Smit and Deysel spend time with elderly rugby fans

SHARKS CEO and team player, Jean Deysel ran a gauntlet of questions from Tuinsig residents when they paid the elderly at the home a visit recently.

Smit and Deysel happily answered all they were asked and enjoyed tea and a photoshoot with the pensioners afterwards.

Q: Will the Sharks start playing at Moses Mabhida Stadium?

A: John Smit – There is a possibility the Sharks will start playing at Moses Mabhida. I have shed many a litre of blood on the Kings Park field, so I think I'd have to take a piece of it out to put in my garden! It would be a sad time though.

Q: What was your decision to leave the Sharks as CEO?

A: John Smit – I decided to take more time to spend with my family.

Q: Are the Sharks ready for the next season?

A: Jean Deysel – The guys have two weeks off then two weeks to practise. We ended well after a rough seven weeks, but the guys look good and I think we have a good chance of winning. It's not easy, but we're ready.

Q: What do you think of the new Springbok captain?

A: Jean Deysel – I think he's the best captain to work with the guys, he's someone who can work with the others in the team well.

John Smit – He's a good player and a good person. Allister Coetzee has seen the team and identified a person who can take the team through. We're happy with the choice of Allister as coach, he's the right coach for the team, the best for the job.

Q: I watch rugby and the players on the field are huge, how do you survive when they are piled on top of you?

A: John Smit – Sometimes you don't! I have had nine surgeries during my career. The game is designed to be rough, but safely so. We keep going back – and that's how big the fear is of getting a real job!

Q: Can you actually see the ball when you're playing on the field?

A: John Smit – At times the ball is completely irrelevant! We are like cattle towards feed, we watch the clever guys and the others follow.

Q: How do you remember all the rules?

A: John Smit – There are lots of rules made that make the game difficult, it's an intricate game. But if you love rugby you'll learn the rules.

Q: I've always admired the ref for the big job he has, how much exercise must he do to keep up?

A: John Smit – The ref is required to do cardio to remain fit to keep up with the action. It's a thankless job as there's so much to watch all the time. They need to keep fit as they run up to 5km in 80 minutes.

Q: Will you be having any more children?

A: John Smit – No, I have three already, and they are finally all out of nappies.

Jean Deysel – I have one two-year-old son, who is going to be a forward one day, as he eats like a forward! I hope to have another, but not now.