Smit inspired by the Blues

The Lions can draw inspiration from the Blues in New Zealand, according to scrum-half Dillon Smit (below), by using their recent performances as a blueprint on how a team can turn their season around.

While the Blues lost their first match to the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition earlier this month, they had since been rejuvenated under coach Leon McDonald.

“It’s incredible what the Blues have done over a short time and it’s definitely an inspiration for us to see that it is possible to turn a season around,” said 27-year-old Smit.

“For us it’s definitely something to look at, what they have done and the areas where they have improved.”

While the Kiwis were pushing for SA’s exclusion from Super Rugby, local sides were set to resume non-contact training this week with the hope that Currie Cup action would be relaunched by the end of August.

Smit felt the enforced break, with domestic rugby on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic, had given them a chance to reassess.

“For us it’s without doubt a reset button to turn our season around, to again become a top team like we were in the last three years, and to end up in the final of the Currie Cup,” he said.

With the Lions squad boosted by seven new signings, they were full of hope.

Like the Blues had done in New Zealand’s domestic competition, Smit was confident their newlook squad could turn it around after they struggled to find top form earlier this year.

“We believe we can do the same, so we are watching the Blues’ progress...but my main inspiration has definitely been my team-mates,” Smit said.

“We have an internal group of guys who I’m close to, and we’ve been sharing our daily exercise programmes.