Where is 2007 Springbok winning captain John Smit now?
Between October 2003 and June 2007, John Smit played in a record 46 consecutive Test matches for his country.
John Smit is one of the most iconic Springbok players, having led the team to their second World Cup title in 2007.
Smit made his debut for the Springboks against Canada in 2000. Between October 2003 and June 2007, he played in a record 46 consecutive Test matches for his country and was appointed captain by the then-new coach Jake White. Under White’s mentorship, Smit played arguably his best rugby for the Springboks.
John Smit lifted the RWC in 2007
After playing 46 consecutive matches, Smit suffered an injury against Australia in the Tri Nations, which sidelined him for the remainder of the tournament. However, he recovered in time for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, during which he started in 6 out of 7 Springbok matches. Under his leadership, South Africa won the William Webb Ellis Trophy for the second time, defeating England in the final.
Boks were cruising nicely under ‘Snor’
In 2008, when Jake White left the Springboks, Peter de Villiers was appointed as the new coach. One of de Villiers’ first decisions was to re-appoint John Smit as captain.
In 2009, Smit led the Springboks to a series victory against the British & Irish Lions. Following this success, he also guided the team to victory in the 2009 Tri Nations, where South Africa won five of their six matches, including a clean sweep of three wins against the All Blacks.
John Smit was inducted in IRB Hall of Fame
Smit retired from international rugby after a disappointing campaign at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, where South Africa was knocked out in the quarter-finals. He is one of South Africa’s most successful captains, having led the Springboks to victory in 46 of the 64 matches he captained, yielding a win percentage of 72%. Smit was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011 while still an active player.
After his retirement, John Smit served as the Sharks CEO from 2013 to 2016. In April 2018, he was elected to the board of SA Rugby as a players’ representative. Currently, Smit is the Group CEO at SSG Holdings.
Who is the greates Springbok captain?
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