Rumour has it Francois Pienaar is involved and stands to make over R100mil if deal goes through... if this rumor is true, then one has to question the intention of this deal... either way we are not been provided with sufficient clarity, hence the publics lack of trust in this deal...
Very interesting feedback on the rugby franchise equity deals. John put it in a simple practical way. If there is no money, we won't have the winning game going forward.
another great interview. John was a great captain, Jake out maneuvered the politics of 2007 to win that RWC 2007. Again, boks were not best team on paper but won and fit that culture issue just like Rassie has created over the past 7 years. The players know it’s all about the team and playing in the bok jersey.
Lots of respect for John Smit but very unconvincing and uncomfortable tonight.Understand his position as council member but he sounded like a politician tonight..Lack of transparency killed ASG deal.We are talking about a national treasure rather than company asset.No place for secrecy and confidentiality.ASG deal and way it was handled tearing SA rugby as a whole apart.
This was so disappointing to watch. The ignorance of John Smit was truly shocking. There is no way on earth our players can compete all year round without a proper break. I find it strange that a former Springbok captain can't see what is happening. Here is the challenge for SA teams in my view. 1. Our teams travel way more than European teams. Sharks Bulls Lions and Stormers will play eight games in Europe even before the playoffs. URC European teams will have two games in South Africa and some Investec Champions Cup teams from Europe will have maybe one game in South Africa. The difference is massive but nothing can be done about that. 2. Our players don't have an off season. Our players play 12 months of the year, no other country in the world is doing that. I thought payer welfare meant something. Our top players get paid less and must play more games than any other country. Who in his right mind will do that for long? 3. We have the smallest salary cap in the world. 4. Our system is broken. If the Springbok coach is allowed to select players who play for foreign clubs then our clubs should be allowed to compete without restrictions from SA rugby or the Springbok coach. Rassie can't tell Leinster to play RG less or give him time off. Those restrictions are placed on our clubs by Rassie and SA rugby. It is totally unfair. If players who play for foreign clubs can play for the Springboks then our clubs must have the same freedom with our players as the international clubs have. We are literally shooting ourselve in the foot. There are 209 foreign players in the French top 14. On average each French club has almost 15 foreign players in their senior squad. The French have almost no French players playing outside of France for foreign clubs. We have over 150 players playing for foreign clubs and less than one foreign player per team playing for our URC teams. Our system is going to collapse. We pay less, have more restrictions on our clubs, our players have to play more games, and we don't allow our clubs total independence. The French is doing amazing. They have put their clubs above the French international team. The French Top 14 is the strongest and best paying league in the world. It is producing a mountain of players for the French. In 2024 the French used more players for their national team than what Rassie did at the Springboks. The French took B team with not a single first choice player to Argentina and drew the series. They are building a machine. Their clubs are going to make them untoucable. We have to make a massive mind shift and start focusing on our clubs. If all four our URC teams can compete the Springboks will be even stronger and more players can rest. We don't need 51 successful Springbok players, we need 100. We can do it if we are clever about it. Last point John wasn't honest or he is maybe ignorant. The foriegn clubs also don't always send their strongest teams to Investec Champions Cup games. To suggest it is only us is false.
Rumour has it Francois Pienaar is involved and stands to make over R100mil if deal goes through... if this rumor is true, then one has to question the intention of this deal... either way we are not been provided with sufficient clarity, hence the publics lack of trust in this deal...
What an interesting show and insight into what South African teams have to manage in order to to compete in the European Championship
Very interesting feedback on the rugby franchise equity deals. John put it in a simple practical way. If there is no money, we won't have the winning game going forward.
I've met and spoken with Captain John Smit many times!!!
another great interview. John was a great captain, Jake out maneuvered the politics of 2007 to win that RWC 2007. Again, boks were not best team on paper but won and fit that culture issue just like Rassie has created over the past 7 years. The players know it’s all about the team and playing in the bok jersey.
Lots of respect for John Smit but very unconvincing and uncomfortable tonight.Understand his position as council member but he sounded like a politician tonight..Lack of transparency killed ASG deal.We are talking about a national treasure rather than company asset.No place for secrecy and confidentiality.ASG deal and way it was handled tearing SA rugby as a whole apart.
13:30 winners win no matter what
You are listening to John Smit for management and financial advice? The man who sank and virtually destroyed the Sharks. Yes it sounds arrogant.
Smitty - I need to tell you about Ozempic 😂 😂 😂
His nickname is Barney…. Looking similar too…😊
This was so disappointing to watch. The ignorance of John Smit was truly shocking.
There is no way on earth our players can compete all year round without a proper break. I find it strange that a former Springbok captain can't see what is happening.
Here is the challenge for SA teams in my view.
1. Our teams travel way more than European teams. Sharks Bulls Lions and Stormers will play eight games in Europe even before the playoffs. URC European teams will have two games in South Africa and some Investec Champions Cup teams from Europe will have maybe one game in South Africa. The difference is massive but nothing can be done about that.
2. Our players don't have an off season. Our players play 12 months of the year, no other country in the world is doing that. I thought payer welfare meant something. Our top players get paid less and must play more games than any other country. Who in his right mind will do that for long?
3. We have the smallest salary cap in the world.
4. Our system is broken. If the Springbok coach is allowed to select players who play for foreign clubs then our clubs should be allowed to compete without restrictions from SA rugby or the Springbok coach. Rassie can't tell Leinster to play RG less or give him time off. Those restrictions are placed on our clubs by Rassie and SA rugby. It is totally unfair. If players who play for foreign clubs can play for the Springboks then our clubs must have the same freedom with our players as the international clubs have. We are literally shooting ourselve in the foot.
There are 209 foreign players in the French top 14. On average each French club has almost 15 foreign players in their senior squad. The French have almost no French players playing outside of France for foreign clubs. We have over 150 players playing for foreign clubs and less than one foreign player per team playing for our URC teams.
Our system is going to collapse. We pay less, have more restrictions on our clubs, our players have to play more games, and we don't allow our clubs total independence.
The French is doing amazing. They have put their clubs above the French international team. The French Top 14 is the strongest and best paying league in the world. It is producing a mountain of players for the French. In 2024 the French used more players for their national team than what Rassie did at the Springboks. The French took B team with not a single first choice player to Argentina and drew the series. They are building a machine. Their clubs are going to make them untoucable. We have to make a massive mind shift and start focusing on our clubs. If all four our URC teams can compete the Springboks will be even stronger and more players can rest. We don't need 51 successful Springbok players, we need 100. We can do it if we are clever about it.
Last point John wasn't honest or he is maybe ignorant. The foriegn clubs also don't always send their strongest teams to Investec Champions Cup games. To suggest it is only us is false.