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Sydney - Former All Black captain, David Kirk, believes Springbok captain, John Smit, is well past his sell by date.
Kirk was the captain when New Zealand won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.
He recently was the guest speaker at a function in Wellington to promote next year’s World Cup tournament in New Zealand. He has been living in Sydney, Australia, for more than 10 years now.
“I am sorry to say that John Smit is no longer the player that he was previously. For a while now he has been looking a bit heavy, slow and somewhat off the pace for international rugby,” Kirk said.
The former All Black captain believes if Smith doesn’t improve drastically, South Africa cannot afford to persist with him as captain at next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
“John is an outstanding leader who has served his country with distinction. He led the Boks to World Cup glory in 2007. Last year he won a series against the British and Irish Lions and also won the Tri-Nations, but I am not sure if he has another World Cup in him,” said Kirk.
Bok coach, Peter de Villiers, supports Smith and wants to keep him for his experience and leadership.
Smit played in his 99 th Test match in the 30-13 defeat against the Wallabies at Suncorp-stadium in Brisbane last Saturday. It was the Boks third demoralising Tri-Nations defeat after they were convincingly beaten by the All Blacks in the previous two Tests in Auckland (12-32) and in Wellington (17-31).
There is a feeling in South Africa that the Bok captain is not up to standard anymore with a lot of people convinced that there are better hookers in South Africa. They believe the 32-year old is high on the list of players whose shelf life has expired in die Bok side.
Smit said recently that as soon as the Bok team starts losing, fingers get pointed at the older players in the side.
“When you lose the knives are immediately out because you are told that you are too old, but if the team wins then it is because of your experience,” he said.
The Boks tackle the All Blacks on 21 August in Soweto. Smit will no doubt play there in his 100th Test, but if his form doesn’t improve drastically it’s not known how long sentiment can still keep him in the side.
Sydney - Former All Black captain, David Kirk, believes Springbok captain, John Smit, is well past his sell by date.
Kirk was the captain when New Zealand won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.
He recently was the guest speaker at a function in Wellington to promote next year’s World Cup tournament in New Zealand. He has been living in Sydney, Australia, for more than 10 years now.
“I am sorry to say that John Smit is no longer the player that he was previously. For a while now he has been looking a bit heavy, slow and somewhat off the pace for international rugby,” Kirk said.
The former All Black captain believes if Smith doesn’t improve drastically, South Africa cannot afford to persist with him as captain at next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
“John is an outstanding leader who has served his country with distinction. He led the Boks to World Cup glory in 2007. Last year he won a series against the British and Irish Lions and also won the Tri-Nations, but I am not sure if he has another World Cup in him,” said Kirk.
Bok coach, Peter de Villiers, supports Smith and wants to keep him for his experience and leadership.
Smit played in his 99 th Test match in the 30-13 defeat against the Wallabies at Suncorp-stadium in Brisbane last Saturday. It was the Boks third demoralising Tri-Nations defeat after they were convincingly beaten by the All Blacks in the previous two Tests in Auckland (12-32) and in Wellington (17-31).
There is a feeling in South Africa that the Bok captain is not up to standard anymore with a lot of people convinced that there are better hookers in South Africa. They believe the 32-year old is high on the list of players whose shelf life has expired in die Bok side.
Smit said recently that as soon as the Bok team starts losing, fingers get pointed at the older players in the side.
“When you lose the knives are immediately out because you are told that you are too old, but if the team wins then it is because of your experience,” he said.
The Boks tackle the All Blacks on 21 August in Soweto. Smit will no doubt play there in his 100th Test, but if his form doesn’t improve drastically it’s not known how long sentiment can still keep him in the side.
