Juan Smith: Trying alternative surgery
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Former Springbok and Cheetahs flanker Juan Smith, who last week announced his retirement due to an Achilles injury, could make a dramatic return to the pitch.
Smith was on the sidelines for two seasons after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the Cheetahs' Super Rugby opener against the Bulls in 2011.
He underwent four operations in a bid to return to action and succeeded in playing cameo roles during the Cheetahs' pre-season warm-up matches against the Stormers and the Bulls.
But he was forced to retire when the injury flared up again.
The 69-Test veteran, however, could come out of retirement if a new procedure, in which clamps are used to further tighten the tendon, is successful.
"When Johan Kruger, the doctor who initially reattached my Achilles tendon, heard about my retirement he phoned me immediately [and told me about the alternative surgery] and he believes it can be a success," Smith told the Rapport newspaper.
"Why wait? I'm 32, and if I get another opportunity I want to play. Even if it is just for one more season, that's all I'm asking for."
The 2007 World Cup winner is grateful that he managed to play get through 60 minutes of rugby in those pre-season games against the Bulls and Stormers.
"Sixty minutes - at least I had that," he said.
"Thirty in the warm-up game against the Stormers and thirty in the warm-up game against the Bulls. That made all the pain of the past two years worth it."
But although he savoured his return to the game Smith revealed that it was an anti-climatic way to call time on his career.
"It's not how I wanted to end my career. I wanted to go out on my own terms - I have unfinished business."
Comments
boksmashoffice says...
The guy is a great player in his own right as is McCaw. I was saddened to hear that he had to retire.I just hope he does not do any long term damage to himself. A class player and a classy bloke who literally put his body on the line for his province and country. That's what I will remember of the man.
Posted 09:10 03rd March 2013
new_j4a says...
@ArmchairGeneral, not sure if you are missing my point....they play different positions....one blind the other open. maybe he meant he prefers McCaw at open side to Juan at blind? Great! I prefer Roger Federa over David Beckham....but I am not sure that it adds much to a sports debate?
Posted 08:15 21st February 2013
new_j4a says...
@Irishzimbabwean, Juan or Richard Hill....both great in my book....flip a coin to choose.
Posted 08:09 21st February 2013
darthbok says...
sounds like a proceedure from the` daily mail ` -- bet it doesnt work -- once your achilles is gone , its gone -- and no amount of superglue and duct-tape will fix it ..
get back on the farm, juan, before you need a new leg.
Posted 07:55 21st February 2013
pikes says...
As a Saffa McCaw is the best imo...but as a partnership Juan and Schalk was by far the best....and thats my opinion :)
Posted 07:52 21st February 2013
bloemboy says...
Some interesting comments here, many of which are less informed.
McCaw is great. Period. Wish he was a Saffa and then I wouldnt hate him. He is the only player in the world that has evoked the same feelings I had toward Sahun Fitzpatrick.
Smith will always be undervalued and will not get his deserved dues from the armchair critics. His greatest admirers come from the ranks of those he has played against, and from those who understand his true value. He is not flash like a Skinstadt, but gets more done in a game than almost anyone I have seen play the game. His workrate is incredible and his anticipation invaluable.
Every time he played against the AB's, they had to take the fact into consideration in their planning, and acknowledged the fact. That alone is high praise.
Comparing him to Francois Pienaar is flattering for Pienaar. In my opinion, the only SA loosies that can compare to Smith are Reuben Kruger and Burger Geldenhuis. they dont come harder.
Posted 05:56 21st February 2013
Irishzimbabwean says...
new_j4a - I would imagine if you were to pick the best XV over the last ten years i.e. the last two World Cups, you would pick Juan Smith at blindside and Richie McCaw at Openside - does that satisfy everyone?
Posted 04:40 21st February 2013
ben7 says...
I agree with rugby_rockstar. I'd pick him over McCaw
Posted 23:16 20th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
@isograford and new4ja: you are both missing Rockstars point. He said his favorite. Didn't say te greatest in his view. Favorite. You can't correct him. He knows who is his favorite is and it is probably based on good bloke / human factors as much as playing style and ability.
Posted 23:02 20th February 2013
new_j4a says...
@rugby_rockstar would that comparison with McCaw be when RmcC plays blind side or when Juan plays open side??? Strange comparison. Is there any chance that you are confused by Saffas habit of having the blind side wear the 7 jersey? Perhaps you think that blind and open are the same? Or perhaps you are comparing those few occasions where they both played at 8? While I agree that Juan is a fantastic rugby player, a comparison with McCaw is ridiculous....and i say this as a saffa. McCaw is to the 7 slot what the All Blacks are to rugby....head and shoulders above the nearest contenders.....especially all the full backs, wings, centers, etc. that don't play openside flank
Posted 20:53 20th February 2013
JayStarr says...
I hope this case makes other players realise how fortunate they are to be playing rugby. The mountains and valleys this guy has been through just to try and get back onto the field and back into the Green and Gold...
@ UBA05: Agree 100%. Couldn't have said it better myself...
@ saintblack: PUH-lease... When Juan Smith is on the field, all the other loose fowards in SA quake in their boots. Nobody wants to be the one who has to try and stop him, because the first one normally gets run over and don't get up very quickly afterwards... And the second one gets that giant paw in their face and the next thing're eating turf. And god forbid you have the ball and he's defending your chanel... You'll be lucky to get up intact.
No mate, other than Schalk Burger, Juan Smith is the only loose foward in SA who truly has no fear (or regard for their own bodies) when they're on the field... And that terrifies everyone else - no matter how talented.
Posted 20:19 20th February 2013
RugbyLeRoux says...
@saint black, a certain francois pienaar was also not the most talented flanker in SA when he played but had a lot more valuable attributes to bring to the game. Juan is in a similar mold and would love to see him back in the green and gold again
Posted 18:34 20th February 2013
Isograford says...
@rugby_rockstar. Better than McCaw?? You surely must be joking. From a nuetral point of view McCaw will likely go down, and rightly so, as the best loose forward that's played the game for quite a few reasons.
Either way, this is potentially good news for Juan and South Africa.
Posted 18:28 20th February 2013
lawynd says...
I hope he gets his wish, irrespective of anything else he's a top, top bloke - even posed holding up my Leicester Tigers shirt for me! Best of luck, Juan.
Posted 14:17 20th February 2013
saintblack says...
hope it works but ther is alota beta flanks in the Republic.. nice oke tho
Posted 14:02 20th February 2013
Ben1982 says...
Good luck to him. I 'retired' for about 5 years after injury, but eventually got back into 3rd team rugby - you do appreciate the game a lot more once you've had it taken away from you.
Posted 13:44 20th February 2013
UBA05 says...
Look we are all aware of the great quality of this guy as a player, so i wont bother going into that.
What impresses me most is the pure and unadultarated motives he has of just wanting to get back and play a game he obviously loves and leave it on good terms. Christ he sounds as though he would pay a union to let him play!
That is the love of the game that i think we all know deep down sets rugby apart from other sports.
My respect for him as a rugby man has just grown tenfold. Juan, I wish you all the best with the surgery and getting back to the game
Posted 13:13 20th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
from a neutral stand point, Juan is one of my favourite players in the entire world. better than mccaw imo
Posted 13:11 20th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Still think secretly he's English. I thought he was taking a week out to think on it Pre retirement?
Posted 13:11 20th February 2013
carpelone says...
Good luck, Juan.
You would deserve to finish in style. All the best anyway, a legend on the pitch and an Ambassador for SA's rugby outside.
Posted 11:06 20th February 2013