Captain in the Cauldron by John Smit & Mike Greenaway
Captain in the Cauldron (Signed by John Smit, Springbok Captain)
The Autobiography of South Africa's World Cup-Winning Rugby Captain, Signed and Inscribed by John Smit
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Captain in the Cauldron
- Authors: John Smit & Mike Greenaway
- Publisher: Highbury Safika Media, Cape Town
- Publication Date: 2009
- ISBN-13: 9780620447515
- Edition Details: First published October 2009, Third Printing, January 2010. Signed and inscribed by John Smit on the title page.
- Binding: Hardcover with printed, laminated-style boards in navy and gold, carrying a special England 2015 Rugby World Cup cover design and a 'Signed by John Smit' sticker to the front.
- Physical Format: Hardcover, approximately 235 x 155 mm. With a central section of colour photographic plates.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Exterior / Boards: The dark navy and gold printed boards are clean and sharp, with a round 'Signed by John Smit' sticker to the front cover. Slight bumping and wear to the bottom edges and corners. The spine is clean with no visible cracks. Minor edge wear to the foot of the text block.
- Interior: The text pages are clean and bright, with no foxing or markings. The binding is tight. The colour photographic section is free of flaws.
- Provenance: Signed in black pen by John Smit on the title page, with the inscription 'ENJOY RWC 2015' above the signature. A sticker on the front cover reads 'SIGNED BY JOHN SMIT'.
- The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued)
Synopsis & Historical Value
Captain in the Cauldron: The John Smit Story is the autobiography of the Springbok captain, written with the Durban sports writer Mike Greenaway and published in Cape Town by Highbury Safika Media in 2009. This copy is from the third printing of January 2010 and carries a special England 2015 Rugby World Cup cover.
The book follows Smit from his boyhood in Pietersburg, now Polokwane, through his family life and rise in the game to the captaincy of the national side. It covers his leadership of the Springboks, including the 2007 Rugby World Cup victory, and the political pressures that come with the South African captaincy.
Smit was the 50th captain of the Springboks and holds the record for the most Tests as captain, a world record. This copy is signed and inscribed by him on the title page, which makes it a desirable keepsake for collectors of South African rugby literature.
Author Profile: John Smit and Mike Greenaway
John Smit was born in 1978 in Pietersburg, now Polokwane. He was the 50th captain of the Springbok rugby union team and led South Africa to victory in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He holds the Springbok record for most Tests as captain (76), which is also a world record, and is South Africa's most capped hooker (80).
Mike Greenaway is a Durban sports writer, described as an award-winning journalist with The Mercury newspaper in KwaZulu-Natal. He has followed Smit's career since Smit joined the Sharks as a 19-year-old.
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