At the start of 1998, Springbok coach Nick Mallett requested that Smith was loaned from the to the for the 1998 Super 12 season. He quickly established himself in the team and was also the leading South African points scorer at a point during the competition before a knee injury forced him to miss the final four rounds. He also made the move to Pretoria a permanent one and represented the in the 1998 Currie Cup. He also played for the in the 1999 Super 12 season and for the in the 1999 Currie Cup.