Smit Issues England Advisory

Former Springbok captain John Smit has warned England's South African-born players to expect extra scrutiny during their upcoming tour.

The two sides will contest a three-match Test series in June.

"They will certainly get special attention. The media will be all over them when they arrive," said 111-times capped forward Smit.

"I suppose it's a little bit spicier now they're playing against the country they were born in."

Matt Stevens, Brad Barritt and Mouritz Botha were all born in South Africa - and are Smit's Saracens team-mates - but chose to ply their international careers with England.

Stevens and Barritt qualify through English relations, while Botha has taken advantage of the residency rule, which allows a player to represent a country after living there for three successive years.

"It's always a contentious issue. There's far too much made of it," said hooker Smit, who will skipper the Barbarians against England on Sunday.

"But at the end of the day they've made their decisions and they've done really well to work themselves into an international team.

"It's something that adds to making rugby union more exciting. They'll get some special attention on game day. But it will all dissipate once the first week's out of the way."

Hooker Smit retired from Springbok duty following last year's World Cup and remains his country's most capped player.

He was born in Durban, the location for the first Test between South Africa and England, and has urged the tourists to take advantage of it being Heyneke Meyer's first game as Springbok coach.

"I think if England are ambitious, the first Test is one they need to capitalise on," he said.

"South Africa will only get better and better each week they spend with their new coach.

"Sadly they are going to Durban first, which will be the most comfortable of their entire stay.

"I would have quite liked them to be put into the darkest corners of South Africa for the first week or two.

"They will be at sea level, so they won't feel that burn or the taste of blood in the back of their throats after 20 minutes, which they will feel the next week in Johannesburg."

England's South Africa itinerary

Sat, 9 June: 1st Test, Kings Park, Durban

Weds, 13 June: SA Barbarians South, Kimberley

Sat 16 June: 2nd Test, Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Tues, 19 June: SA Barbarians North, Potchefstroom

Sat, 23 June: 3rd Test, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Smit Keen to Make Saracens Impact

Former Springbok captain John Smit is keen to make a big impact for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership this season.

The man who led South Africa at the recent World Cup in New Zealand and to glory in the 2007 tournament in France insists that he has not joined Sarries for financial reasons.

"There are two types of players who have come here from the southern hemisphere," he told The London Evening Standard.

"There are the guys who want to come here and make a life here. Those guys have invariably done well and proven to be an asset to their clubs.

"You have had other guys who have come here and sat around and not paid the Premiership that respect. I'm fully aware of that, and it's not my intention.

"For someone who has played as long as I have, the last thing I want is for people to say I came here for two or three years and just sat around.

"Speaking frankly, there are many clubs someone like me could have gone to, jumped on the boat and seen how far it would take me.

"Saracens is not that kind of club. This is a dynamic club making huge inroads, and one that has been hugely successful over the past two years."

Smit believes he can add value at Saracens and hopes to share his vast knowledge of the game with the younger players at the club.

Blessed

"I'm blessed to have been given a lot of information and skills by players and coaches from before my time, and I don't want to die with all this information inside me," he said.

"If there's anyone I can help, or learn from, I'm happy to help if people ask."

Saracens' South African connection is well documented and with 12 countrymen and an upcoming Heineken Cup fixture against Biarritz scheduled to be played in Cape Town early next year, Smit will be in familiar surroundings.

The club's vision is also to take the Saracens name beyond England in order to build long-term financial security and an unrivalled fan base stretching across continents.

"From a televised point of view we see far more Saracens games on our local network in South Africa than we do of any of the other Premiership teams," Smit explained.

"It's a team that is widely known around South Africa. This trip to play in Cape Town is another sign of the club expanding and trying to grow to become a worldwide brand and not just a club in England. It's another reason why it is that much easier to choose a club like Saracens."