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Smit's book writes off Joost's in sales
Book stores reveal clear winner in battle of the Bok captains
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November 28, 2009
By Candice Bailey
If it were a rugby match, then the current Springbok captain would be winning this battle hands down. Both former Springbok captain Joost van der Westhuizen and current Springbok captain John Smit launched biographies in recent weeks, but it's Smit's Captain in the Cauldron that has been the best-seller so far.
Smit's book was launched on October 24. Van der Westhuizen's Man in the Mirror was launched eight days later, on November 1.
Man in the Mirror was punted as the tell-all tale in which the disgraced rugby player, who was once the blue-eyed boy of the game, came clean on his involvement in the now infamous sex and drug video with stripper Marilize van Emmenis that was exposed eight months ago.
A day after the book was launched, his publishers, Random House Struik, were quick off the mark to announce to all and sundry that their first run of 7 000 had sold out.
But it seems that Smit, the world's most capped Test captain, has overtaken Van der Westhuizen in book sales too.
The Boks head for their final game of the season today, playing Ireland in a Test in Dublin that has been billed as the best of the south verses the best of the north and has the potential of capping a year in which the reigning world champions clinched the Tri-nations trophy.
Smit's book has been flying off shelves across the city, according to book store managers. Exclusive Books stores across the country sold more than 6 435 copies of Smit's book in the past 10 days.
Hyde Park store manager John Fawcett-Peck said: "It has been flying out of the stores. At our store, Captain in the Cauldron is far bigger than Joost's book. Joost's book just hasn't compared to John's book."
The book shop sold 200 copies of Smit's book in just nine days. Van der Westhuizen's book, on the other hand, has only sold 31 copies in four weeks at that branch.
In Pretoria, a Van der Westhuizen and Blue Bulls stronghold, it was almost expected that the book would do well there. Guess again.
Brooklyn Exclusive Books store manager Tertia Koegelenbert told the Saturday Star that they had had to reorder Smit's book three times.
"We didn't expect Joost's English version to do too well.
"The Afrikaans is doing much better. But I don't think you can compare the two. Smit went to Boys' High and that is in my catchment area.
"We have a strong Afrikaans market, but it is older and more intellectual. John's book sold 91 copies in the first day," said Koegelenbert. "I've had coaches of rugby teams coming in for 18 copies. It is a rugby book about a hero. Joost's is not a rugby book," she added.
In Kolonnade's Exclusive Books, Van der Westhuizen's book has been doing marginally better than Smit's. Van der Westhuizen's book has sold 84 copies compared to Smit's 52.
At Menlyn's Exclusive Books, Captain in the Cauldron has sold 188 copies compared to Van der Westhuizen's 32 copies.
The CNA head office in Crown Mines would not divulge sales figures for the two books but said Smit's book had been a hit across the country, judging by national figures.
A specialist buyer at the company, who did not wish to be named, said Smit's book had much higher sale figures.
"I can't specify, but its been good everywhere," he said.
Random House Struik publicist Kim Taylor would not pass on any figures for Van der Westhuizen's book, saying the publishers were still waiting for feedback. Smit's publishers, Highbury Safika Media, would only confirm that the book was doing well - but everyone knew that.
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