Springboks skipper Smit out to reclaim pride from the Lions

JOHN SMIT is hoping “to put things right” when the Lions tour South Africa later this year.

The Springboks lost 2-1 to the tourists during the last series in 1997 and captain Smit is determined not to suffer a repeat when Ian McGeechan’s men arrive for the three-Test series beginning in June.

“It’s definitely an opportunity. We all experienced the defeat of 1997 and those aren’t good memories,” he said.