Boks captain made of all the right stuff

It is doubtful whether John Smit subscribes to the Oscar Wilde theory on leadership: "I like to do all the talking myself. It saves time and prevents arguments."

South Africa's rugby captain offers a study in contrasts on and off the field. Mild-mannered, inoffensive, at times almost laidback in his demeanour, Smit hardly seems to provide the identikit of a rousing leader. You find it difficult to believe he would buy into the Wilde formula.

Yet the Springbok strikes a very different figure on the rugby pitch. Thrusting, determined, inspirational and yet pragmatic, he likes to lead by example.

Smit can offer the table-thumping role if the situation requires, but prefers to lead by action; to provide the beacon for others to follow.

He was always a captain, always a boy who led his charges, not with verbal abuse or physical intimidation, but a steely resolve.

Smit is one of the most pleasant young men playing international rugby today - a fine representative of his country.

But there is an element lurking behind the pleasant expression that tells you of his inner core, fierce pride and desire not to be beaten.

All leaders must have that quality, that powerful, churning inner resolve that drives not only themselves through the dark hours but those round them.

And there is no hidden formula for leadership, nothing written down in tablets of stone. Men can do the job as they see fit, whether it be by violence or invective. Sporting sides have seen a veritable flotsam of humanity attempting to fill the role down the years.

Some past practitioners of the art subscribed to the doubtful theory that spending most of the night in bars, and then going into the sporting arena and smashing the opposition to all corners, was a surefire method of uniting their men behind them.

Others preferred the psychological path, infuriating some of their own men by deliberate goading that would enrage their charges, with the victim venting his fury upon the opposition. Clever stuff.

But Smit is of another type.

Calm, dignified, fiercely determined and shrewd, he epitomises the kind of composed figurehead coach Jake White saw as essential to be his leading Springbok on the field.

By his physical nature, Smit exudes a challenge. He is solid, immensely powerful round the neck, and squat.

Even in a lounge, there seems to be an unspoken challenge emanating from him, along the lines of: "Just try to get past me".

On the field, that image is magnified a hundredfold.

White chose well when he selected Smit as his main man. Perhaps the single greatest defining element of a captain is whether you would want him to lead you in the trenches; whether his bravery, courage, inspiration and sympathetic ear would inspire you amid adversity. Smit is that type of human being.

There is, generally speaking, little ranting and raving from him, but sharp words make clear the expectations of his own horizons.

He expects his fellow players to have similarly broad ambitions.

He is not fazed by reputation or hype. Ask him about the All Blacks' aura, which he must confront at Newlands tomorrow, and he responds calmly, measuring his words and expounding his theories on the topic.

"We respect every team, for each country poses a challenge. But if you ask me whether we fear New Zealand, the answer is no - no more than any other team. If you don't fear any team you will find yourself coming up short."

Fear has different meanings: it induces contradictory emotions. In one sense it relates to respect, and that is the area in which South Africa will focus tomorrow.

Fear in the sense of fright does not enter the lexicon of these men. They will hurt New Zealand's rugby men just as they expect pain themselves. It is the currency they trade.

But fear fuels the adrenaline essential to producing your best, whatever your chosen occupation.

Operate under the severest pressure, whether it be constraints of time or expectation, and the swirling blood of ambition coursing through your veins can inspire you to hitherto unexpected achievements.

Smith understands implicitly this environment.

"New Zealand are the No 1 side in the world. If they do not force us to raise our game, to understand the need for improvement if we are to have a chance of beating them, then something is wrong.

"We have the challenge of playing against the best team in the world. That alone should be enough to motivate us.

"It is about standards. You set them for yourself whoever happens to be the opposition. We let ourselves down in the first of the two matches against Australia for the Nelson Mandela Plate, in Sydney.

"Those were not the levels to which we aspire. But the guys soon started realising what was at stake and it was good to see their character coming through in our next two matches against the Wallabies.

"I was proud of the team in each of those games. I am fortunate to captain a team like that."

And that fortune is mutual. Smit was my man of the match in Pretoria last Sunday for his sheer inspiration, the excellence of his lineout throwing, the power of his ball-carrying and the beacon he represented for others to follow.

It burned like a flame that is never extinguished.

Some leaders like to urge and cajole, berate and blast. Smit is of another kind. He proves that another philosophy is equally meritorious.

John Smit

Height: 188cm

Weight: 116kg

Born: March 4, 1978, Polokwane

Debut: Canada 2000

Caps: 45