Juan's Cup wish

Juan Smith wants to play one more World Cup. Given his mind's exceptional ability to overcome matter, you'll be brave to bet against it.

Smith, who displayed remarkable fortitude to put a potentially career-ending Achilles injury behind him, is in green and gold again and desperate to play in a third World Cup.

"Everything that happens for me now is a bonus," said the flank who was called up as cover for lock Victor Matfield. "If I look back a year ago the only thing for me was to play my first 80 minutes. I always had the goal of playing in three World Cups. I missed out in 2011 due to the Achilles injury.

"Even if I have to play tighthead prop I'll give it a shot. I said to the coach as well, I'll play whereever he needs me."

By his own admission Smith's journey to recovery took him from the familiarity of the Free State to the mysterious Cote d'Azur.

"Then I helped Toulon win the Heineken Cup and the Top14. What better way to celebrate the whole comeback to be called up to play for the Springboks again?"

Asked if there was a specific moment that he would deem his darkest, Smith was forthright.

"The whole 28 months. I went through five operations. Every time I went for an operation it was a dark moment for me," he said.

"I had one operation in Bloem and three in Pretoria. After the fourth one I said: 'I did everything. I did my rehab. There's no way around this and I need to call it a day.'

"I saw a surgeon in Bloemfontein who said: 'Give me a chance for a last operation.'

At that stage, that operation would not have been to return to rugby but to walk without pain.

"For 25 months I went to bed and got up with pain. The morning after the last operation I said to my wife: 'I have no pain. I think I can try again'."

Toulon took a chance on him and threw him the lifeline of a 10-month contract and the symbiotic relationship paid off handsomely.

"You play with some of the best rugby players in the world. I was privileged enough to play alongside Jonny Wilkinson. I was the guy who always said I will never leave Bloemfontein or go overseas. Never say never."

Smith last played a Test against England at the end of 2010 and the Bok environment he walked into this week is slightly different. "The work ethic the players and the management have displayed has been an eye-opener."

At 33, he has been around long enough to know the value of experience. In 2003, when Smith played his first World Cup, Joost van der Westhuizen was the only player in the squad with more than 50 caps.

The squad averaged just 13 caps and crashed badly against the All Blacks in the quarterfinals. Jake White's World Cup winning Class of '07 boasted 809 caps, averaging 26 caps a player.

"If you look back at 2007, we had Os du Randt and John Smit," said Smith.

"Senior players bring a calming feeling. When the tough times come, the young guys will look up to those guys to make some decisions. You need a balance between young and more experienced guys to win a World Cup."

TV Highlights

Today

Rugby: Women's World Cup, semifinals, Ireland vs England at 6pm, France vs Canada at 8.45pm, both on SS1

Soccer: PSL, Black Aces vs Chiefs at 7.30pm on SS4, Ajax vs Sundowns at 7.30pm on SS9, Celtic vs Pirates at 7.30pm on SSSelect; German Super Cup, Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich at 6pm on SS3

Tennis: ATP Cincinnati Masters at 5pm and 1am (tomorrow) on SS6