John Smit Tribute- Springboks captain
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- Опубліковано 10 лип 2015
- John Smit is the former South Africa captain and inspirational hooker who memorably led his side to the sport's biggest prize at the 2007 World Cup in France.
South Africa's most-capped captain has anchored the Springboks' scrum more times than any other player and also appeared in a record 46 consecutive Test matches between 2003 and 2007. Nick Mallett, his former coach, handed a 22-year-old Smit his international debut against Canada on 10 June 2000, using him as a replacement in the Springboks' comprehensive 51-18 victory.
Smit retained his place in the squad throughout that year's Tri-Nations campaign and was finally given his first start against Argentina on 12 November 2000. The gamble to throw Smit into the cauldron of the River Plate Stadium - packed with 60,000 fans - paid off with his hooker delivering an accomplished performance.
Smit held onto the No.2 shirt throughout the end-of-year tour to Europe and for the incoming tours the following year but was displaced for the 2001 Tri-Nations.
Although he remained part of the squad until the end of the year, scoring his first Test try against Italy, he dropped out of the international picture for the following 18 months with a recurring shoulder injury. The next South Africa coach, Rudolf Straeuli, handed recalled him to their squad for the 2003 World Cup.
He featured in all five matches in Australia and became the 51st player to captain the Springboks in the 46-19 win over Georgia on 24 October.
Jake White was appointed as the new Springboks' coach in early 2004 and he handed Smit the captaincy on a permanent basis. The two immediately struck up a winning partnership with South Africa clinching their first Tri-Nations crown since 1998.
Smit went on to play a South African record of 46 consecutive Test matches between 2003 and 2007 before his run was cruelly cut short ahead of the Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand in Durban by injury.
That year began well for Smit and the Springboks with two crushing victories over England but Tri-Nations disappointment followed. But the World Cup brought redemption with Smit featuring in all seven victories, culminating with the 15-6 final triumph over England at the Stade de France in Paris.
In the first game of the 2008 Tri-Nations Smit was the victim of a spear tackle from New Zealand's Brad Thorn. That tackle, and a subsequent groin injury, brought a premature end to his campaign.
Smit has played all his provincial rugby in South Africa for the Sharks with whom he was a beaten finalist in the 2001 Super 12 competition where they lost out to the Brumbies. Smit was captain of the Sharks side that were beaten by South African rivals the Bulls in the final of the 2007 super 14 competition.
In the run-up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup Smit was linked with a lucrative move to French Top 14 club ASM Clermont Montferrand. When his move was confirmed after the Rugby World Cup the South African Rugby Union made the unprecedented decision that Smit would retain the Springboks captaincy.
Smit made only a few appearances for his new club but featured as a replacement in the Top 14 Final defeat to Toulouse. After just one year in France, Smit re-signed with Natal and the Sharks in South Africa.
At the end of 2008, he bounced back from his injury woes to lead South Africa on an undefeated tour of the UK with victories over Wales, Scotland and most memorably England - condemning them to their biggest-ever defeat at Twickenham. Following the end of the Springboks tour, Smit captained the Barbarians in their 18-12 loss to Australia at Wembley Stadium.
In 2009 Smit led the Springboks to a 2-1 series victory over the British & Irish Lions. He scored a try after four minutes in the narrow 26-21 win over the tourists in the first Test in Durban and played in all three matches in the series. Later the same year he steered the Springboks to the Tri-Nations crown for the first time since 2004 and during their campaign he became the most-capped captain in Test rugby history. The title was wrapped up with victory over New Zealand in Hamilton - their third successive win against their old rivals.
Defeats at the hands of France and Ireland at the end of the year tarnished an otherwise stand-out year but he led the Springboks back to winning ways in 2010, racking up 50 Test wins as captain against Italy in East London. Later the same year he became the 15th player to join the ranks of rugby's Test centurions and in 2011 was named as the man to lead South Africa to the Rugby World Cup despite fears over his form at provincial level. - Спорт
The most successful Spring Bok Captain ever.Respect John William Smit a true gentleman of the game and a great leader.
Mitchell Simataa he was lucky he had world class players alongside him! if he was captain this year for the springboks I suppose they would have lost all 12 tests! it's that bad!
DesertFox even Juan de Jongh is 100 times better than that fatass!
DesertFox at least de Jongh wasn't fat and slow
DesertFox I can run faster than him :p
DesertFox now look at Malcolm Marx (same position as that fatass😂). he's a hundred times better than Smit just had a horrible test debut against NZ because he wasn't familiar, I can forgive that, look he's so much more mobile than Smit. so much better of a ball carrier
Legend. Absolute legend.
You guys are hating on Smit. He took over captaincy from Krige after a disastrous WC2003 campaign and became the most successful BOK captain. He was never perfect as a player and definitely held back Bizmarck but at the time he became captain there was no one else that could have done a better job. Most experienced players were retiring. And how is he lucky that he played with some of the best players for their generation, that should be a good thing or are you guys missing the point? Good teams and successful teams need good players across the board, that's why we won in 95' and 2007'. Give the man credit and stop being trolls.... Its unSouth African.
Only Gary Teichman comes close to John Smit as a leader of men! I salute you John. So humble.
What about Morne Du Plessis
Where can I find his one arm push-up at the beginning of the wc final 2007
Best Captain SA has had post Aparthied.
One of the most overrated players ever!
Patrick Campbell this Desert Fox doesn't know how fat and slow he was! I totally agree he is one the most overrated players ever!!
DesertFox no no no I can name you 9 hookers who were better than Smit 😂
My opinion on the order of best hookers in SA Rugby at that time
1. Bismarck
2. Strauss
3. Ralepelle
4. Liebenberg
5. Marutlulle
6. Deon Fourie
7. Maku
8. Gary Botha
9. Ryno Barnes
10. John Smit
end of story. if i can name 9 hookers better than that obese guy you can't fight with me
DesertFox no I didn't they are all world class! no player comes close to losing to John Smit!
Remember me? I have to say, smit was the worst hooker in Sa rugby! Malcolm Marx is the greatest hooker in a long time! A hooker that only comes in once in a generation. You shouldn't call smit a legend. Does not deserve it.
Aman Gaming Dane Coles is better than marx