Bok Juan Smith retires
12 Feb 2013
Juan Smith was a giant of a Bok player. As a person he was even larger in stature. I’ll remember him for more than just being a great rugby player.
Smith quit the game today because he accepted his Achilles would continue to restrict his ability to deliver what his heart desired. He was honest with himself, which is the character that typified his time within rugby.
He has for me always been the unsung heroes of Bok rugby and was among the players of the tournament.
His desire to contribute to a successful Rugby World Cup challenge forced an early return to the field in 2011 but all it did was ensure he would not play at the highest level again.
There will be no bitterness from Smith. There will be no self pity. It is not his style.
Former Bok legend Andre Venter used to call him ‘Die Yster’; the man of steel.
Bob Skinstad, taking the DJ microphone in Tobby Joe’s in Port Elizabeth in 2003, told people that the Boks were in the VIP area and if there was only one player they should meet that night it was a player called Juan Smith.
‘This guy said Skinstad will become one of the greats of Bok rugby.’
Smith ruptured his Achilles in the opening round of the 2011 Super Rugby season.
He had four operations in the last 18 months to make it back and even though he played two of the Cheetahs Super Rugby pre-season games he said he knew the Achilles was too vulnerable to take the demands of professional rugby.
He told Die Volksblad Newspaper: ‘Were it not for the fans and my family, then I probably would have made the decision to retire much earlier. It was the fans who gave me the courage to – after several disappointing operations – attempt to make a comeback to the rugby field this year.
‘I appreciate all the support I received through the years from my family, Bok- and especially Free State supporters.’
He played 69 Tests and won the Tri Nations, the World Cup and the British and Irish Lions series.
By Mark Keohane
269 Comments
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11 Feb 2013, 20:49 pm
Great player, sad it had to end this way. Has the respect of all South African rugby players and supporters. Well most at least.
11 Feb 2013, 20:49 pm
RT @keocoza: Bok Juan Smith quits : Juan Smith was a giant of a Bok player. As a person he was even larger in stature. I’l… http://t.c …
11 Feb 2013, 20:51 pm
RT @keocoza: Bok Juan Smith quits : Juan Smith was a giant of a Bok player. As a person he was even larger in stature. I’l… http://t.c …
11 Feb 2013, 20:52 pm
RT @keocoza: Bok Juan Smith quits : Juan Smith was a giant of a Bok player. As a person he was even larger in stature. I’l… http://t.c …
11 Feb 2013, 20:54 pm
Juan Smith = Legend.
He will go down as one of the hard men of SA rugby and particularly Bok rugby.
It bears testimony to the fact that he tried to come back for one last hurrah. His heart was in it to the very end.
Go well, ou grote.
11 Feb 2013, 20:56 pm
He was a true great – the best player of RWC 2007.
11 Feb 2013, 21:02 pm
Big loss for the Cheetahs as well. We’ve got used to life without him over the last 2 seasons but I was so looking forward to his return this season. Well bleak now. Bok and Cheetahs legend.
11 Feb 2013, 21:10 pm
Dit mag dalk nie veel vir hom beteken nie, maar hy het my respek.
11 Feb 2013, 21:20 pm
RT @keocoza: Bok Juan Smith quits : Juan Smith was a giant of a Bok player. As a person he was even larger in stature. I’l… http://t.c …
11 Feb 2013, 21:25 pm
So looked 4wd to him playing again… I wish you strongs, goodluck. Succes in your future mate
11 Feb 2013, 21:54 pm
Sad but it was expected. Best wishes for him whatever career he chooses to pursue.
11 Feb 2013, 21:59 pm
Schalla next?
11 Feb 2013, 22:07 pm
Juan Smith once said ” Vir die Leeus sal ek noooit speel nie, ek verloor eerder in n Cheetahs span maar om vir die leeus te verloor is net plein k@k”. Lol
11 Feb 2013, 22:09 pm
RT @keocoza: Bok Juan Smith quits : Juan Smith was a giant of a Bok player. As a person he was even larger in stature. I’l… http://t.c …
11 Feb 2013, 22:10 pm
That’s a real shame. Hope he finds success in another vocation.
11 Feb 2013, 22:15 pm
@Slappes-13: hahahaha! That’s a good one!
11 Feb 2013, 22:19 pm
Juan’s retirement is a massive loss,not only for Cheetahs rugby ,but for Springbok rugby as well.One of my favourite Bok players ever.All of the best to him in his future endeavours ,whatever that may be.
11 Feb 2013, 22:22 pm
Rugby is for young bones and young bodies and young braves the most auspicious years of any rugby player but especially in the ferocious trenches of uncompromising attrition of loose forward play is between the ages of 21 and 26. Once the bone crunching attrition has had its effect over a series of seasons the spirit may still be willing but by then the knitting of the bones and sinews become bleak.
11 Feb 2013, 22:25 pm
yep great player
11 Feb 2013, 22:25 pm
Sheesh, that’s a pity. I didn’t see the Cheetahs’ pre season games but heard he turned them around when he came on. It’s sad to see someone retire not on their own terms but, hey, he had a good long successful career. As a kiwi, he was always one of the most respected opposition players
11 Feb 2013, 22:34 pm
Fantastic player. Very sad to see him go. Sterkte, Smirre.
11 Feb 2013, 23:06 pm
keo: have you linked your twitter account to the blog now, what’s with all these retweets from strange nics?
11 Feb 2013, 23:18 pm
Haven’t seen any worthy replacement so far to those Magnificent Four backrowers from the Free State:
Kruger, Venter, Erasmus and Smith
Have you?
11 Feb 2013, 23:19 pm
Bakkies, where are you? Thought you might like this
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/521862_528080140569384_63899439_n.jpg
11 Feb 2013, 23:29 pm
Keo, do you feel up to doing a piece on the late and great Jan Ellis while you are at it? There too was a truly harder- than- steel (and once a record holding) Springbok, who sadly passed away a few days ago (8 Feb 2013).
12 Feb 2013, 00:27 am
@Hondo-23:
During the late seventies/early eighties they had a loose forward who was just as good if not better than the 4 you mentioned. Remember Theuns Stoffberg? He also later played for the Bulls and ended up playing for WP but he is originally from the Free State.
12 Feb 2013, 00:35 am
@cyberscamp-25:
He was one of the best SA opensiders ever… even better than Rob Louw….biggest mistake he made was that he did not retire at his peak and had to play against the magnificent Lions of 74 when he was already past his best…. and as a result the great Fergus Slattery then made mincemeat of him.
12 Feb 2013, 01:11 am
@Robzim-27:
I saw him at Ellis Park Vs England, he was the captain on that test.
The Poms weren’t exactly a world beaters then and the old scoring system made the result pretty acceptable.
Softberg was talented and skillful, I didn’t know he played for OFS though
12 Feb 2013, 01:42 am
got laughed at on this blog when I suggested he would not be the same player, exactly like Ali Williams who returned half the player he was.
I guess he who laughs last huh?
commiserations Juan, was a pleasure watching you play.and Bok rugby is poorer for your exit. they need more players of your stature
Kia kaha
12 Feb 2013, 01:45 am
everyone laughs at you Pops. you are a bit of a joke hey.
12 Feb 2013, 02:12 am
yep. just like everyone laughs at bokke rugby
12 Feb 2013, 02:15 am
7 wins from 12 and you guys think you’re the best
bwahahaha. delusional. it’s hysterically funny how you guys continue to think you’re the best when you couldn’t even beat Argentine in Argentina , needing a chargedown to salvage a draw?
hahahahahaha. classically funny
12 Feb 2013, 02:20 am
stop trying to deflect the attention away from yourself Pops.
we’re laughing at you now.
12 Feb 2013, 02:22 am
the English are laughing at you and the All Blacks right now Pops.
they find 38 – 21 very funny.
12 Feb 2013, 02:24 am
@Liewe Luiperd-33: laugh away wooden spoon, doesnt worry me in the slightest..
I’ll continue to laugh at Bok rugby, how it lurches from mediocrity to mediocrity
it really is comical, especially the excuses espoused by many of her “supporters”
12 Feb 2013, 02:25 am
@Liewe Luiperd-34: onje win in 10 years, real funny
one loss in 21 games, you only ever wish your team could come close to achieving something like that, but they cant as you well know
lol clinging to Engs win, is that because your team cant beat ours? what a laugh indeed..
12 Feb 2013, 02:27 am
no penalties against your side for 60 minutes
90000 neanderthals baying for blood from the stands
leading 10-nil at one stage
and you lost 32-16?
you had 32 points scored to your 6, at ALTITUDE?
hahahahahahahaha
12 Feb 2013, 02:28 am
you’re such a comedian Pops.
I laughed when the Bokke 7s smashed your team this last weekend.
very hard, Pops.
12 Feb 2013, 02:29 am
keep deflecting Pops.
you’re a tortured soul.
you have gross inadequacy issues.
12 Feb 2013, 02:30 am
@Liewe Luiperd-38: now youve moved to the 7s?
lol
gees, how many series have you won? how many have we won?
thanks again for proving my point about Bok rugby being mediocre..
hahahahahahaha
12 Feb 2013, 02:31 am
are you going to publicly cry for us again Pops?
12 Feb 2013, 02:32 am
@Liewe Luiperd-39: so moved from laughing at me to laughing at our first loss to Eng in a decade to clinging to your sevens victory?
and Im the one with inadequacy issues?
12 Feb 2013, 02:32 am
when is your next breakdown due Pops?
didn’t you swear never to come back to keo because of the effect it was having on your personal life Pops?
12 Feb 2013, 02:33 am
@Liewe Luiperd-41: yep, with laughter when i see the Sharks choke yet again, what is it, 5 times now?
12 Feb 2013, 02:34 am
nice attempt at deflection again Pops.
you try to brush it off with a laughing smiley.
it is just covering up those paper thin cracks Pops of yours, Pops.
12 Feb 2013, 02:34 am
@Liewe Luiperd-43: now the breakdown jokes, getting desperate wooden spoon
cant do it on a rugby comparison level so now getting personal?
hahahahaha
inadequate indeed…
12 Feb 2013, 02:35 am
seriously Pops why do you let keo get to you so much?
can’t you separate your online life from the real world?
do you have a life outside of keo Pops?
12 Feb 2013, 02:36 am
keep to the personal stuff, like that isnt a deflection from the rugby truths Ive highlighted for you..
I understand wooden spoon, you feel inadequate when having to compare our countries rugby stats, and who can blame you really
your side have been emasculated the last 3 years havent they?
1 win in 8 games against us
2 or is it 3 games against the Aussies in 10 attempts
no wonder the conspiracy angle gets thrown around
you guys are weak and your rugby is a dinosaur that needs to be lanced..
12 Feb 2013, 02:37 am
shame poor Pops, perhaps I better lay off him.
we all know he can be a little sensitive at the best of times.
enjoy your day Pops. try to achieve something positive today, ok Pops?
12 Feb 2013, 02:38 am
cmon wooden spoon, stick to rugby
whats that? you dont want to because you would have to concede that your team is uber k@K
ok then mr inadequate..
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