1
'Subconsciously, it's the final the Northern Hemisphere really wanted'
The world’s two most storied Rugby World Cup teams will come together in a final for the first time since 1995, having each dismissed the best of Europe’s rugby talent.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite an immensely successful four years for both France and Ireland, neither side could overcome the Rugby World Cup-winning experience that South Africa and New Zealand both boast.
The quarter-finals saw two powerhouses fall, leaving the Southern Hemisphere with the bragging rights for another World Cup cycle.
Former Springbok captain John Smit made his international debut five years after that famous Springbok win in 1995, the legend commented on the rivalry between the two great nations making this a final for the ages.
“Subconsciously, it’s the final the Northern Hemisphere really wanted,” Smit laughed, speaking to the Front Row Daily Show.
“I always talk about how you get two debuts; the first time you play for South Africa and then obviously the first time you face the haka.
“I think it’s really just built around the respect, over 100 years, and it’s not just the rugby field, it’s the history behind the two teams.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I also think it’s the comradery, we absolutely go hammer and tongs for 80 minutes and it’s the first team that we want to be in our changing room for a beer.
“I just don’t think that there’s that kind of rivalry between two teams that is so intense for 80 minutes and yet so connected afterwards. I think that’s where the specialness lies.”
The Springboks have named a 7-1 bench split for the final, an unheard-of tactic prior to the World Cup warm-ups.
Rolling out just one back reserve at Twickenham back in August, the Springboks pummelled the All Blacks, claiming the greatest-ever winning margin over the Kiwis.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s the latest Rassie Erasmus rugby innovation, the creative Director of Rugby has a long history of pushing boundaries and seeking out opportunities to be a step ahead.
Smit witnessed the unapologetic drive for success first-hand back in Erasmus’ playing days.
“The only thing that you can say with absolute certainty about Rassie Erasmus is you can be certain of nothing that he’s going to do next.
“He’s always just one step ahead. As a player, when he was playing under Nick Mallett, there was no analysis systems and all these new software. He went and bought his own system and started doing his own analysis while playing for the Springboks. And then, he started giving feedback to Nick Mallett, the coach.
“He always tries to be one step ahead and he’s been pretty good at getting it right most of the time.
“He always finds a way, especially with this group, to get them in the right space mentally. He just knows which buttons to press.
“We’ve seen a Springbok team that always only ever did one thing, which is bash and kicked but this team has done a few things, they have innovated. Every week we see some new move, something out of the box. Like that lineout when they played straight down to Kurt-Lee (Arendse), there’s always something going on.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
3 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
3 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
3 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
87 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
228 Go to comments