South Africa's World Cup-winning captain John Smit has emerged from his first meeting with new Springbok coach Peter de Villiers impressed and confident for the future of the team.
The pair got together on the skipper's brief return to South Africa from his French club Clermont Auvergne and walked out in good spirits.
"The guy wants what is best for the Springboks," Smit told the <i>Pretoria News</i>.
"If you are a South African rugby player or supporter you have to be encouraged by that."
"He's had success at national Under-19 and Under-21 level. His track record is one of producing winning teams."
Smit added that reports of players demanding a meeting with De Villiers were a fallacy and that no player had the right to demand a selection guarantee.
"Yes, we won the World Cup, but no player in that World Cup squad is bigger than the game," warned the 29-year-old. "No player has ownership of the Springbok jersey. It is earned through performance."
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