Is John Smit too old to be playing for the Springboks?

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Sharks coach John Plumtree is upset with former Springbok coach Jake White for stating that Springbok captain John Smit should retire. This come off the base that Smit is now too old to be playing top class rugby let alone to be Springbok captain.

‘In New Zealand we call it “tall poppy syndrome”, which is basically when the public gangs up on an achiever and tries to cut him down,’ Plumtree told the Sunday Tribune. ‘It annoys me that a player can give so much for his country and be so respected among his international peers, yet pick up so much criticism from his countrymen. It is a serious lack of respect.’

Plumtree has further defended Smit by naming him the captain of the Sharks for 2011 as Smit makes his comeback from injury and having lost 7kgs this off season.

Do you think John Smit is too old to be playing for the Springboks?

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