‘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, 11:36 am
Tragedy – 8, u/18 players and official of Griquas cravenweek side died in accident this morning
24 Jun 2011, 11:36 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-300: well thank goodness for that.
i am so relieved.
24 Jun 2011, 11:37 am
@vasteses(vasteses)-301: no man, terrible news.
car accident?
the families must be devestated.
24 Jun 2011, 11:39 am
@munkiboi(munkiboi)-292: I agree, i’m not saying Lambie will be bad at 12, he may or may not do well. I just think we need to think about the future at 10 for the boks. If Steyn finishes, and Butch will soon retire, Grant, well much like Andre Pretorius, spends more time off the field through injury than on it. Other than that we have no one really who could do the Job at 10 in the future, besides Lambie. There is Sias, who is playing well and may be Jantjies. But Lambie should be molded as the Boks future 10.
Just thought of something else, Dan Carter, played at 12 before and was great, when was the last time the AB’s played him there? Why because he is a brilliant 10. So leave the guy in the position where he is best.
24 Jun 2011, 11:39 am
@vasteses(vasteses)-301: Sad news, do you have any details?
24 Jun 2011, 11:39 am
@vasteses(vasteses)-301: yoh, horriblr news!
24 Jun 2011, 11:41 am
@grant10(grant10)-261: Hehe thought you would enjoy that one
24 Jun 2011, 11:41 am
@vasteses(vasteses)-301: OMG that is heart breaking.
24 Jun 2011, 11:43 am
@vasteses(vasteses)-301: What…that is terrible
24 Jun 2011, 11:44 am
@vasteses(vasteses)-301: Have you got a link, or names
24 Jun 2011, 11:44 am
@vasteses(vasteses)-301:
Tragic.
24 Jun 2011, 11:47 am
i do not have any more details , it was an accident. Do not know how many more injured just got the news from coach close to griquas rugby
24 Jun 2011, 11:49 am
@vasteses(vasteses)-312: eish, thoughts to the families.
drive safe the rest of you, i am out.
(quiet one)sharks!
24 Jun 2011, 11:57 am
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-299: I’m thinking a class action lawsuit against keo for recovery of Keo dollars and a healthy dose of punitive damages as a result of emotional trauma thrown in.
You game?
Costs for Keo’s attorneys of course
24 Jun 2011, 11:59 am
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-260: Well, lets look at his first taste of the all blacks. de jongh was run over by Nonu in new zealands 22, spun round by Nonu again later on, run over by rocockoko in our 22, took the ball to the line twice and got thumped backwards and turned over once and the other threw the ball backwards to the half way line leaving us scrambling backwards losing momentum. a try was scored by nz resulting from that momentum. he tried dancing but the defences were too organized. his best test was again wales. but he did nothing ball in hand. his defence was okay but nothing special either just like the s14 that year not an attacking threat. it took the boks forwards to turn the game around and he ran through a massive gap to score. but a massive gap? you can not rely on big gaps. in big games they dont happen. and in the tri nations he was exposed. ball in hand, i recall many poor moments. an inside pass to habana that went behind habana, a pass that bounced off the ground and collected by an aussie, and he messed up a try opportunity with a poorly timed run. he is not a good player at all. both he and olivier should never have been capped! both are pathetic.
24 Jun 2011, 12:02 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-304: there is no similarity between carter and lambie. carter is a hundred times the player lambie could ever be. carter has been average for the last five years but even then he makes clever touches that really make differences in big games. lambie was poor on the end of year tour and only good in a few games this year. a flash in the pan? probably. a great player? definitely not. i dont rate grant but he better than lambie. morne is still young so he will be bok 10 for many many years to come.
24 Jun 2011, 12:07 pm
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-315: how many games did de jongh play in last year’s tri-nations?
24 Jun 2011, 12:08 pm
ricky Januarie has officially retired from international rugby and has been released from his wp contract so he can head to France
24 Jun 2011, 12:09 pm
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-316: You are entitled to your opinion. Lambie at this stage, is the most talented 10 in the country. And i was not comparing Lambie to Carter, that would be unfair to compare a youngster like Lambie only finding his way, to one of the best 10′s in world rugby. I was merely making a reference to the positions, from playing at 10 to moving to 12. Lambie is a far better talent and player than grant, and it will not take to long before Lambie dethrones Steyn at 10, obviously not this year. But soon. Thats my opinion.
24 Jun 2011, 12:11 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-317: one too many. he played against australia at least once and new zealand twice. he did nothing against either team. i do not understand where his attacking reputation comes from. in last years s14 he was not a threat vall in hand in a stormers side that was very poor on attacj. then he was poor at test level. then in this years s15 he again is very average at best. another hyped up player that cannot produce substance.
24 Jun 2011, 12:14 pm
I never thought this day would come, when white people would be clamouring for a quota selection, hearing the very same people saying rugby is not just about merit selection, there are other factors to consider. Yes, indeed, SA is a country of miracles, anything is possible here.
24 Jun 2011, 12:14 pm
Ricky Januarie has withdrawn from the Springboks’ preliminary RWC squad after announcing his retirement from international rugby today! Huge loss… NOT!
24 Jun 2011, 12:18 pm
@RugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-322: FANTASTIC….I think he got the picture at last!!
24 Jun 2011, 12:29 pm
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-315: I am a Stormers fan and I also dont think JDJ is up to international ruggers
24 Jun 2011, 12:29 pm
Januarie doesn’t pick himself for the Boks. Obviously he knows he is not there on merit with being second choice at his province and mediocre performances when he does get a run on.
This is the other side of the ‘quota’ argument, the mental aspect of the player himself.
Well done Ricky. Respect to you.
24 Jun 2011, 12:32 pm
John Smit is DONE
Overdone
Bok old timers don’t stand a hope in hell in 2011 RWECee
24 Jun 2011, 12:32 pm
If Robert Skinstad made it to the 2007 world cup then i do not see why John Smit cannot make it to New Zealand.
24 Jun 2011, 12:34 pm
@madvillain(madvillain)-327:
Skinstad was how old in 2007?
What u smoking? give me some
24 Jun 2011, 12:35 pm
@RugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-322:
HALLELUJAH
24 Jun 2011, 12:37 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-325:
Agree !!
Off the point, I see Joahn Muller reckons the Heineken Cup is as tough, if not tougher than S15 !!!
24 Jun 2011, 12:37 pm
@madvillain(madvillain)-327: Smit will make it to NZ, he just shouldn’t start, bring him on only as a last resort. Sounds stupid, but he is going to th WC whether we like it or not. But the real truth in the matter is he will go and 10 to 1 be the starting hooker, he is announced as captain. so its inevitable!
24 Jun 2011, 12:38 pm
The Stormers attack was praised last year. JdJ did well. He is also playing well in the opportunities he has received this year, sparking attacks whenever he comes onto the field. He deserved his Bok place last year and deserves to be in the squad again for the Tri Nations.
As for Smit, fantastic interview. I see Grant’s thong gave hima wedgie
24 Jun 2011, 12:40 pm
@justrugby(justrugby)-330: I think Johan Muller must be on drugs…Super rugby is the toughest comp. in world rugby. Get with the program Johan!
24 Jun 2011, 12:41 pm
@madvillain(madvillain)-327: and you know what? i am on record saying robert skinstand owning a world cup medal is one of the biggest travesties in sa rugby. it showed that QUOTAS are allowed because bobby was NOT a starter at the Sharks and a guy like Jacque Cronje got chopped for a has-been like bobby who was ostensibly providing leadership in a squad that had FdP, Smit, Mossie, Vic, Schalk, Juan Smit!
everyday, even in the interview in this article we hear how disastrous it was to leave teichman behind, who was the new captain that f*cked up?
and what had he achieved in the years after that world cuo rugby wise that made him such a great leader of men?
24 Jun 2011, 12:42 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-331:
Smit should stay at home, that old Bok can’t even make the Sharks side.
Should we have the best hooker in the world, considered by many overseas
players, on the bench while Smit plays and weakens the Bok pack?
Smit has done great service to SA but he has not got the integrity
to retire now. There are far better players in SA today.
24 Jun 2011, 12:42 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-325: I was never a Ricky fan because I thought he was not the fastest but he brought other qualities to the game that my favourite/s never had. He always acquitted himself well as a Bok, though. He never chose himself and never seemed entitled to the job. He always looked as if he would try his best irrespective of criticism. For that I salute a wonderful Bok career. Go well in your future career Ricky.
24 Jun 2011, 12:44 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-334: Its called double standard!!!
24 Jun 2011, 12:44 pm
127kg to 115kg must have given him some mobility. Hope he shows it tomorrow. Losing 12kg in 6 months when you are over 30yrs is no easy feat.
24 Jun 2011, 12:46 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-334:
I agree 100% Skinstad is a joke. Maybe he will become a great commentator
24 Jun 2011, 12:46 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-314:
We was robbed!
24 Jun 2011, 12:47 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-333:
Lol on steroids
24 Jun 2011, 12:48 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-334 The difference between leaving Teichman behind for 1999 WC and we wanting to leave Smit behind for 2011 WC is, Teichman was rated as one of the best No.8 in world rugby at that stage and still had great leadership qualities.As for Smit, he doesn’t even crack the top 10 of best hookers in the world, and his leadership has gone down the drain. Big difference. Dropping Teichman was a mistake, dropping smit will be a good thing.
24 Jun 2011, 12:53 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-334: Wasnt Joost cappie RWC99?
24 Jun 2011, 12:54 pm
@Boksarenumber4(Boksarenumber1)-335: Maybe smit can take a lesson or two from, Mr. Ricky. He had the guts to retire, knowing he does not fit the bill (never mind in to his own pants, fattie) Smit should do the same. I think it quite simple, the question he should ask himself, is: Do i want to be remembered as the Captain who won the world cup, or the captain who managed to loose it in 2011. Take the step down, because i rather be remembered as a winning Captain.
24 Jun 2011, 12:59 pm
@Boksarenumber4(Boksarenumber1)-341: There is just no way that, the rugby up north is tougher. You know what i would like to see, a show down between Super Rugby champs and European champs. Bet they’d get crushed.
24 Jun 2011, 13:00 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-344:
Yes you are spot on. I think Ricky got a good offer and he has left the past behind, good for him.
‘It would be the act of a coward,’ insists John Smit.
What kind of idiotic remark is that?
Smit weakens the Sharks pack, imagine what he will do to the Boks pack
24 Jun 2011, 13:00 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-342: I happen not to believe that dropping Teichmann in 1999 led us to losing to Australia in the semi’s. That Aussie team was bloody good and well coached, we managed to take that side to Extra Time, something had to happen and it did, Larkham’s freakish drop goal 50meters out!!!
24 Jun 2011, 13:02 pm
Stange how transie tends to agree with madvillain(Nguni Stud).
John Smit will do us good.
Big Joe was sacrificed for the likes of Rob and i still ask myself, for what?
24 Jun 2011, 13:03 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-343: he was with skinstad in the mix for his “leadership” too. question is, in 2007 where had bobby acquired all this “leadership”, from saatchi&saatchi in london?
24 Jun 2011, 13:03 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-347:
Me neither.
I was in favour of selecting Skinstad at the time, and even with the benefit of hindsight I would have gone with him.
Our problem in that 1999 semi was that we did not know what game we wanted to play.
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