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Soweto Test 'awesome' - Smit

Soweto - South Africa captain John Smit is looking forward to an "awesome experience" in his 100th Test but stressed on Friday his milestone won't distract the Springboks in the historic Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand in Soweto.

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After struggling in three successive losses in the competition, Smit said the Springboks know "we have been below our best" and need to bounce back.

"Everyone will be fully aware of what's at stake tomorrow," Smit said. "I can guarantee you it's the kind of team that will be wary of the fact that a result for the team will be more important than one guy running out for the 100th time."

The Springboks skipper, who has led South Africa in a world record 73 tests, says he expects Saturday's game at FNB Stadium to be "even bigger" than the 2007 Rugby World Cup final in Paris - where he led his country to its second world title.

Smit becoming the 15th player and second South African to reach 100 caps coincides with the first rugby international in Soweto. About 90,000 people are expected at the FNB, the biggest rugby crowd in South Africa in more than 50 years.

"I'll be pretty emotional running out tomorrow. It's going to be an awesome experience," he said, adding it would also be nerve-racking.

"I think if you had asked me who you would like to have been playing in your 100th test, there's only one team I would have picked, and that's the All Blacks."

Smit said the high points of his career so far have been lifting the World Cup on that day at Stade de France and winning the 2009 series against the British and Irish Lions.

The lows points were being forced to sit out tests through injury.

The 32-year-old front-rower made his debut 10 years ago, and was appointed captain following the 2003 World Cup in Australia, where South Africa made its worst ever showing at the tournament.

But Smit, under former coach Jake White, forged a winning partnership that captured the 2004 Tri-Nations - the first of two titles for Smit -and peaked with the World Cup triumph in Paris.

"It's been an amazing journey," Smit said.

"The game has changed over the last 10 years and I have been fortunate to see that as well. I think I'll reflect more accurately in 10 or 15 or 20 years when I'm fatter and get to have a beer with my son and get to talk about it."

The versatile hooker, who has also played 15 tests as a prop, holds South African records as the Springboks' most capped forward and most capped hooker (84 tests).

"To play 100 tests in the front row, it's a hell of an effort," said Smit's longtime rival and New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.

"You can see the way he (Smit) leads his team, he inspires them. To play 100 tests is pretty phenomenal."

Smit is South Africa's most successful modern-era captain, and considered one of rugby's best-ever captains.

"He's a guy everyone in South Africa looks up to. He's been great for our country," said South Africa vice-captain Victor Matfield, who is set to follow in Smit's footsteps next weekend with his 100th cap.

"But I think John would love the team to focus on the game, get through the game and win the game," Matfield said.

Smit echoed those thoughts on Friday, saying his 100th game "won't get in the way of an All Black-Springbok test, where we need a big result."

South Africa struggled to match the pace and attacking prowess of its great rival in back-to-back losses in Auckland and Wellington last month, leaving it desperate for a victory in Soweto.

"I think execution of how we play has been very poor," Smit said.

"The All Blacks haven't changed too much from their approach from last year but maybe we have allowed them to play their kind of rugby this year.

"We have got to be better in our execution to be able to get back to our game."

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