Smit reflects on journey to 100
20 Aug 2010
It’s fitting that John Smit reaches his century against the mighty All Blacks and his only regret in a decade of Test rugby is not having played more for the Springboks.
The Bok captain will play his 100th Test for South Africa this Saturday. He’s tried to keep a low profile in the build up to this game and maintains the team’s needs outweigh any trivial cause for celebration. The Boks are 0 from 3 in this year’s Tri-Nations and are desperate for a result that will deny the All Blacks a clean sweep of wins in 2010.
Nevertheless, a defeat at Soccer City will not erase Smit’s monumental contributions to Springbok rugby. He’s led the Boks to two Tri-Nations titles, a win over the British & Irish Lions and of course, a World Cup crown in 2007.
It was incredibly apt for the piano player in the dining area of the Palazzo Hotel to be tapping away to ‘Memories’ as I walked through to see Smit. It’s been a career of massive highs and desperate lows. It’s a career that’s yet to run it’s course, as the 2011 World Cup will be his swansong.
‘It’s been a nerve-wracking week,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘I was speaking to one of my former coaches the other day about my career. It’s like a batsman at the crease: you get into the groove and once you pass 50, you realise you’ve accomplished something, but you’re keen to push on. As you get to 90 you know you’re incredibly close to something special.
‘I’ve been blessed in so many ways throughout my career, and Saturday is just another example. There’s only one team I could have picked to play in my 100th game, and that’s the All Blacks.
‘Monty told me that I could become the first player to win in their 100th game for the Boks, and I laughed because he’s the only other player to surpass 100 [Montgomery reached the milestone in the 19-0 defeat to New Zealand in 2008]. I do hope he’s right, though. The result is certainly more important than one guy running out for his 100th game.’
Smit came off the bench in the 2000 Test against Canada to win his first cap, and has been on the winning side 63 times in 99 games. He’s endured the madcap philosophy of Harry Viljoen, as well as a Rudolf Straeuli tenure defined by Kamp Staaldraad and the nightmare 2003 World Cup campaign. He was made captain in 2004 and together with Jake White built a team that captured South Africa’s second world title. He told SA Rugby magazine recently that 2009 was the best year of his career, if not his life, but he still believes there’s more to be achieved.
‘If I look back at my career, I could say that things have changed every season. I went from a 22-year-old who cleaned Andre Venter’s boots (unfortunately nobody shines my boots – youngsters today have it easy) and carried the water bottles to a 25-year-old that was more established. It’s been an amazing journey and I’ve also been around to see how rugby itself has changed.
‘If I think about the lows, I will have to look at the Tests that I missed. There was a time when I played under Harry [against Italy in 2001] that I was injured and had to be subbed for Lukas van Biljon. Lukas had a blinder and was named Man of the Match, and I didn’t see a starting jersey for a long time [Smit started only two of the next 10 matches].
‘But all the lows have made the highs worthwhile. My career is something that I’ll only be able to reflect on in about 10 or 15 years time when I’m having a beer with my son.’
Smit turned the attention of the conversation to Saturday’s clash and was frank when asked about the Boks’ performance Down Under.
‘We were well below our best; we only have ourselves to blame. We don’t win too many when we travel there, but the kind of results we got were very disappointing.
‘The All Blacks haven’t changed a whole lot since last year, and I think the big problem is that we’ve allowed them to play more. We’ve identified that our execution let us down. It’s important that we prevent them from playing the way they want to.’
Smit will become the 14th Test player to reach his century and will be the first hooker to achieve the feat. Bok lock Victor Matfield will join this illustrious group when he plays Australia at Loftus Versfeld next week.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg
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568 Comments
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20 Aug 2010, 21:41 pm
@willievz(willievz)-546:
Sorry!
Yes there seems to be some or other query or controversy or wrong reporting.
Enews and SS say Kwas won 40-39.Others say 39-38 Bulls.
Time will eventually sort it out.
Also Cheetahs won against the Leopards(don’t know the score)
20 Aug 2010, 21:52 pm
@Peter Mkata(Peter Mkata)-550:
Well done to the Kings.
Hope they keep it up and play their way into premier rugby next year.
20 Aug 2010, 21:58 pm
@nama1(nama1)-552:
Well they have beaten both Boland and SWD away from home. Only 4 games to go. Hope they remain on top to avoid play offs.
21 Aug 2010, 01:06 am
@Peter Mkata(Peter Mkata)-550: ndiyabulisa mhlekazi! Hey izinto ziyenzeka the EP Kings zibuyisela isidima sethu kuthi
21 Aug 2010, 04:06 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-554:
What is that neanderthal drawl?
21 Aug 2010, 07:20 am
@JC
I have to concede – sadly the correct spelling is indeed wracking or racking.
Nothing like a bit of humble pie to keep one grounded.
21 Aug 2010, 07:45 am
@ET(ET)-510: Sad days ET but true.
When a real rugby supporter would prefer a team to lose than to win then there is a problem. You know how hard it is to rather want the poor 22 guys to get thrashed than win is hard.
And obviously the reason for this is how else are we going to get rid of coach and management who have ZERO idea about how to coach a team. It’s sad days in SA rugby and I know many many people feel like me.
Sad sad days. Never ever thought I’d actually want a Bok team to lose, but it’s the only way I can see us getting a new coach.
21 Aug 2010, 08:03 am
@skopskiet(yliad)-516: NZ’s worst ever defeat was a 7-28 loss to the Wallabies in 1999.
21 Aug 2010, 08:13 am
A 21 point losing margin is NZ’s worst. No 53-3 or 49-0 pastings. Not ever. The Boks best ever win over NZ was their 17-0 win in 1928 in Durban.
21 Aug 2010, 08:17 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-559: interesting to note that in both the 53-3 and 49-0 Bok losses, both were reffed by a ref from….guess where?
21 Aug 2010, 08:20 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-560: And did you know these same refs have force fed our Captain.
21 Aug 2010, 08:26 am
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-561: revenge for Suzie force-feeding the ABs stale shrimps back in ’95
21 Aug 2010, 08:27 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-562: heh. The boks are on a new diet, it’s called SMitFit. You eat whatever you want, everyone can see it, except you.
21 Aug 2010, 08:34 am
you guys don’t know how lucky you are with Smit, imagine having Tim Payne or Lee Mears in your front row
21 Aug 2010, 08:36 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-564: What about the Pillsbury Dough Boy?
21 Aug 2010, 09:46 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-564:
Big Hit, most South african’s are very stupid and have no appreciation for the little good that comes out of SA. And then you have tthe great many airheads that cling to mediocrity and defend the immoral. It’s a very strange place. Smit is going to leave behind a void that will never be filled in any of our lives, it’s going to hurt much more than that left by Naas, or that of Martin johnson for England… alot more.
21 Aug 2010, 11:22 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-560: If the refereeing was poor they were probably English
21 Aug 2010, 12:55 pm
just saying, for a guy who ‘doesn’t care about milestones”, Smit has been pretty vocal in talking about not caring.
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