ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

John Smit claims everything is 'on the line' as the Springboks face England challenge

BY Jack Tunney  ·  Wednesday Oct 18, 2023

Springbok legends John Smit and Victor Matfield have been discussing the English challenge that South Africa will face this coming weekend in Paris.

ADVERTISEMENT

On their Boks Office podcast, the two former players discussed in detail the upcoming semi-finals, and the incredible performance that saw the Springboks progress from their quarter-final match with hosts France.

Victor Matfield: “I couldn’t believe the crowd. It was unbelievable. To be a referee with a crowd like this, not giving everything to the home crowd must be so difficult because everything is happening. The crowd went wild.”

John Smit: “There are different types of performances. You can have a flawless performance but the best games that provide the best results are where you are up, then they are up. The pressure is on. I think those are the test matches that get people riled up that a flawless game doesn’t bring out in people.”

Matfield: “That is where you also see a quality team. We [South Africa] were outplayed. I think in the first 60 minutes we were outplayed. The French arrived here, they were ready for this game. They had this crowd behind them, they were so good in that first 20 minutes. It’s the first time I have seen South Africa’s defence scramble like that. Not just on the edges, I mean they physically dominated. They got momentum, made metres, the kicking game of Dupont. It put us under pressure but this teams knows how to win games.”

PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 15: Siya Kolisi of South Africa celebrates victory with members of the crowd at full-time following the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between France and South Africa at Stade de France on October 15, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

It was from here that conversation quickly turned to the match which is being billed as a 2019 rematch.

ADVERTISEMENT

Smit: “It’s probably as a captain the easiest week to motivate your players in. I suppose there are many reasons for that but motivation there will be no shortage of that. I think our issue 16 years ago was complacency and I think that might be something to watch.

“If you think about 2019 and England sort of playing their final against New Zealand. If you can’t reset emotionally in the week and come down and realise we are back to square one again you can get a surprise. If we took these two teams [South Africa and England] and they played each other 10 times in the last two years there’s probably a large amount of those game would be won by South Africa. But everything is on the line. There is also a desperation from this England team that got absolutely ridiculed, they have resurrected their campaign. How desperate can our guys get again to give themselves an opportunity to go back-to-back? There’s lots to play for.”

Matfield: “England can beat us. I think they are the one team that plays a very conservative type of game. They play in the right areas, they play territory, they don’t take any chances. They take the three points, getting a little bit ahead, waiting for the opposition to make mistakes. That is a difficult game to play against, especially for us who like going off turnovers.”

Related Articles

  • 52 WEEKS AGO

    Jonny Gray to exit Exeter Chiefs with immediate...

  • 52 WEEKS AGO

    Former Connacht hooker shares brilliant rugby...

  • 52 WEEKS AGO

    Official calls halt to play amidst double-call...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    The Gallagher Premiership is back - A thrilling match at Tottenham

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Sensational score at the Stadio Olympico

  • 14 WEEKS AGO

    Flying frenchman scores tremendous try for Toulon

  • 14 WEEKS AGO

    Young England hopeful continues to impress with double against Stade Français

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Full throttle Premiership final rematch ends in heartache

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    Wallabies wunderkind Sua'ali' and Scotland captain Tuipulotu clash

  • 23 WEEKS AGO

    Ireland 'steal' Argentina's opening try as debate rages

  • 24 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: The biggest hit from week one of the Autumn Nations Series

  • 27 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 28 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    'A few nuts and bolts out' - Eden Park streaker sheds boxers to achieve goal

  • 12 WEEKS AGO

    SHOCK results in the PWR keeps top four race thrilling

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Santiago Carreras scores a blinder in front of thrilled Kingsholm crowd

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Kildunne finishes off STUNNING team try

  • 19 WEEKS AGO

    Supporters can't believe Saracens Sharp's UNBELIEVABLE finish

View All

Funnies

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    'A few nuts and bolts out' - Eden Park streaker sheds boxers to achieve goal

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Nightmare blunder from Exeter winger as try goes wanting

  • 18 WEEKS AGO

    'A dog with a mallet up its arse could’ve written Johnny’s book' Donnacha O'Callaghan

  • 19 WEEKS AGO

    ‘The knee slide was too much’ - Ben Earl reflects on THAT viral moment

  • 19 WEEKS AGO

    U.S. Army Special Operations Sergeant Major makes big claim about rugby

View All

Amateur

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Nightmare blunder from Exeter winger as try goes wanting

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Santiago Carreras scores a blinder in front of thrilled Kingsholm crowd

  • 119 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 119 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 142 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

View All

Player Features

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    The Capuozzo try that jump-started Italy's victory

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    RugbyDump's top five backrows in 2024

  • 19 WEEKS AGO

    ‘The knee slide was too much’ - Ben Earl reflects on THAT viral moment

  • 19 WEEKS AGO

    Marcus Smith makes big call on his future

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    'Eligible for England' - Fans react to South African star's contract announcement

View All