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Wellington - Springbok skipper John Smit completed a marathon flight from France to New Zealand on Tuesday and joined his teammates in a tough training session shortly after his arrival on Kiwi soil.
Smit joined the South African team in the capital after he played for Clermont in the French club final against Toulouse over the weekend.
A large media contingent greeted the Bok captain when he finally made his way through the domestic arrivals terminal, having completing the last leg of his exhaustive trip from Paris via London and Sydney to Wellington.
Smit told reporters New Zealand would be an extremely difficult team to beat on home turf despite the absence of their inspirational captain Richie McCaw.
"I can't think ever in my lifetime that the All Blacks have been vulnerable at home, so I wouldn't subscribe to that," he said.
We came pretty close in the past but never managed to seal it in the end, when we needed to do so. On Saturday you will see two top sides battling it out in a truly great rugby rivalry.
The Springboks will announce their Test team for Saturdays Vodacom Tri-Nations opener during their weekly media hour on Thursday which starts from 12:30 at the Duxton Hotel. The team will enjoy a media and training free day on Wednesday.
Smit joins the Boks