Smit heaps praise on Kolisi and the Boks

Celebrated former Springbok captain John Smit has hailed the achievement of his old team as they managed to put the British & Irish Lions to the sword in the third and final Test to clinch the series 2-1. 

Smit, widely acknowledged as one of the great Springbok captains, led the men in green to World Cup glory in 2007 and then to victory over the Lions in 2009 – an effort now emulated by current leader, Siya Kolisi. 

Speaking on the SuperSport studio after the match, Smit said:

"We came back from the World Cup in 2007 and wanted to back up the legacy to show the world and our supporters that we could do it again. 

"The only way to do it is to pitch up and beat the best of the north. 

"This team has done that as well in unbelievably difficult conditions. They've had Covid, they've had isolation, they've been in a bubble. All of these challenges. 

"They haven´t been able to develop new players or new strategies because they've missed out on two seasons because of the pandemic. 

"This is a special group. It's a Springbok team that continues to give hope to South Africa. They continue to perform, they leave everything out there." 

Smit also highlighted the leadership of Kolisi. 

"It´s a special story and he's been able to add on to that," he said. 

"In his first interview, he gives kudos to Eben Etzebeth because he understands the impetus and importance of that last scrum. 

"For me, that's a great leader. He understands the value of the people that he's responsible for and he gives them and the leadership group all the credit. He's an incredibly humble person."