‘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, 10:21 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-189: i would have Gurthro Steenkamp(2010 player of the year) in there somewhere too, him and beast are even.. could have either one starting or on the bench… i guess its just a matter of out of sight out of mind regarding Steenkamp, but when he is back, the bok depth in the front row is going to look really strong
24 Jun 2011, 10:21 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-194:
hehe – its good that he’s committed and determined, but who do you think should start in the big games – smit or bismarck?
24 Jun 2011, 10:22 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-191: Id go:
15. Frans Steyn ( He’s going to the WC, we need to get him back to top flight level asap)
14. JPP
13. J. Fourie
12. JdJ (Spent most of his time on the bench for the Stormers, needs game time to push for a starting spot)
11. Basson
10. Butch (Lets see whether he still has what it takes)
9. Fourie (Again a game time issue)
8. Spies (To play himself back into form)
7. Alberts
6. Schalk
5. Bekker (Vic to be rested)
4. Bakkies (on the field for as many minutes as possible, I still believe he is an 80 minute player)
3. Kruger (youngster has what it takes I believe)
2. Smit (as many minutes as possible)
1. Beast
16. Chilli
17. Jannie
18. Danie
19. Brussouw
20. Hougaardt
21. Morne Steyn
22. Aplon
24 Jun 2011, 10:22 am
@ray-27(ray-bulls_fan)-196: Neither would i, but if you read at the start of the post, id give this side a go in the 3N. get some of these new and young players to settle and get the feeling of the test stage. it wouldnt hurt, and you know what, i bet this side could really give Aus and NZ full strength sides a run for their money.
24 Jun 2011, 10:24 am
!!@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-189:
Smit at 3 ??
PDEV has said he will only play him as a hooker !!
Play him at 3 we won’t make it out of our pool !!
24 Jun 2011, 10:24 am
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-193: You know Greyling is a loosehead prop, right?
24 Jun 2011, 10:24 am
Interesting that most of us think PDV should rest his “key” players during the 3N…
24 Jun 2011, 10:25 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-203:
How can the Boks (tests) be used to play players back into form ???
24 Jun 2011, 10:26 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-206: @Taahirah(Taahirah)-206: yeah I messed that one up
24 Jun 2011, 10:29 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-204: for sure1 i dont doubt it for one second
24 Jun 2011, 10:29 am
It’s pathetic how many people insult Smit. looking back our best boks are always insulted. frans, morne, percy, schalk, even os! but the chaff gets lauded. in 2008 jean was our best player but adi got all the plaudits for doing fek all. du preez and juan smith were bashed throughout jakes reign until they won the wc.do our fans really know anything about our players? smit is a bok like os was. only juan can be considered on that level. smit has been stuffed around by a lunatic for four years, putting the coach and the team before him. if smit does not start at two and we get that ineffective dinosaur, then we deserve to lose. the Dork is like these fans who insult our best players, he has no understanding of their value which explains his really bad selections over his entire term. os is right, the dorkvilliers does not deserve to be part of any wc success. but i hope for smits sake that they do win because they do not deserve to end their careers baly after the time they’ve had with this failed political experiment.
24 Jun 2011, 10:29 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-203: You know what is really strange, that many of us, still somehow find it hard to get a place for Lambie. The reason being ( i believe) is that most of us already know what pdv will do. 10′s Butch and Steyn. then some would say Lambie in at 15 or as a utility back, but then again pdv will go for France Steyn and Gio Aplon.
Actually unbelievable to think we will leave such a talent out. I may be getting ahead of myself, but if it were NZ or AUS, they wouldnt think twice to pick him.
24 Jun 2011, 10:30 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-208: Because there is a greater goal, being the RWC?
24 Jun 2011, 10:31 am
@willievz(willievz)-207: would u have him play them?
24 Jun 2011, 10:32 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-212: Spot on!
24 Jun 2011, 10:32 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-205: I agree, but you know pdv as well as i do, what he says and what he actually applies, are two completely different things. Dont be surprised if he does have a couple of games at 3.
24 Jun 2011, 10:34 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-213:
He (Spies) has had 15 rounds of S15 games to find form, if he is not playing well enough he does not dererve to pull the Bok jersey over his head , there are players who are delivering each week that have earned that right !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
24 Jun 2011, 10:34 am
Steyn, Pietersen, Fourie, DeVilliers, Basson, Steyn, DuPreez, Spies, Smith, Burger, Matfield, Botha, J DuPlessis, Smit, G.Steenkamp
Tell me what you think? I know Bismark not in – he is gonna be on bench anyway, so have to go with Smit as hooker.
24 Jun 2011, 10:35 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-216:
You are making me very nervous !!!
24 Jun 2011, 10:35 am
If pdv does play Smit only at 2 in the expense of Bismark, Strauss, chilliboy etc. it will be a tragedy for the boks.
24 Jun 2011, 10:36 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-217: Oh.
That.
What can I say?
Im a fan.
24 Jun 2011, 10:36 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-212: Sharkie, it’s not a bad position to be in! Lambie’s time will come- of that I have no doubt. Personally, I’d have him as a backup off the bench for 15 or 10. Gio needs to play wing- end of story. I like Gio at 15 but he isn’t going to be a world class 15. At 29 he doesn’t have that much time left. Other option is to play Lambie at 12 and drop JDV. I’d be happy with that OR play Frans at 12 and Lambie at 15. Man. it’s great to have so many exciting options!!
24 Jun 2011, 10:36 am
@ray-27(ray-bulls_fan)-218:
Spies and Smit in same pack we are immediately handicapped !!
24 Jun 2011, 10:37 am
@ray-27(ray-bulls_fan)-218:
Are you picking a team that WILL start, or a preferred team? If it’s the former, Basson drops out.
24 Jun 2011, 10:37 am
@ray-27(ray-bulls_fan)-218: Solid team but won’t set the world on fire
24 Jun 2011, 10:39 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-221:
Obviously not that much of a fan of Bok rugby then ?
24 Jun 2011, 10:39 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-212: lambie groupie
24 Jun 2011, 10:39 am
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-222:
Can’t play Lambie at 12 ahead of JdJ. No justification for that thinking
24 Jun 2011, 10:40 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-219: Sorry dude, but these are facts, we have stupid coach who make stupid decisions. Even IF we win the WC my view and opinion will never change about him.
It is another reason why the boks may fold, if we as the public can predict what he will do next, with such ease and we not even experts (some may think they are).
How easy it will be for opposing coaches to figure out what goes on in pdv’s nut!
24 Jun 2011, 10:41 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-227: WTF dude.
24 Jun 2011, 10:41 am
@ray-27(ray-bulls_fan)-218:
We will not be able to slow down opposition ruck ball efficiently enough with that trio, particularly with a less mobile 2.
He is going for that trio against Wales though, at his own peril.
24 Jun 2011, 10:42 am
well spoken smitty you legend!
i am proud of the boks and the ethos you represent.
forget the haters, little men all.
24 Jun 2011, 10:42 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-88: I think both JS and PDV are making noises to save themselves face. PDV with saying tp Plumhe will only consider JS at hooker and now this statement by JS. Conspiracy theories abound around here so is it not strange that JS was left out of an EOYT where he could’ve made that history of a Home Unions grand slam? That was just a precursor to establish where the team is without JS.
24 Jun 2011, 10:42 am
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-228: JDJ has a sidestep and that’s it. Doesn’t have Lambie’s vision or skill. Watch 3 years from now when that initial burst of pace goes (ala Breyton) and he will be another has-been. Lambie has far more of a rugby brain than JDJ.
24 Jun 2011, 10:43 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-226: Oh I am.
Pierre has had some good showings in a Bok jersey (Please dont ask me to name them).
When on form he offers more than any other 8 in SA.
It really is only a case of from with him at the moment, he’s had no injuries, ops affecting his performance, still very young.
Therefore Id back him.
As a fan of Bok rugby.
24 Jun 2011, 10:43 am
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-214:
Only the ones that need game time such as FDP, Butch and Brussow.
It might not be wise to let them accumulate airmiles though.
24 Jun 2011, 10:45 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-217: read the interview at the top AGAIN. the SENIOR players were asked to make a COMMITMENT to this world cup or ship out and get lucrative contracts in europe. they chose to stay and were rewarded with SARU contracts and starting spots. there’s no way they will be dropped spies, habana, smit
‘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’
24 Jun 2011, 10:45 am
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-222: Sorry i dnt completely agree, drop JDV and break the partnership with Fourie? suicide. But i see where you getting at, most of us want to find a spot for Lambie, but not at the expense of experienced and in form players.
24 Jun 2011, 10:46 am
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-224: true.. suppose habana would start.. in my preferred team i would have Bismarck in place of John, and i suppose being a bull im abit bias, but its difficult to leave a guy like Spies out, but i hear what everyone is saying, I would go with Alberts at 8 then.. or move Schalk to 8, and accomodat Brussouw at 6 with Smith at 7
24 Jun 2011, 10:46 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-230: in transies world you are not allowed to rate a player from south africa.
only sunni bill deserves adulation.
transie is a saders supporter.
24 Jun 2011, 10:48 am
@LightZone(LightZone)-233: um, ja the guy had a neck op as part of a conspiracy theory, i believe you
24 Jun 2011, 10:49 am
Bismarck is not effective at rucks. his stats prove this. 3 turnovrs since start of 2009. and not one big performance in any important test in his career. in fact he falls apat under pressure. without smit we are doomed. without smit we lose our lineouts too! bismarck can’t even throw into lineouts so we lose our best weapon. but keep bashing smit. with bismarck we gain nothing but one big tackle (maybe) and lots of penalties and cards. bismarck has never been good at rucks for the boks. where was he last year? he did nothing, or what about 2008? nothing too! 2009 brussow did it all on his own. but people who hate smit used it to lie by saying that bismarck was our big threat at rucks. not true. bismarck is an average player with the worst temper in rugby. a guaranteed failure. without smit we cannot win the wc again! that is fact.
24 Jun 2011, 10:50 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-240:
he is a devil’s avocado.
24 Jun 2011, 10:50 am
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-225: thanks for your opinion.
@willievz(willievz)-231: i hear what youre saying and i suppose you are right. We won the World Cup last time with a similar loose trio. otherwise id put Brussouw in there at 6 and move Schalk to 8.. also I would prefer Bismark at 2 but doesnt look like that going to happen.
24 Jun 2011, 10:51 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-240: tl tl tl nice try at propaganda
i rate danie rossouw!
24 Jun 2011, 10:52 am
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-234:
And we are speaking in the specific context of 12 play. You base this on how many showings by Lambie at 12? I’m not sure what you mean by vision.
DeJongh was part of a midfield pair that made it to both the S14 and Currie Cup finals, and has played there for the Boks. He is quicker than Lambie, has the ability to spot and exploit the gap that no SA 12 has and defends his channel ably.
But like you say, you are projecting three years into the future. Hard to argue that far out
24 Jun 2011, 10:53 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-240: i figured that, well HOPEFULLY tomorrow will shut him up!! IF the Sharks can pull through. or he will then just be bickering about the ref or something to find a reason why the Saders lost, even if the Sharks take the win deservedly. For him it will be a far more bitter pill to swallow than for us, as the Saders are CLEAR favorites!
IF the sharks lose, at least we got this far!
24 Jun 2011, 10:54 am
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-242:
A fetcher, for lack of a better word, should not be judged by the amount of turnovers per se.
He should be judged as to what extent he succeeds in slowing down opposition ruck ball.
24 Jun 2011, 10:55 am
@ray-27(ray-bulls_fan)-244:
PDV has hinted that he will play Schalk at 8 if Brussow is fit, and even though I wish he does this, I doubt he will.
24 Jun 2011, 10:56 am
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-246: de Jongh was humiliated in the tri nations and very substandard in the warm ups for the boks. He has no future at test level. lambie also is not test quality. had no control of the game last year at all made many poor options and execution was poor. as soon as he came on for morne the game fell apart each time. another example of the new generation not being as good as the older players they are supposed to replace.
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