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'The worst thing for us': Former captain on what makes the Springboks uncomfortable
By Ben Smith
As the Springboks prepare to meet the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final for the second time, former World Cup-winning captain John Smit has explained what makes South Africa uncomfortable.
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After winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup they took over the number one ranking but that tag didn’t sit well, with South Africa dropping three Tests in a row after the Lions series and failing to retain the Rugby Championship trophy.
In three years as world champions South Africa failed to win any of the Rugby Championship tournaments.
Smit explained that wearing the favourites tag is uncomfortable for South Africa as it robs them of their fighting mentality that they use as fuel.
“I think it has to do with where we come from, we are quite resilient,” he explained to The Official Rugby World Cup podcast.
“We always feel back home we are fighting through something, for something. Things aren’t always comfortable, it can be a struggle back home for a lot of people.
“Our mentality is to always knuckle down and rise up against adversity and overcome. That is why I think we fit into that seat a little bit around ‘stuff them, we want to climb up that mountain’.
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“The worst thing for us is to sit on top and talk about how good we are.”
Former hooker Shalk Brits, who was a squad member of the 2019 side, also agreed saying that Rassie Erasmus will want the underdog tag heading into the final.
South Africa stunned England four years ago sitting in a similar position after Eddie Jones’ side beat a favoured All Blacks side in the semi-final.
“The South African perspective is we like to have our backs against the wall,” he said.
“We want to be the underdogs. That is what Rassie [Erasmus] will say.”
Brits believed that the final would hinge on the start and he revealed his biggest fear for the final is the All Blacks jumping out to a quick lead.
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At Mt Smart in Auckland the All Blacks raced out to a 17-0 lead in the first 20 minutes which proved insurmountable.
In the 2019 World Cup pool game it was a similar story with two quick tries in the first half putting the All Blacks up 17-3. They went on to win 23-13.
“That is my biggest fear in the game [a poor start]. When we put New Zealand under the pump, from the word go and the way we defend, we want teams to start running against us.
“We saw against England, they kicked a lot and turned our rush defence around a lot.”
I would use the Mbonambi saga as fuel if I were Rassie. I would frame it as an attack, which might be complete nonsense, but whatever works in your changeroom on the day. It’s about what people believe.
Always. That’s who Rassie is.
I don’t care what “Ben Smith” “writes” on RugbyPass. He is a CHILD when it comes to the Boks.
I don’t understand how he can still be allowed to “write” stuff here when you look at his X (twitter) account.
It’s not even that has an opinion… he’s like a 5th grader with ZERO knowledge of rugby.
Ian Cameron, Hamish Bidwell & rest of the guys write decent stuff… then there’s this bloke…
Easy, he was only quoting and paraphrasing an interview with South Africa’s Smit. Hardly an opinion piece, just a few facts to elaborate on Smit’s opinion.
John the only thing that matters is the World Cup. No matter the Championships etc. tests, the World Cup is all that matters.
The last match between the two,i didn't see the ABs do anything for about the first 60 minutes Boks shut them down 2023 Twickenham repeat on it's way ,roll on all the excuses😉 it wasn’t a real match,it was just for fun,we only had 14 players,if so the AB’s should have refused to play if they weren’t serious, they were overwhelmed.As I undersand the AB’s as a team always go on a field to win,Not?
Yes I agree but a game that was pointless.. a warmup that SA took seriously? It was a all about the money that the RFU made with a record crowd. ABs down to 13 men for 20 minutes then 14 for the rest of the game? Lomax a cut to his thigh from plastic sprigs?! I’m not the only kiwi who thought why didn’t we play our B team in that game, the SA basically took our best tighthead out of the game for 5 weeks. Now he’s back & 4 others who didn’t play that game. There is some steel now in the AB forwards who have short memories of that game .
Haha, yeah I reckon that game was the biggest favour that SA could done for the AB’s ahead of the final.
Last game I watched that mattered between the two, the AB’s smashed a tough talking Springbok team in the first 18mins of the game then dropped it down a gear to coast to victory.
Guess we’ll soon see what repeats and if SA’s run of luck continues aye? Can’t WAIT!
SA are 4 to 3 ahead in wins against the AB’s at neutral venues. I expect that ledger will be re-balanced on Saturday.
Yep, the Boks stormed to the Qatar Airways Cup victory.
Hey Ben, will we see you writing here soon after the final (and about the final) regardless who wins? Asking for some friends 😎
Rugby Pass we can all write Ben Smith’s drivel for you after the final, free of charge.
If NZ win it will be how incredibly this team is, without peers. Also about the magnificent turn around from their mid world cup cycle slump.
If the Boks win, he will highlight that they are a cup team, a lucky one at best. not worth mentioning in the same breath as the AB all conquering 2011-2015 team, that also went back to back.
See easy, mahala. Hope we are treated to awesome rugby, Boks v All Blacks, once in a generation occasion!!
lol, youve pretty much nailed it, thats Ben Smiths writing (cause its NOT journalism) in a nutshell, take his crayons away rugbypass!