John Smit was born on 3 April 1978 in Pietersburg, he went to Pretoria Boys High where he was head prefect and played for the first XV from 1996 to 1998. As natural born leader he was destined to become captain of the Springbok team and was identified at a very young age by Jake White, making his debut for South Africa against Canada at the tender age of 22. Since his debut in 2000 John Smit has played 111 test matches for South Africa, captaining his country on 83 occasions. South Africa won 69 of the 111 tests in which John Smit represented his country, he captained South Africa 83 times winning 54 tests.
He left South Africa immediately after he returned as Victorious captain of the 2007 world cup to join French club Clermont, but was immediately recalled by Pieter de Villiers who at the time was controversially appointed as springbok coach for “non rugby reasons”.
From then his career was marred with many controversies surrounding not only his performances but also due to a rising star by the name of Bismarck du Plessis widely recognised as the best hooker in world rugby.
Not all of the controversy was his doing, as South Africa suffered a severe shortage of world class tight head props and because of the faith Pieter de Villiers had in John Smit as a leader aided in the controversy by persisting with him as a tight head prop. Now any person who has ever gone down in the front row of the tight five might know the physical requirements between tight head prop and hooker are markedly different and this did little to aid John Smit in his quest to remain respected on the field of play.
Regardless of all this controversy and many people including myself suggesting it might be time for John Smit to retire, he remained a positive influence on his team and an example to others on and off the field, never allowing any of the issues to cloud his judgement or getting him down.
Today was again one of those days where amidst a very disappointing result and circumstances where his team was absolutely dominant on the field for 80 minutes, but yet at the wrong end of the score board he was measured and articulate in his post match speech even though he must have been absolutely gutted.
John, you have done your country proud and have been a gentleman throughout your career, today’s result was not for a lack of trying, it was not for a lack of guts or determination. Today was fate, fate that dealt you and your team a hand that no matter how hard you tried, it just wasn’t your day.
You will be on a flight home soon, and I hope that when you arrive home with your team you receive every bit of respect you have earned the right to receive. I don my hat to you, and best of luck with all your future endeavours.
Thank you biltongbek for a most respectful and dignified tribute to a great Springbok captain.
111 toetse se als,frik du preez tiepe speler gewees,go well captain my captain
@ smallies72:
Good man!
John DANKIE, jy het jou lewe opgeoffer met jou trots op n Springbok trui. Geen keer het jy nie jou beste gegee nie. Baie keer was daar dalk n beter haker op vorm, maar jy het baie vir die span beteken en selde het jy ons n wedstryd gekos.
Ek is dankbaar vir wat jy gedoen het. Rus lekker en kom terug in die spel admin.
Has John resigned as well?? 😉
Springbok rugby would be in a far worse place right now but for John Smit at the helm. He has been a leader that has managed to keep the Boks as a strong unit over the past 4 years. I truly believe that without him, and with div and the smurfs in charge, we would be in the same situation as France were in the first few weeks of the WC. I also believe that he should have bowed out a year ago, and that, unfortunately, is how he will be remembered, not as one of the greatest servants Springbok rugby has ever had. I, too salute you, John Smit, and hope that you will not be lost to SA rugby.
I say again as I have on several occasions before, if JS was such an integral part of the physche of this group of players, but perhaps not the best hooker, why was a position not made for him within the management squad that would have allowed him full access to the players both on and off the field?
How many times do we see Percy running on with water and chatting to the players during a break?
Sometimes I think our SARU / Bok management have sh1t for brains!
Scrumdown wrote:
saying that implues that they do in fact have brains.
I personally think if their collective IQ reaches 50, we should sell.
@ biltongbek:
IQ implies inteligence! I’ve squashed slimy sliding creatures (slugs, blue bottles, amoeba’s) under my feet with more intelligence!
Scrumdown wrote:
Ha, in comparison those slugs are geniuses.
John, you are a hero. You had your detractors, but if anything you kept your calm in trying circumstances and did your best for the country, you will be remembered as one of the great greats of SA Rugby. Thank you for your years of service and dedication, and may your time at Saracens be a a good ands productive time for you
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