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
4 Jun 2012, 09:08 am
Thank you very much Mr. Smit. You’ve spoken your mind (which you have every right to do) but the Springboks are a lot stronger now you and PDiv have left your overstayed welcome.
4 Jun 2012, 09:25 am
What’s John talking about? These Boks have been playing together since the beginning of the Super15.
4 Jun 2012, 09:27 am
And Smit is not the first (and won’t be the last) to suddenly proclaim the strength of NH rugby the moment he starts playing there.
Really now?
4 Jun 2012, 09:30 am
Strange how the Northern Hemisphere has suddenly gained strength.
When last did you lead a team to a grand slam Mr Smit?
4 Jun 2012, 09:43 am
Well said all of you, especially #1.
4 Jun 2012, 10:16 am
I can’t stand John (FAT BOY) Smit,
In my books he will not go down as a Springbok legend as he and his inflated EGO cost us the 2011 world cup. Smit should have stepped down and allowed the best hooker in the word to dominate.
Pathetic Mr Smit ! We don’t care about your rent-a-quotes…
4 Jun 2012, 10:20 am
Interviewer looking hard for something inbetween the lines there. Read the quotes and tell me where he says he puts his money on the poms?
Al he is saying is that they have more preptime, and if they are going to competitive, its gonna be in the first test. Thats all.
4 Jun 2012, 10:37 am
@coma(coma)-7:
Exactly.
England’s best chance of a win is in the first test. The Boks will get stronger as the series progresses as they will have more time together.
One week for Heyneke vs Lancaster’s 6N, Barbarians game and more practice time? Of course England are at an advantage and should be better prepared.
4 Jun 2012, 10:58 am
press have a way of manipulating what people say…and they make their names gat at the end of the day. last week they reported du preez was a certainty to lead the boks….LOL!!!
4 Jun 2012, 11:45 am
Blah blah blah – getting as useless in off field commentary as he was in on field play. Still think we can take the English because in all honesty the screwed up squad will still be almost identical to my ideal starting lineup.
Sharks front row, Kruger and Etzebeth at locks or at least Etzebeth on the bench, Marcell Coetzee, Alberts on flanks, 8th man was always going to be a problem, Hougaard at scrumhalf, M Steyn at flyhalf, F Steyn and De Villiers making up the centres, Habana and Pietersen on wings and posisbly Lambie at 15.
Secondly Ireland lost to the Baabaas now I must believe theyre going to be competitive against New Zealand? Wales almost lost to Baabaas and Australia have a failry decent squad. Overall business as usual down south – sorry Johnny boy. Pffff
4 Jun 2012, 12:04 pm
John have a point. I think we are all to positive! Every year we struggle first game after Super 15! It is going to be very close on Saturday.
The “Bulls” might lose Saturday 4th time in 4 weeks!
Morne Steyn lack of form is a big concern for me!
4 Jun 2012, 12:05 pm
What a bunch of churlish arseholes,the man is a legend,he won a world cup he played111 games for the Boks.
I value his opinion as do most people who know anything about rugby.
You never find any ex players saying anything bad about John.
Its just this Luke Watson cheering society here on Keo that chisel away at a great man,who by the way is still playing.
I value John ‘s opinion above Nick Malletts any day.
Maybe now people are going to see why he was such a great captain.
Meyer’s bigest dilema is finding someone that both the Bulls and Stormers players will follow.
At the moment that player doesn’t exist,the two closest are,Arian Straus and Keegan Daniel,and neither of them should make the team .
4 Jun 2012, 12:06 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-2: Very true Katman.
This team has had all the time in the world to gel according to what Meyers plan is. After all, the Bok coaches have been with them all season at the Bulls implementing the game plan.
4 Jun 2012, 12:08 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-13: Correct. And if Heyneke wants to train them up at the Tuks High Performance Centre, he’s just saved SARU a bunch on airfare by keeping the Stormers numbers down. Win-win.
4 Jun 2012, 12:09 pm
@brains_trust(brains_trust)-6:
Yeah, Du Preez could have taken the Smith road and played and be captain, but he did the respectable thing and was honest about his form and told Meyer he’s not up to test standard. Something Smitty should have done years ago…
4 Jun 2012, 12:10 pm
I await the Sharks response to him saying the English to win!
He was a god and now he is going against the whole Sharks team…
Poor taste boy. You lucky you didn’t play under HM as you wouldn’t have made the team…
4 Jun 2012, 12:12 pm
@Kietzphat(Kietzphat)-8:
Stop the excuses! The reason this team was chosen because they are a unit and have played together all season. But they lost three in a row, so four won’t really make that much of a difference…
4 Jun 2012, 12:12 pm
@clownface(clownface)-9:
Stop blaming the press…
4 Jun 2012, 12:13 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-14:
4 Jun 2012, 12:13 pm
I respect John Smit – always have. But he and his fellow Barbarian pensioners struggled against a young and fit England, and I think he now wants to find some kind of context that makes their result a little less harsh.
4 Jun 2012, 12:19 pm
16
Are you in a rest home or something read the article,all he said is that the English arrived early and are already assembled as a team ,while the Boks spent the weekend smashing each other.
He said the English are in a better preperation position than the Boks,and you and the idiot who wrote this article ,interpret it as he is backing the English against the Boks.
4 Jun 2012, 12:20 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-14: Maybe HM plan is to choose a franchise for every test series. This time round, its Bulls and a little bit of Sharks. Then come the Rugby Championship and he will go for Stormers and some Cheetahs. You know, let the provinces coach for him and he just puts the whole provincial side on the plane.
4 Jun 2012, 12:23 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-22: No doubt he’ll turn to the Kings for the games that really matter. All that talent…
4 Jun 2012, 12:24 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-17: Including their Shark contingency last Saturday.
4 Jun 2012, 12:28 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-23: Ofcourse!!!
Seems like HM’s plan is to give out the Bok jersey for cheap, like dish rags. With the concept of one franchise one test series, all SA Superrugby players will have a test cap by the end of the year.
4 Jun 2012, 12:32 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-17:
No excuses mate. I expect the Boks to win the series 3 nil.
All I’m saying is that I agree with Smit’s point that the first test is the English’s best chance of winning a game. Neither he nor I said the English are going to win.
4 Jun 2012, 12:34 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-20: John was terrible in that match. Walked around on the pitch as usual looking tired. He and Neemia Tialata looked fat and tired. Mils still looked great.
4 Jun 2012, 12:36 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-27: Ja, he was as poor as Stephen Donald.
Agree about Mills. That guy is class.
4 Jun 2012, 12:36 pm
Have there been any updates on Keo’s drug fueled orgies?
Photo’s perhaps.
Denials even.
4 Jun 2012, 12:55 pm
@cane(cane)-29: It’s all suspiciously quiet.
I’m just worried sick about Luke and Cheeky out there in the Eastern Cape. Keo and his company were their life jacket. What is to become of them now?
4 Jun 2012, 13:16 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-30: I’m frantic with worry…
4 Jun 2012, 13:20 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-18:
get foooked you poooeees!!!
4 Jun 2012, 13:21 pm
@Jeez(Jeez)-15:
I agree, well done to FDP for staying away – it’s time for the new generation to shine.
@mad eye(mad eye)-12:
mate – I used to respect Smitty but he didn’t know when to quit (even though the whole world could see his time was up) this denial to the detriment of the Boks has taken away any claim he might have at legend status.
4 Jun 2012, 13:23 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-30: @BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-31:
I see some posters were mean to Nikita yesterday.
At least she had the gumption to show up and defend herself.
Said she was posting for the last time.
Sad really.
4 Jun 2012, 13:24 pm
overrated so called legend
Tiaan Liebenberg, Strauss and Schalk Britz were better players.
4 Jun 2012, 13:29 pm
My last post is awaiting moderation.
Looks like Keo.comedy is in “damage control”.
I’ll try again:
I see some posters were mean to Young Nicky yesterday.
At least she had the gumption to show up and defend herself.
Said she was posting for the last time.
Sad really.
4 Jun 2012, 13:33 pm
looks like n ik ita is now a word for the moderator.
4 Jun 2012, 13:34 pm
@cane(cane)-34: Couldn’t be bothered to search for it. Care to give me a 30 word summary of the events?
4 Jun 2012, 13:36 pm
@cane(cane)-36:
so is saying Schalk Britz is a better player
4 Jun 2012, 13:39 pm
@brains_trust(brains_trust)-6:
grant… your disguise is slipping…
4 Jun 2012, 13:41 pm
must say that i like old lancaster…
one of the more grounded, humble pom coaches in many a year…
good luck to him…
he’s gonna need it against us…!
4 Jun 2012, 13:52 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-37:
I only looked back today, but Carol and Young Nicky had words about the way Young Nicky was presented to the Keo faithful. (the boots upward scan of the video camera).
Others had their sixpence worth as well. Nothing too bad, I must say.
And Nicky, not surprisingly, given recent disclosures, didn’t like the innuendo.
As I said above, at least Nicky fronted.
We should all commend her for that.
4 Jun 2012, 14:09 pm
i value jons opinion.
age may well have caught up with him these past couple of years but he is no idiot.
4 Jun 2012, 14:20 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-12: Rubbish.
4 Jun 2012, 14:33 pm
Most of the people above (not all) can’t put their hatred behind hem and evaluate what Smit said.
Ask yourself if you are being objective or just displaying juvenille hatred.
First of all he is going to be called often. Most capped international captain ever and living in the UK.
Look what he actually said now…
a) England did get togethe rbefore the Boks. Quite a bit before
b) The Boks are coming together with less than a week before the 1st Test and they have just been through some gruelling derbies. They will be sore while Engalnd will be rested
Engalnd will be better than the England of the last few years.
The England of 2011 was a mess. Undisciplined, selfish.
Lancaster and Robshaw have turned things around.
At home the Boks must have the advantage but to deny that England have a chance …
Argue against the points he makes and don’t play the man!
4 Jun 2012, 14:39 pm
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-44:
There’s an educated response!
Argue against @mad eye(mad eye)-12: by all means.
4 Jun 2012, 14:42 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-30:
I don’t het how Keo is even relevant to the Spears siuation
HSM manage Watson’s image etc.
That’s it
If you think SARU listened to Keo at all then it’s you that is taking something
4 Jun 2012, 14:53 pm
@Biscuit(Biscuit)-47: Actually, that’s not it. The link to a piece detailing keo’s involvement and interest in the Kings and Eastern Cape rugby has been posted here on numerous occasions. He’s involved in bringing games to the stadium too. Get the big picture before you get uppity.
4 Jun 2012, 15:47 pm
@cane(cane)-36: Yeah but bro – she is constantly on here trying to sound intellectual obviously flaunting her english and journalism studies about on an effing rugby blog. Talking in riddles and being cryptic – with that kind of aloof smartass attitude youre bound to just pi55 people off. All she had to do was come on and say I wasnt one of the employess complaining – Marks been great or if the opposite is true then stay away from the blog. All upset cos of some lame rumours who no-one cares about yet she was the one doing the blonde bombshell on video bit with Mark a few weeks back. You wann stuff about with sexuall innuendo on a rugby blog with a bunch of slobbering males then expect some jibing later no? Cry me a river man.
4 Jun 2012, 15:49 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-12: you forget to add he also didnt have the grace to retire with respect and kept a better player out of the team due to so called captaincy qualities that were non existent. Ever wondered why creamy milk turns sour if you leave it out in the sun for too long? Man disgraced himself with his attitude in the last 2 years – nothing churlish about that. Victor bowed out a gentleman. big difference.
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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