‘I am not done yet’
24 Jun 2011
In an exclusive interview with MARK KEOHANE for Business Day Sport Monthly, John Smit insists he is the right man to lead the World Cup defence and that he has plenty still left in the tank.
‘It would be the act of a coward,’ insists John Smit. ‘Only a coward would be that selfish to bail out in the belief it will preserve a legacy.
‘In fact,’ he says, ‘to shy away from the challenge of defending the World Cup because the Boks may lose and I may be remembered as a captain who lost a World Cup and not one who won it … no … no … that’s not why we play the game. It has to be about the challenge; about doing something incredible; about creating history … this team is good enough to defend the 2007 title and I believe I have a contribution to make. If we lose I want to be at the heart of the battle and not all suited up sitting in a corporate suite listening to people say that if I had been there it would have been different, and me reflecting on how we won the 2007 World Cup.
‘The motivation, though, is to be there if we win … and I believe we can win. I believe we are a better squad now than in 2007 and we were a very good squad at that tournament.’
Smit is South Africa’s most celebrated and experienced Springbok captain. Outside a home unions Grand Slam tour victory he has led the Boks to every success. In the past seven years the Boks have won the World Cup, won the Tri-Nations, beaten the British & Irish Lions, never lost a home series, won at Twickenham, beaten France, beaten every team, won in Australia and (the apex for any Bok player) won against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
Many expected Smit to call time on his international career after the Boks beat the All Blacks in Hamilton, New Zealand, in 2009 to win the Tri-Nations. It would have been the fairytale ending.
A World Cup in 2007, a British & Irish Lions series win in 2009 and the Tri-Nations a few months later, with the All Blacks having been beaten (by the Boks) in three successive Tests, including Smit’s first-ever international success against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
‘Go now,’ screamed 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White. ‘You have nothing left to achieve. Which guy climbs Everest to plant a flag only to climb it again to take out the flag?’
White’s constant public condemnation of Smit refusing to quit international rugby was more than an irritation admits Smit, but he doesn’t believe it was the only reason the media started hammering him and elements within the public started calling for his axing.
‘Playing for the Springboks means there is no easy ride, no escape and never a place to hide. Captaining them means the scrutiny is even more intense. The rewards when things are going well are immense; the flip side is the vitriol is as hectic when you don’t play well and the team doesn’t win. I have no problem with that,’ says Smit. ‘I have always felt the media has been fair to me in their praise and criticism. It certainly didn’t help having Jake telling the media every week how out of shape I was and that my time as a Bok was over and that he wouldn’t pick me as a hooker. But I had to look at my own performances; what the team was doing and my influence in the team and on us potentially winning the 2011 World Cup.
‘Decisions about 2011 could never have been made in 2011, from senior players and from the coaching staff. Some people may not get that. A lot of planning has gone into this World Cup defence, and I think we all learnt lessons from the 1999 campaign when Gary Teichmann was dropped three months before the tournament, having led the team since 1996. His experience and his value as a player were definitely missed and [Bok coach in 1999] Nick Mallett has conceded he would have done things differently in hindsight.
‘None of us who were there in Paris in 2007 wanted to have to rely on hindsight post-2011, be it because we weren’t there or because we weren’t in the condition to be there.
‘If I or some of the senior players were doubting whether we could go the distance to 2011 then we had to make that call in 2009. It would have been improper and damn insulting to what we have tried to build as a squad since 2004 to play a waiting game.
‘We all had to commit to defending the title in New Zealand in 2011 after we won the British & Irish Lions series or we had to get out and give Peter [de Villiers] and his coaches two years to introduce new players and mould a team for the World Cup.
‘I made the decision in 2009 to stay and it was based on my belief that no World Cup winning squad has ever had as good a chance of defending the title. It has never been done and I want to be a part of something that hasn’t been done. As I already said, I owe it to myself to be on the field and not in the stands. If I gave it up in 2009 and the squad defended the title I’d have to live with a lot of regret and regret is not something I ever want to carry with me post-rugby. I’d rather take the risk of losing and being there, being true to myself and what I believe I can contribute.’
Those who refuse to acknowledge Smit’s value to a winning 2011 Bok campaign will argue Smit being at the World Cup weakens the team and will single out the 2010 season and Smit’s form as an international prop. It is not something he hasn’t heard before.
‘I started playing for the Boks in 2000. Then I couldn’t scrum, I didn’t have enough mongrel to be a Test hooker, I wasn’t strong enough, big enough, crazy enough and … and … and … pick whichever one you want. I have heard them all, at least one of them every time before every one of my 102 Tests. I am my biggest critic. I don’t kid myself and I have a support base of family and close friends who wouldn’t allow me that illusion or luxury.
‘When my form has not been up to standard I have taken it on the chin, put in more work and tried to fix it. I have never doubted my ability,’ he says. ‘I believe I do add value to the Boks’ World Cup campaign and that my overall contribution as a captain and player with 102 Tests makes the squad stronger, but I also believe I am owed no favours and expect none. If Peter said to me that for the Boks to win the World Cup it would mean me not starting a game at the World Cup I’d sign on the dotted line. It has to be team first and individual aspirations second. It has always been what has made this core of players so successful. I’d know if being there was a negative because there are too many of us who have been together since 2004 and those strong personalities wouldn’t tolerate a passenger. They’d have wished me well, thanked me, suited me up and sent me on my way to that corporate suite.’
In a 2009 interview with SA Rugby magazine Smit said: ‘I don’t want to be the guy who keeps going long after he should have called it a day. I’ve felt sorry for players who have tried to keep going when all the signs were pointing at the door. I hope it will never be me.’
I recall the interview and his quote and suggest there are people feeling sorry for him. And the sympathetic ones are some of his biggest supporters. Smit concedes 2010 was not a good year, but says 2006 was equally horrible.
‘We were a minute away from a sixth successive Bok defeat in Rustenburg against the All Blacks. They were 20-18 ahead and they gave away the silliest of penalties. If it wasn’t for Andre Pretorius’ winning kick we would have all been gone by the end-of-year tour. Jake wouldn’t have survived, I would have been gone with him and a new coach would probably have done an overall on the squad.
‘A year later we were world champions with the same players. You need good fortune in sport and you also need to never give up on yourself if you truly believe you have it. I believe this squad does still have it. In fact, they had it more than four years ago because we as individuals and a unit have matured and grown enormously in four years. I believe I still have it. Last year wasn’t good. I was alternating between prop and hooker, my weight was up because of the positional switch and I was struggling with injury.
‘To miss the end-of-year tour in 2010 to undergo a neck operation was a blessing. I got on the scale after the operation and I weighed 127kg. I told myself: “Come on Barney. This is bullshit. This isn’t what you committed to in 2009. Prop or hooker … it doesn’t matter … get your neck and your conditioning sorted and go out there and help the Boks make history.” Physically, six months later, I am in as good a shape as I was in 2007.’
Smit weighs 115kg and is injury-free. The ongoing struggles playing prop haven’t gone away in Super Rugby, but it is when he has played hooker that he’s looked as good as at any stage of his career.
‘It is quite clear that hooker is my position, but I will play where needed and I will do whatever is needed to help this squad create history.
‘I am not done yet. I also know the value of experience. I went to the 2003 World Cup with youngsters hoping for a miracle. In 2007 we had more experience and it was defining to how we managed the pressure and played.
‘In 2011 we will take the most experienced Bok team to a World Cup. It will take a very good side to beat us and if one does there will be no regret from me that I didn’t walk away in 2009. But as I keep on saying, the reason to stay on was to win and not lose. And this generation of Bok player knows how to win.’
– This article first appeared in the July issue of Business Day Sport Monthly, which is distributed FREE with the newspaper on the second last Friday of the month.
590 Comments
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24 Jun 2011, 06:20 am
Bring on the Smity haters…you bunch of losers!
24 Jun 2011, 06:26 am
This article will bring out the best in Grant today, great news though.
24 Jun 2011, 06:33 am
I reckon Smitty’s leadership qualities will come through for us in the RWC. Say what you like, he will be missed if he isn’t at this RWC regardless of whether he starts games or not.
24 Jun 2011, 06:43 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-2: Yip, I’m sure it will bring out the best of his superior intelligence….
Wonder if he’ll come up with something new today or just the same old drivel!
24 Jun 2011, 07:04 am
John and this team will break their own bones and shed blood for sa and this trophy, I sleep easy at night knowing that, John is a legend and wouldn’t do anything to prevent the boks from making history, I can’t wait to c his hands on that trophy again, it your a legend and hope you get to read this, screw the haters, they are the ones who would have given up and looked like cowards, Smit for president!!!!! BOKKE for 2011
24 Jun 2011, 07:12 am
@seabiscuit(seabiscuit)-5: What a biscuit…love the support!
24 Jun 2011, 07:13 am
At least he will be making history by being the first captain of a major rugby playing nation who goes to the world unable to make the starting team of his nation in his position on merit.
24 Jun 2011, 07:14 am
Reeks of self entitlement , I’m in the Jake camp on this one !!!
24 Jun 2011, 07:17 am
The most successful captain in the history of the Springbok doesn’t have to explain anything to anyone… least of all in the media…
24 Jun 2011, 07:20 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-9:
Sadly history will count for nothing during the world cup- it will be all about current form and ability to contribute on the pitch during major matches.
24 Jun 2011, 07:24 am
@seabiscuit(seabiscuit)-5:
It is possible that SA might not win in NZ.
24 Jun 2011, 07:27 am
John smit is over the hill, he won’t make any starting line up from any of the top 6 teams in the world and wouldn’t even make the starting line up of any of the CC teams, he’s embarrassing himself!
24 Jun 2011, 07:29 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-10:
Some fail to see the relevance this , they are blinded by nostalgia and sentimentality !!!
24 Jun 2011, 07:29 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-11:
Errr.. exactly… no team has defended their title in the history of the game… and one only has to look at who the money-men have as favourite…
@Robzim(Robzim)-7:
Who says he will be starting?
No other Bok hooker offers more than Smitty other than Bissie (and Strauss) and fortunately both play for the Sharks…
24 Jun 2011, 07:33 am
He believes he can add value to Boks at WC but he doesn’t even come close to adding value at sharks, which captain sits on the bench and says that he had stomach bug that’s why he didn’t play! I am supporting the crusaders this weekend, cannot stand these old has beens players that hold onto the dream, its like the Rocky movies, gets crapper by the year! John smit lost his dignity long time ago, shamefull!
24 Jun 2011, 07:34 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-13:
Yep exactly… like the Bok selectors, the entire coaching team… the Sharks selectors, Plumtree and Bashford… but you and your bum chum know better from your couch of course…
Smit and co could care less about your opinion, but yes as we see everyday you’re entitled to repeat it ad nauseum…
And there rockets Gold… laters Nancy-boys!
24 Jun 2011, 07:34 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-14:
It was a joke mate, Biscuit is all fired up and thats great to see I for one can’t understand the personal slagging of Smit a great captain and and a decent player, past his best now but still deserves a lot of respect.
24 Jun 2011, 07:35 am
Where is Grant10?
24 Jun 2011, 07:38 am
” I owe it to myself to be on the field and not in the stands.” Er, and you owe it to your country to be in the stands and not on the field, John…
24 Jun 2011, 07:39 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-18: Why…. just look at all his other posts and you will get the same result. Just like mine…. he is fat and unfit.
24 Jun 2011, 07:42 am
All you bunch of Tools who bad mouth smit, do me a favor, go support the poms or the wallabies, ur a bunch of woman and u all moan like them, as far as I’m concerned non of you have a backbone!! and yes it is possible we could loose, thanks for that insightful piece of info, did u **** when you made that assumption??? If we loose so be it! But Iike I said I know those blokes ate gonna do anything to win!
24 Jun 2011, 07:43 am
Not sure why everyone is having a go the whole time at smit… he’s passionate about playing for his country! If he’s not good enough to cut it, it is up to the coach to drop him! I mean come on – you don’t **** on an average player who makes the bok side – you **** on the coach for selecting him!
Cannot believe guys are going so hard at the man cause he wants to play for his country!
24 Jun 2011, 07:46 am
Hi JR,
Strangely enough most of the blind ones are Shark supporters
I wonder how they feel about Plumtree who at least has the guts to make the obvious decision. Unless he is very thick skinned Smit must be so embarrassed to sit on the bench during the main matches- but I guess money talks.
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-14:
That is the point. Others offer more as you said yourself.
You have mentioned Bismark and Strauss (btw he is not a Shark)
Others would add Chilliboy and Liebenberg- even Botha and maybe Brits (off the bench )
Where does that leave JS?
24 Jun 2011, 07:46 am
What is this I hear that Plum has been talking to Nonu about coming to play for the Sharks next year?
24 Jun 2011, 07:49 am
Agree with offsides, why ain’t these haters after januarie or wynand?? They offer sweet nothing to the boks, smit is a legend! Bring it home again boys!!!
24 Jun 2011, 07:52 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-23:
Hi Rob
Exactly !!
24 Jun 2011, 07:54 am
He talks a good game.
24 Jun 2011, 07:56 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-20: Grant10 is the president of the John Smit Haters Club. It is only right he grace us with his presence.
24 Jun 2011, 07:58 am
@seabiscuit(seabiscuit)-21:
We are moaning because we have the Boks best interest at heart and want the best players in form playing !!!!
You are a little sentimentalist who likes to feel all warm and fuzzy.
Don’t come and tell me to support some other side , who do you think you are ??
Why should we settle for a guy that has been woefully out of form for 2 years and cannot command a starting position at his franchise ??
And then he must replace that very same person who is keeping him out.
Go dip a biscuit or ride a horse man !!!
24 Jun 2011, 08:00 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-29:
Hear hear!
24 Jun 2011, 08:01 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-28: ja man, we all know how he’s going to rant and rave about this article. doubt he will have anything different to say wrt JS.
Anyways, I only hope that PDivvy is able to come up with a solid game plan. Last year SA had one of the strongest performances in SuperRugby…… yet we were smashed at international level due to a completely outdated game plan. We have the personnel to retain the world cup, the problem is going to be coming up with a solid game plan and then executing it appropriately.
24 Jun 2011, 08:03 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-29:
fair enough, but why bad mouth and berate the player… surely it’s the coach who should be at the receiving end of your frustration?
24 Jun 2011, 08:09 am
@justrugby: are you a pom or wallaby? Simple question??? Btw the go ride a horse or eat a biscuit…..mmm, wow really got offended, think I’m gna go cry in a corner nw, and wow I guess u must b the first to have rugby at heart and want us to do well, how sweet, it u ain’t alone!!!! Everyone in this country wants us to win no matter what!!! I just don’t see the point in being negative through our while build up to 2011, get behind the team!!!! That team will include John!!!!! So get used to it, if you don’t wanna support then as I said go shout for the poms or wallabies
24 Jun 2011, 08:10 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-28: some of us are getting tired of his rants… same posts different thread. We all know how he feel about fat boy but still there is the need to write the same stuff every 2nd post…. fcking tiring.
24 Jun 2011, 08:10 am
@offsides(offsides)-32:
Boet the bottom line is you are correct, the reality is that deals have been made and guarantees put in place and no amount of me bitc hing will change it !!!
It irritates me no end though that the sentimentalist will find every pie in the sky reason as to why JS should be there.
His is there simply because deals were done and money , lots of it, is to be made !!!
24 Jun 2011, 08:13 am
@offsides(offsides)-31: agree.
24 Jun 2011, 08:13 am
@seabiscuit(seabiscuit)-33:
Your insight to the matter is to limited for me to debate with you !!
24 Jun 2011, 08:13 am
Read Die Beeld this morning!
Now thats a great balanced read.
Smitty is so far up his own ego it is scary.
All about himself.
All about personal glory.
Lets see how he goes in Tri Nations.
While Bissy gets a break.
Going to be interesting.
All I know is when the chips are down Plum knows who to play and who to bench.
That says it all.
24 Jun 2011, 08:14 am
Smitty’s a legend.
24 Jun 2011, 08:14 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-34: scroll by….its not that difficult?
24 Jun 2011, 08:16 am
anyway…..at least we have a quaterfinal to look forward to in an hour….
24 Jun 2011, 08:17 am
@grant10(grant10)-40: Whatever dude…. get over it. Your b1tching won’t change a thing. Focus on something else…. it will do your system good.
24 Jun 2011, 08:19 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-35: ja, that is something i know less about.
Ja, really hope P Divvy makes the big calls during this world cup campaign. Tri Nations is going to be even more crucial for him to finalise his starting 22. He has to remember that the old guys have achieved great things whereas he is yet to. So if that means hurting the egos of the more senior players to have a world cup winning side, so be it! What are they going to do? Most of them are retiring at the end of the season anyways!
Sheesh, tri-nations is going to be crucial in finalising which young bloods he wants in the 22! Cannot wait!
24 Jun 2011, 08:20 am
@grant10(grant10)-38: You in Pretoria or reading online?
24 Jun 2011, 08:21 am
Argh this guy pees me off so much with his attitude. The fact is that he is well past his sell by date as a player and is not even realistically in the top 10 best hookers in SA.
Jake White said enough in the past about him, why the hell won’t he listen?
All we need is a player missing tackles, throwing crazy passes that get intercepted and putting in a general poor performance in a team full of 14 other superstars.
Greedy pig!
24 Jun 2011, 08:22 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-44: reading on line mate.
also a brilliant arcticle by Brendan Venter…..he reckons Schalk Burger to captain Boks at WC!
24 Jun 2011, 08:23 am
@daydreamer(daydreamer)-45: So in the Bok team its only Smittie missing tackles, throwing intercept passes?
24 Jun 2011, 08:23 am
Smittie’s ‘ego’ helps thousands and thousands of under-privileged kids who have been failed by their parents and govt through his charities… what a self-absorbed guy hey?
24 Jun 2011, 08:24 am
Anyways, enjoy the weekend folks! As a bulls supporter, I really hope the sharks manage to deliver the same performance they gave in the bull ring last week! Couldn’t believe it!! Really enjoyed seeing lambie at 15, interchanging with Michalak!
Cheers gents
24 Jun 2011, 08:24 am
Jeepers Smit is a pathological egotist! Invoking Teichman is a less the subtle way to suggest that if he is dropped, SA will lose the WC…
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