Smit wary of well prepared Poms
4 Jun 2012
John Smit believes England will be up for the June Test series opener against the Springboks in Durban.
With England arriving in South Africa last week and the Bok squad only being announced last Saturday, the tourists will have more time to prepare for the first Test at Kings Park. Bok head coach Heyneke Meyer will only have five days to prepare his troops.
While the Boks remain favourites to win the overall series, former captain John Smit, who is now based with English club Saracens, argued that England are in a stronger position to triumph this weekend.
‘In terms of the three Tests, it is good for England with the first one in Durban,’ Smit told espnscrum.com. ‘They went out there two or three days ago and they will be better prepared than South Africa so it is a good opportunity for them.
‘And it’s different for South Africa as they are coming straight in from Super Rugby. I don’t know Heyneke personally but I would imagine he will be ready for this week, but I will be curious to see how that first Test goes.’
Smit also added that the southern hemisphere will no longer dominate world rugby. He believed that England can win in South Africa, while Ireland and Wales will be big challenges for New Zealand and Australia respectively.
‘These games now are getting tougher and tougher. At the World Cup, there were a lot of teams competing for a spot in the final.
‘The game is growing and everyone is putting more time, effort and money in so I think the gap will continue to shrink and it’s great for the game.’
62 Comments
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4 Jun 2012, 15:53 pm
45
My post at 21 said much the same.
Why all this Western Province hatred for such a great man.
If any of you have ever met him you will know what I mean.
Funny you never hear the players or coaches saying a bad word about John.
He was loyal,to Jake and PDiddy,but on this forum there is a special kind of hatred aimed at the man,led by a coward with the nic Grant 10.
He spent tears obsessed with hatred for John on these pages.
The man was a great captain,and I know how valued he was in the rest of the world.
When you read the viciousnesss of some of these attacks on him you wonder what he did.
Very simple he pointed out that Luke Watson was a **** and refused to play with him.
4 Jun 2012, 15:59 pm
If Smit was correct then it would be visible in the U20´s games at the JWC – Australia is busy creaming Scotland 48-12
– wheres the parity in that?
4 Jun 2012, 16:00 pm
50
I rest my case.
Who said Victor is gone?
Do you really think that Jean De Villiers is the best centre in the country.?
When was the last time he scored a try?
4 Jun 2012, 16:03 pm
You are really an idiot,didn’t the Boks without John as captain get beaten by Scotland last year.
There is the parity.
Didn’t France make the World Cup finals.
4 Jun 2012, 16:03 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-53: no most definitely not – Jean should also be stepping back in my opinion. If you ask me Jean is the main reason for our attacking woes. No small wonder he is in both Stormers and Boks and both have issues in backline attack. Look at what a difference in the WC when F Steyn was at 12.
Victor was considering coming back for Heyneke at his request for this test series – seriously dont think he will be back after this. He was always a gentleman. John carried on cos he was greedy he wanted that 2nd World Cup as captain. if he was honest with himself he would have stepped back – but the machinations behind the well mannered headboy attitude speaks of someone different to me. Sorry to say. Whole of Sa thought the sun shone out of Hansie Cronje´s butt too – another little mr perfect headboy and look where he went.
4 Jun 2012, 16:05 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-54: yes Scotland beat a very bad on the day Bok side. There were many probs – did they do the same to NZ and Oz – i dont think so – secondly I was talking about the JWC now, and thirdly how France made the final is anyones guess – they were dismal all the way through the WC. they played well in the final but theyre wayy too inconsistent to be a constant threat.
4 Jun 2012, 16:12 pm
Aus vs Scotland JWC now 62-12 nuff said. Be interesting to see what happens later with NZ and South Africa
4 Jun 2012, 16:37 pm
John Smit and Hansie Cronje two of the most diverse charachters that you could ever get.
Both great leaders,but Hansie was born into leadership,John won it the hard way.
Correction,John never looked for his second captaincy,he had left for France.
De Villiers went over and begged him to come back and contracted him to the end of the world cup.
John saw his contract out,what can be sinister about that.
One day he will coach a world cup winning team,he has the charachter and strength to do that,and won’t have to rely on a captain to do it for him.
4 Jun 2012, 16:52 pm
i think divvie’s book might give us more insight into why john smit stayed on till rwc2011.
there are many assumptions made here based on rumour and gossip.
and lightweights like gwantie and some cpt journos were leading the chorus.
4 Jun 2012, 20:10 pm
Rent a controversy thread. Blah!!
4 Jun 2012, 20:12 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-58:
Indeed well said.
I am a huge admirer of John Smit.
Too many unappreciative folk around. Let’s watch them turn on HM as well.
Fickle bunch!!
5 Jun 2012, 13:37 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-48:
Actually I did research the big picture.
I read the blog post (that was taken down) that you allude to plus some of the articles that came from it. The blogger certainly seemed to have an axe to grind
I listened to the podcast response by both Tank and Keo.
I read follow up articles investigating the real situation behind the PE Contracts
Keo does not seem connected to the company responsible for the PE Stadium or the Spears etc.
Sure some of the Directors (Oberholzer etc.) have previous associations with him. Some may even like Keo. Brett Kebble was a neighbour of mine and I bumped into him walking the dogs a few times. It does not follow I am connected with JCI.
But HSM does not have a contract. Keo does not have a contract (except the Watson one)
But even if he did how would this make Super Rugby or Tests go to PE?
SARU don’t like Keo. Keo is way to short to be Superman.
Seriously – lets have some facts now not supposition
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