Rugby World Cup-winner John Smit warns Springboks will thrive as underdogs
World Cup-winning Springboks captain John Smit believes the All Blacks hold a clear advantage in preparation for the looming final in Paris, but warns the South Africans present a real threat with the underdog tag they have been given ahead of both teams’ shot at a fourth global crown.
Smit, speaking on the Boks Office podcast in the lead-in to the Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France, said the doubts surrounding Siya Kolisi and his team on the back of their unconvincing 16-15 semifinal victory over England last weekend could yet have an energising influence on the South Africans.
He also went to bat for under-fire Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe who has been copping plenty of grief in France after overseeing the home team’s elimination at the hands of the Boks in the quarterfinals. The New Zealander was booed repeatedly by the big Stade de France crowd as he also made a succession of crucial calls in South Africa's semifinal victory.
The 111-test hooker, who led the South Africans to victory in the 2007 final against England at the same Paris stadium the teams will line up at to decide the 2023 tournament, felt the Boks would thrive in the role of dark horses after the All Blacks’ commanding semifinal performance, and extra day’s preparation.
“I think it has to do with where we come from. We are quite resilient,” said Smit. “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'. The worst thing for us is to sit on top and talk about how good we are.”
Added 2019 World Cup-winning Boks hooker Schalk Brits on the same podcast: “The South African perspective is we like to have our backs against the wall. We want to be the underdogs. That is what Rassie [Erasmus] will say.”
Still, Smit conceded the All Blacks took one major advantage into what many are tipping to be a tight final as the Boks shoot for their second global title on the bounce and the New Zealanders for just their second on foreign soil.
“Their semifinal, without doubt, helps them in the final,” said the former Boks skipper. “There wasn't half the amount of intensity or physicality. Take the body – what they went through versus Argentina, compared to what our guys went through for 80 minutes. We have a day shorter. They will definitely rock up more physically restored.”
Brits said his biggest fear for the Boks in the final was a slow start that enabled the All Blacks to dictate early.
“When we put New Zealand under the pump, from the word go, and with 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.”
Smit also offered a taster for what it would feel like for the winning team on Sunday (NZT).
“The first thing that went through my mind when the final whistle blew was relief,” he said of the 2007 triumph. “I was more relieved than anything else. We never understood the impact of what happened or what was happening at home. You work for four years and it could all be for nothing. You come second and it's gone forever. [So] first relief and then so lucky to seal a four-year journey off with a trophy.”
Meanwhile, Smit offered his support for O’Keeffe who has copped plenty of criticism over the last fortnight in France.
“Referees do a difficult job. They are always under the pump,” he said. “They always take abuse. Getting booed in the stadium – that is the lowest point of this World Cup. That was horrible.
“Comments like that (the French team criticising O’Keeffe after their quarterfinal) shouldn't be allowed to be made without consequences. There have been no consequences, hence the crowd think that's acceptable behaviour.”
