EXCLUSIVE: Conrad Smith & Jean de Villiers — Great Rivals Reunited

In this special edition of Boks Unpacked, Jean de Villiers sits down with two legendary midfielders as Conrad Smith joins the show to revisit one of rugby’s greatest centre rivalries. The pair reflect on their battles, the evolution of the midfield role, the respect built between South Africa and New Zealand, and what makes this rivalry so special both on and off the field. From unforgettable clashes in Dunedin, Cape Town, Johannesburg and beyond, the conversation covers iconic moments, the pressure of Test rugby, the rise of the All Blacks midfield partnership, the 2009 season, Bakkies Botha’s physicality, and the memories that shaped two incredible careers. Proudly brought to you by: ‪ ‪‪‪‪@WeBuyCars‬ | ‪@BetwaySouthAfrica‬ | ‪@officialcastlelager‬ | @coca-colasouthafrica‬ | ‪@supersport‬ Watch more Boks Unpacked Episodes by clicking on the playlist here:    • Boks Unpacked   Watch more The Verdict Episodes by clicking on the playlist here:    • The Verdict   Never miss a new episode - subscribe here: 👉    / @the-verdict-channel   #BoksUnpacked #RugbyLegends #RugbyStories #TestRugby #RugbyHistory #CentreBattle #RugbyGreats #GameIntensity Timestamps 00:00 — Conrad Smith & Jean de Villiers Reunite For A Special Episode 01:00 — The State Of The Current Series & The Importance Of The Third Test 05:30 — The Debate Around A Fourth Test In America 07:23 — Respect, Friendships & Rivalries Beyond Rugby 09:52 — Dave Rennie’s Impact On The All Blacks 11:00 — Tana Umaga’s Influence & Coaching Philosophy 12:00 — Analysing The Current Centre Partnerships 14:41 — The Physical Challenge Of Playing In The Midfield 15:00 — Could Conrad Smith Make A Comeback? 16:34 — The 2008 Dunedin Victory & Ending The All Blacks’ Home Run 19:08 — The Famous Cape Town Battle & Percy Montgomery’s Moment 20:42 — What Makes South Africa vs New Zealand Matches Special 21:46 — The 2009 Golden Year & South Africa’s Dominant Run 24:44 — The Best Springbok Team Jean de Villiers Played In 26:00 — The Evolution Of South African Centre Partnerships 27:34 — Soccer City Memories & The 2010 Johannesburg Test 30:03 — The Brutal 2013 Test Match 32:34 — Jean de Villiers’ 100th Cap & Ma’a Nonu’s Special Gesture 34:00 — Playing Against Bakkies Botha 37:00 — Looking Ahead To The Third Test 38:25 — What Made Conrad Smith Such A Difficult Opponent 39:20 — The 14-Test Rivalry Between Conrad Smith & Jean de Villiers 41:00 — Final Reflections On One Of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalries