DAVID SHAPSHAK, Johannesburg | Thursday 3.00pm.
CONTROVERSIAL former Springbok James Small on Thursday announced his retirement from rugby. The fiery winger, who once held the South African record for Test caps (42) and tries (22), became something of a folk hero after closing down his giant All Black opposite number, Jonah Lomu, in the 1995 World Cup final – which the Springboks won 15-12 to become world champions.
The 30-year-old won his first Springbok cap in 1992 against New Zealand.
But Small, dubbed the “Eric Cantona of SA rugby” by former Bok coach Andre Markgraaff, earned himself a reputation as a trouble-maker, both on- and off the field. He was dropped from the South Africa side on one occasion when it was discovered he went to a night club until 4am the night before a Test and was excluded from a series after a bar brawl that was splashed across South Africa’s newspaper headlines.
During the 1997 British Lions tour, a series the visitors won 2-1, Small was involved in a slanging match with former league international John Bentley, who called Small a “bully” after he ran two tries past Small in the Lions’ 38-21 victory over provincial side Western Province. Small claimed afterwards that Bentley had eye-gouged him and refused to shake his hand.
But despite his temperament, the rugby rebel, was a brilliant player in his day, holding the Springboks number 14 jersey for a five year period and also turning out at fullback. Small made his provincial debut in 1988 when he played fullback as a 19-year-old for the former Transvaal.
In 1993 Small followed former Transvaal coach Harry Viljoen to Natal.
When Viljoen was appointed Western Province coach last year, Small, now also a successful restaurateur businessman, followed but had to pay out his Natal contract himself. He joined the re-Transvaal outfit, the Golden Lions, again late last year but has had a string of discipline problems with former All Black coach Laurie Mains.
He refused to turn up for practises and preferred to play for a World XV in May than turn out for his province.
He played for the Cats in this year’s Super 12 before a groin injury ruled him out.