing under the global ELVs, and his future plans
– The Sharks are finally tapping into KwaZulu-Natal’s black rugby talent
– The Stormers began this season believing they could reach the Super 14 semi-finals and even go on to win the competition. So what went wrong?
– Wynand Olivier on his outstanding form, being ‘Mr X’, getting back into the Bok side and Bryan Habana’s struggles
– Former Springbok prop Cobus Visagie has hung up his boots but will continue to work with Saracens while running his business
63 Comments
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19 May 2009, 17:24 pm
#45 cab: it’s more than that cab:
1. Jenkins/Sheridan >>> Beast
2. Smit
3. Murray/Vickery >>> Mujati
4. Botha
5. Matfield
6. Burger
7. Smith (but look out for Stephen Ferris)
8. Spies
9. Du Preez
10. Jones >>> Pienaar/Steyn etc
11. Evens
12. De Villers
13. Evens
14. Evens
15. Lee Byrne >>> whoever
Lions better in 4 positions, evens in 3 and Boks take the rest but there will be some surprise performances from the Lions
19 May 2009, 17:27 pm
….a 5-2 forwards split on the bench will be key.
Doesn’t matter that much who starts so long as the best 13 forwards in SA get going.
and none of these pretty boy sorts either.
some real nasty fckers.
19 May 2009, 17:31 pm
#49 bokfan1:
yip, BoD is class, so is JF, but Bod on his day is very special.
1 is sheridan or jenkins and 3 is murray or vickery, probably the best set of props in the world.
#51 Big Hit:
yip, fair enough, not sure i’d pick Jones over Pienaar, Grant or Steyn, but probably evens. Evens on Habana is a bit much, lol, but no dount u are thinking of williams. probably go evens at 7 (but worsely) and alot will depend on whether spies can adapt if the game is tight. however, its on SA field and in SA conditions, so he could be phenomenal.
all counts for nought of course, silly exercise really, on the day we shall see.
19 May 2009, 17:31 pm
#51 Big Hit:
don’t forget, our provinces will be doing their very best to injure as many of your players as possible.
Maybe even win a couple of games.
Just be thankful that they are not playing the Bulls.
The Lions would lose that one for sure!
19 May 2009, 17:33 pm
I’m quite pleased that the Lions frontrow are favorites. We play much better that way.
just like 36-0
19 May 2009, 17:38 pm
#53 cab: Jones is underrated I think. I was thinking of Williams, if he shows good form he’ll be a match for Habana imo. Agree that the Boks have greater quality though.
#54 St.Petersburgbok: lol cheers. Bulls did beat Lions last time out (1997) so maybe you’re right.
19 May 2009, 17:38 pm
#55 St.Petersburgbok:
ha ha … nope the one area the Lions can take it to us is that tight 5, they not only have props to burn but locks too. Bakkies goes out in the first one we have problems. Can big Vic handle a series like this? Is Smit going to hold Sheridan?
We shall see.
19 May 2009, 17:43 pm
#56 Big Hit:
agree with jones over o’gara, its just he does not have that extra zip about him or the gravitas of a wilkinson, mind you he does get the welsh backline away very nicely, will be interesting. Well Williams, your 2008 world player of the year (lol), was outstanding on the last tour to SA, the hard fields suit him. Actually i thought the big young guy who played fullback and centre for wales was the pick of the bunch out here.
19 May 2009, 20:14 pm
#58 cab: you don’t think Williams deserved the award last season? Roberts is the guy you’re thinking of but Williams was great on that tour and throughout the 6N 2008. He wasn’t so good when you guys came north but we’ll see. Habana isn’t quite where he was either.
19 May 2009, 23:55 pm
#54 St.Petersburgbok:
It was always EP and Transvaal that tenderised the fresh meat off the touring boat. NZers were always on tenterhooks until the EP game was over in earlier tours. ‘Southern Spears’ doesnt hold quite the same degree of menace.
20 May 2009, 00:06 am
#60 WakaNathan: Clearly the dirtiest team ever to plat rugby in SA.
Schalk Burger Senior
George Rautenbach
Dannie Gerber
Andrew something or other on the flank.
Meat eaters.
Raw meat eaters.
interestingly Schalk & George (the lock pairing) became partners in the immensely successful MegaPro sports marketing partnership (should change the name to MegaBucks)
20 May 2009, 00:06 am
Ok I am out. see you through the window.
20 May 2009, 10:36 am
#53 cab: Hmmm that is a good front row, but best in the world?
Anyway, I agree with #55 St.Petersburgbok: well said!
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