News

Smit enthusiastic about return

September 26 2008

Springbok skipper John Smit will make his first appearance in the Currie Cup in three years on Saturday when the Sharks face the Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Smit has been unable to add to his 54 Currie Cup caps since his last domestic match in 2005 due to his commitments as Bok captain and short-lived exiled at French club Clermont.

The hooker, who will start on the bench on Saturday, has not pulled on a Sharks jersey since the 2007 Super 14 Final as an injury during this year's Tri-Nations postponed his 'fairy tail' return for province where he made his debut in 1997.

With two months of rehabilitation work behind him, Smit is ready to added to the 139 caps in all competitions for the Durbanites.

"It is exciting to be back in the Currie Cup, it's been a while," he told the Sharks website.

His return to fitness has been a testament to his hard work and that of the Sharks Medical team.

"The body feels good," he said.

"But it's been quite tough to get fit again and I'll only know if I am fit enough on Saturday when I start playing. You can only do so many shuttles and runs, the match fitness you get through playing and we'll see how it goes on the weekend."

With the Sharks leading the Currie Cup and the goals firmly set-out to be successful in this year's tournament, Smit knows only too well the memories of finals reached but finals lost.

"I've been in this position a number of times and hopefully this will be a different type of feeling from the one I am used to," he explained.

"It's nice to be back and hopefully we'll give ourselves a real chance for a home semi and home final."

The experienced front rower is enthusiastic about Saturday's game given the talent in the Sharks' side.

"When you look at the team to play the Lions this weekend, it's wonderfully well-balanced and there is strength in every department," he added.

"But that is a good and bad thing at the same time. The biggest danger for a team like this is to stay at the same level and not grow every weekend. It's wonderful to be a part of a squad like this because everyone is pushing to get better and better, so I'm glad to be back.

"It's always good to be a part of the Sharks, being away, you always wonder how things will end up and certainly things have got better since I left."