Unfortunately for them, the dominance didn’t stretch to the scoreboard and their stints with the Springboks ended with an 11-9 quarterfinal defeat to Australia.

The defending World Cup champions dominated the Wallabies in just about every way Sunday at Wellington Regional Stadium, but just could not make it count.

Contemplating an 11-year career including 111 tests, Smit says “you are never prepared for when it ends, because you want it to be a fairy tale.”