Springboks feel there is unfinished business

RUGBY LIONS TOUR:IF LEINSTER were to find someone resembling a like-for-like replacement for the departed Rocky Elsom, then Juan Smith is probably the man. Alas, as with most of the elite Test frontliners around, the impending 2011 World Cup probably makes such acquisitions unlikely at this point in the four-year cycle.

A selflessly hard-working, consistent and durable blindside flanker, who has started all but one of his last 40 Tests since 2005 and played in all but the last of South Africa’s 13 Tests last season when injury sidelined him for the win over England. He’s also a quick and dynamic ball-carrier (10 tries in 54 Tests), a very useful lineout option, brings leadership as captain of the Cheetahs (starring in a team that finished bottom of the Super 14) and comes across as a surprisingly softly spoken, down-to-earth 27-year-old.

Born and raised in Bloemfontein, Smith has always played for the Cheetahs and clearly retains a deep-felt loyalty to South African rugby. That said, it’s clear he fears another flight of wild geese like proportions after this summer.

“I promise you that has been a big concern for South African rugby. They need to keep the core of this Test team together, especially for the next World Cup. You need to keep the experienced guys, and that is something that South Africa needs to look at. They could lose a lot of players – maybe, maybe not – after the Lions’ visit.”

Smith, who broke into the Boks’ team in 2003, during the somewhat difficult build-up to that year’s World Cup under Rudolf Streauli, is altogether different from his fellow Cheetahs’ backrower Heinrich Brüssow. The latter will make his first Test start with five 50-cappers in the pack and the core of the 2007 World Cup team around him.

Smith, who was as influential as any player in that triumph, reckons that will help Brüssow considerably. “For the Free State in the Super 14 he was one of the guys that really stood out for himself and I think that’s the attribute he’s going to need to play well in this series. He’s picked for a specific reason, and I have to say I think he’ll just go.”

Beating the Lions remains the last, defining challenge for many of this generation’s careers, and this week has been almost two years coming.

“It’s like a dream come true,” he says, and like all his team mates he can remember the events of a dozen years ago.

“In ’97 I was 16. I was at home with my dad watching the games. It was really disappointing. We lost that series and that’s the thing in the camp at the moment – we almost have unfinished business, you know. I am very privileged to be part of this Springbok team at the moment.”

A country for which rugby is an expression of nationhood expects? “Yes,” smiles Smith. “But you know, it’s good pressure. If there wouldn’t be any pressure you wouldn’t be able to play rugby. Going into this Lions series after a World Cup there is a lot of expectancy from the public for us to do well. I think we have produced in the past and we will produce again.”

The lessons of history have also been re-enforced by a recent visit to the Boks’ camp by members of that losing ’97 team. “The thing that I could pick up from those guys that played in ’97 was the disappointment that they didn’t take their chances, especially with the goal-kicking, and I think we need to go into this Test and know that there will only be one or two opportunities and we need to take them. If it’s goal-kicking or to score a try before the final whistle blows, I think we need to take every opportunity that we get.”

If there is one fear amongst South Africans it is that their team might be under cooked, but the way Smith describes it they’re like a club side anyway.

“The positive thing for this squad is that we have played together for the last four years and we have won a World Cup together. Everyone knows what to expect from the guy next to you. We have been through World Cups and Tri-Nations. I think we are a team for the big occasion and this is one of the big occasions for which we need to step up.”