Smit to miss tour

Smit underwent a successful operation in his home town of Durban on Wednesday morning, Saru said in a statement.

The hooker had suffered a build-up of pressure on the cervical discs, which the surgery released.

Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts said the decision had been made to operate because Smit is currently on a conditioning programme and has been withdrawn from all rugby following the Tri-Nations series.

The 32-year-old will be out of action for three months.

"This was not a career threatening injury, but the timing was right for John to undergo surgery as he will now have a prolonged period of recovery in advance of the new season," Roberts said.

Without surgery, the injury would have worsened and Roberts said the early intervention would ensure Smit could turn out for the Sharks in the 2011 Super Rugby season as well as for the Springboks when they defend the World Cup.

Smit has played 102 tests for South Africa, 76 of them as captain, but came under mounting criticism during the Springboks' disastrous Tri-Nations campaign for slipping standards of performance and fitness.