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Springbok Roelof Smit claims treatment at Bulls made him walk

14 Dec 2019

Roelof Smit

There is certainly no love lost between Lions new recruit Roelof Smit and his former Super Rugby side the Bulls – reports Rugby365’s Leezil Hendricks.

The 26-year-old flank burst onto the scene in 2016. He was selected for the Springboks tour of Europe and played against the Barbarians.

He was on the verge of being selected for the Springboks in 2018 but numerous injuries have hampered his promising career.

And his lack of game time at the Bulls, where he spent several years, certainly did not make things any easier.

Angered and frustrated, Smit, who made the move across the Jukskei River to join the Lions ahead of the 2020 season, revealed why he left the Bulls.

“The main reason I came to the Lions was the lack of game time at the Bulls,” Smit told reporters, adding: “The Bulls didn’t back me.

“Yes, the last two or three years I did struggle with a few injuries, but the way I was treated this year [2019] made it so much worse. They didn’t even communicate with me.

'Discussions between the Scarlets and New Zealand Rugby are at an early stage'. https://t.co/WCjc7AXSeZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 14, 2019

“Going into 2019 I had huge expectations; was eager to work hard, I know what I can do and I was willing to sacrifice my body and really wanted to serve the team.

“However I didn’t get the opportunity and that is why I’m at the Lions now.”

The former Junior Springbok added that despite not having big expectations, he is happy to be at his new side and is eager to learn from the likes of Warren Whiteley.

A number of top coaches who were asked to apply didn’t because they saw it as nothing more than a box-ticking exercise by NZ Rugby.https://t.co/F5tiaUfdPx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 14, 2019

“At the moment I just want to play rugby, I don’t really have big expectations. I’m just literally taking it day by day and enjoying my pre-season with the Lions.

“It already feels like I’ve been here for three years. I just want to learn from the likes of Warren Whiteley,”

He added: “The Lions work hard and I’m just very happy to be here. They work with you spiritually, physically and whatever level there is.”

The Lions kick off their Super Rugby campaign against Jaguares on February 2 in Beuness Aires followed by a fixture at home against the Reds.

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Comments on RugbyPass

RedWarriors 8 minutes ago

Fiji international Josaia Raisuqe dies aged 30

Terrible news for that young mans family, friends and team mates. Rugby is only sport. This is devastating.

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RedWarriors 11 minutes ago

Why ‘the curse of the Bambino’ is still stronger than ever at Leinster

That is hindsight and nobody thought Ireland would trash Scotland before the match. Were you advocating Ireland rest 5-6 frontline players…be honest?

That was how the match panned out. Ireland scored after 60 seconds. Scotland attacked for 20 mins in the Irish half and Ireland scored again. Then Scotland had to score caution to the wind and Ireland picked them off.

On another day Scotland score first, the ball doesn’t stick for Ireland and its a close match.

Again, Scotland kept SA close deep into their match and bar a terrible error by Darcy they should have been a try up at Half time.

Playing the #5 ranked team demands respect. Ireland having to play Scotland 6-7 days before the Quarter Final is a clear disadvantage. Saying Ireland should have won anyway is disingenuous to NZ who played the best rugby of the knock outs.

Again: If SA have to play Scotland 6-7 days before the France match: do they win?

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Tommy B. 17 minutes ago

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😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Bell ‘demolished England last year?’ What on Earth are you talking about? Seven A’s was rubbish for a long time after his injury, and hardly tearing up trees at international level before.

He now seems to be regaining some form at SRP level, which seems to translate in your mind into ‘global international superstar.’

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Sophie Mulller 18 minutes ago

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Tommy B. 21 minutes ago

Why former All Black believes the Wallabies will beat the B&I Lions

Indeed. It’s delusional.

49 Go to comments

Tommy B. 22 minutes ago

Why former All Black believes the Wallabies will beat the B&I Lions

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

I’ve watched all those players play on TV many times. I even watched the English lad Potter play in the flesh - which was quite lucky as he was struggling to get into the Leicester starting 15.

The English centre pairing by the RWC is likely to be Freeman and Lawrence. I’m VERY happy to go with them. Ikitau, who all you Aussies rave about, has yet to really standout at international level, and you have absolutely no idea how Suaalii would be in the centres at international level. I’ve lost track of the number of Aussie ‘league superstars’ who were going to tear everyone a new one in international Union, but strangely, never did.

What other ones have you got? Please don’t say Kerevi. I wouldn’t put any Aussie centre combination you could come up in the world’s top 7 or 8 at the moment, and centre is a position many Aussie pundits keep banging on about as an area of weakness.

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BA 27 minutes ago

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Moana in Hawaiii could be good place to take a home match?…

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BA 29 minutes ago

USA team in Super Rugby Pacific is not the answer right now, but this is

Hong Kong now there is a place to put a team she would be all imports but surely you could find a Rich cat over there ?

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BC 31 minutes ago

SVNS stars Caslick and Hinds to start for Wallaroos against Black Ferns

It will be interesting to see how the Wallaroos fare. I’m sure their backs have some potency but it is the forwards who will have to be technically competent and front up. I wish them well.

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BA 32 minutes ago

USA team in Super Rugby Pacific is not the answer right now, but this is

Japan don’t need a Super side they got their own comp that’s going fine with their own fans

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Tommy B. 32 minutes ago

Why former All Black believes the Wallabies will beat the B&I Lions

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

It ‘worked well’ against England (for your 2nd win in a decade) because England’s defensive system was all over the place as Felix Jones had walked out half way through implementing the complex blitz system, and England STILL should have won that game with something to spare.

49 Go to comments

Tommy B. 36 minutes ago

Why former All Black believes the Wallabies will beat the B&I Lions

Well, 7s alone that will be in contention for England at the next RWC - Jack Willis; Tom Curry; Ben Curry; Sam Underhill; Ben Earl; and younger ones coming through, Henry Pollock and Guy Pepper. With respect, I think we’ll survive.

None of the established England backrowers have notably seemed to feel any discomfort playing against your ‘world class’ list of players that have had 40 points stuck on them by England at the 2019 RWC and failed to get out of the pool at the 2023 one.

Your definition of ‘world class’ seems to be ‘had a few good games in the SRP.’

49 Go to comments

BC 39 minutes ago

Black Ferns reward 18-year-old's form in team to face Wallaroos

Yes, come World Cup time it is dominant forwards who will win crunch matches and England and Canada are currently top of that pile. Ireland aren’t far behind and have some excellent backs as well. England are playing a far more expansive game these days and their backs are demolishing teams with the ball provided by the forwards. Canada are more forward based as their backs are not as potent.

I’m surprise Leti-I’iga is still picked on the wing. She is strong and explosive over 25 yards but after that she is not quick enough for an international wing. Perhaps she should be tried as ball crashing 12 but that depends on the preferred style of play.

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Guest 41 minutes ago

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Thanks John, really enjoy the podcast with you and Finn, keep up the good work 👍

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Tommy B. 42 minutes ago

Why former All Black believes the Wallabies will beat the B&I Lions

I watch SRP. It’s on at a very convenient time Saturday morning in England. None of the Aussie sides have particularly impressed me any more than they have previous years. The debate about their ‘improvement’ never seems to look at the other side of the ledger - the decline in some of the NZ sides.

One of the ‘superstars’ you’re all raving about, Potter, struggled to be a regular starter for Leicester.

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BC 53 minutes ago

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It’s not 4 straight wins over Fiji, but Scotland was their only scalp of note. I’m sure they have improved but they are now faced with a new level of competition. The only realistic chance of a win is against USA and the other scores could be a difference of 30+ points. I wish them and Jo Yapp well but I think the Wallaroos will remain somewhere in the 5 to 7 region in the World Rankings. I would expect Ireland, at least, to beat them.

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BigGabe 55 minutes ago

'Love him or hate him, Henry Pollock has got the rugby world talking.'

I may be somewhat incorrect here, given that Michalak played when I was growing up, but I was under the impression that he is remembered quite fondly as a player and deserving of adulation? I always thought that he was fun to watch, but this may also be nostalgia for French flair in the Curry Cup at a time when flair was a foreign word in the South African rugby lexicon. A quick bit of research tells me that he has won the Heineken cup 6 times, the French division a number of times, the Curry Cup, Super rugby silver medal, second highest points scorer for France in history, 77 caps for country, record points scorer for FRA in world cups..is this not good enough? Just curious.

Otherwise, I enjoyed the article. Personally, I stepped away from the world of rugby for a while (moved to the US etc etc) and been slowly getting back into it since the 2019 world cup when an English friend asked if I wanted to follow the tournament with him. As a South African, it has worked out well for me tbh. But your point that rugby is conservative is something that has really bothered me in the last few years - it’s something that I just do not understand. As a Saffa, I am obliged to dislike Pollock when he pulls on a national jersey - that comes with the territory. A huge part of that is also bc I would love to have this kind of guy on our team (nothing against our team), his work rate and energy is infectious and clearly he has a positive effect on his teammates. How can a fan of rugby dislike him, or think his antics are too much? Are supporters and/or the media afraid of having someone with opinions in the sport? Genuine question here, looking for genuine answers.

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BK 1 hour ago

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Thanks, Nick. That first try reminds me of the Mounga-Jordan one during RWC quarter final … a lot of teams will be watching this game to see how to beat the rush defence …

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BK 1 hour ago

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The 62-0 and 52-0 nil did them no favours. Plus just how good they are on paper. These two things also led to having Jordie on the bench. It’s like the ABs team between 2004-2010 that used to go unbeaten every year and lose maybe 1 game - when the RWC rolled around and they had to play knock out rugby against a team that got it right on the day - France ‘99, Aussies ‘03 and France again ‘07 - they blinked. Feels like that with Leinster in this game more than even the losses to Toulon or La Rochelle which were good teams …