On Saturday, John Smit runs out on ABSA Stadium for his 85th Test cap, but more importantly, his 60th as captain of the Springboks. He takes over from George Gregan and Will Carling as the most capped captain in the history of the game.
As far as achievements during his reign go, it includes the Tri Nations, Curry Cup, the British and Irish Lions scalp and the top prize: the William Web Ellis.
Just under two years ago, it was decided that Smit needed to change from his preferred position of hooker, one that he has owned for more than 60 caps, to prop.
Graham Henry had the following to say about Smit’s achievement:
“John Smit commands huge respect in our team. He is a very successful captain and a World Cup winner. He is a fine player who you can see is very popular with his teammates, but perhaps most of all he is a bloody good bloke. A top man, and on behalf of the All Blacks I congratulate him on a tremendous achievement.”
The man mostly responsible for guiding Smit, starting at under 21’s, is Jake White, the coach that took South Africa to World Cup glory in 2007.
Jake White was once asked what made Smit such a good captain. He said it was Smit’s understated but extremely powerful virtue of total honesty that won him friends and incurred no enemies.
Smit, he says, disarms any potential dissenting voices with his completely natural and open leadership. No agendas, no drama, just a regular guy who is very good at his job.
“Let me put it this way,” said White. “A Springbok team contains Afrikaners, Englishmen, coloureds and blacks. It has parochial foes in Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. It is a recipe for war! Yet in all the years of John Smit’s captaincy, there has never been one unhappy customer, not one voice of rebellion against his leadership. He is the glue that holds the Springboks together. The man is a legend!”
Besides being the captain of a leading international rugby team, he is also an ambassador for South African, a very colorful and often misunderstood place in the world.
During the Barbarians tour to London last year, he was partnered up in a room with Richie McCaw. After one of Smit’s media phone calls, an astonished McCaw was surprised at the line of questioning that included Apartheid, transformation and racism in a “white” sport.
This is a little more than deciding to go for the line or kick at the post type of captain roles.
Not only has John been the glue of the team, but he also smoothed over the transition period between two extremely contrasting coaches. The man is a legend and will be remembered this way for a very long time.
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