Conrad Smith reflects on what it was actually like going up against the Springboks during his All Blacks career — physical, sometimes brutal on the pitch, but followed by genuine camaraderie in the change rooms afterwards. The Bakkies Botha anecdote in the headline sets the tone: hard men who played it hard, then left it on the field. Worth a read for the opposition perspective on what made those Bok sides of that era tick.
AnalysisSpringboksSA Rugby Mag
Conrad Smith on the Boks: brutal on the field, beers after the whistle
Conrad Smith reflects on facing the Springboks during his All Blacks career — fierce on the field, genuine mates after the whistle, with a Bakkies Botha anecdote that captures the era perfectly.
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