Juan Smith is just phenomenal, says Wilkinson

SO strong of body and mind is Juan Smith that “if he wants another World Cup, he’ll do another World Cup”.

That unambiguous thumbs up came from a man endowed with strong conviction who also knows about putting mind over matter — Smith’s former Toulon teammate Jonny Wilkinson.

When Smith arrived in Toulon popular medical opinion saw his bid at a comeback as one last desperate act.

“Juan Smith has been phenomenal,” said an enthusiastic Wilkinson. “I didn’t think he’d get to a level where he would consistently make the team.

“He’s like a machine. He doesn’t stop. There’s no off button. Once he gets going he just runs the ball up, stands up and does it again and again. And it doesn’t matter how hard you hit him, he doesn’t stop.

“In defence he’s like a brick wall. He keeps doing it from minute one to minute 80, and there is no drop-off in intensity.

“I just don’t understand that. He is hugely strong. He doesn’t accept anything below par of himself or those around him.”

Wilkinson, who with the exception of games against New Zealand has won more tests than he lost against the nations he competed against, could easily be talking about himself.

After he played a decisive hand in ripping the World Cup from the Wallabies’ grasp 11 years ago, just getting on to the field became an achievement.

“After 2003 it became about keeping head above water,” he recalled. “I injured my shoulders, groin, both knees, I punctured my kidney and had a neck injury which resulted in me unable to move my right arm for three months.

“My journey then became more spiritual. Less about rugby, more about how to deal with pressure.”

He didn’t so much reinvent himself as find different ways of maintaining his range of influence on a rugby match.

He bowed out on a spectacular high at the end of the last European season, but has remained with Toulon as a parttime mentor.

He takes his message about wellness and team values to audiences in the sports and corporate world.

“My main drive is in the wellness area. I’ve only really known one thing all my life and that is this rugby thing. It now feels like the most natural transition.”

Wilkinson, who has an ambassadorial role in promoting next year’s World Cup, says: “England have great structure, foundation and form. They are performing consistently well. They are never out of a game, even against the best. They can only improve.

“I think South Africa is in a similar place. They have the capacity to win any game, no matter how far down. With them, a World Cup is only going to bring more intensity, more physicality, speed and pressure. If England and South Africa meet, it will be one helluva game.”

THANK YOU: Jonny Wilkinson acknowledges crowd applause