Smit set for No 2 jersey?
22 Nov 2009
Peter de Villiers has hinted John Smit could return to hooker against Ireland next Saturday.
The Springbok captain has made the move to tighthead with mixed results, but in the last quarter of their win against Italy, Smit packed down in his favoured hooker position. With a specialist tighthead and the other positions in the front-row filled by players playing in their preferred positions, it was no surprise that the South African scrum looked at its strongest this year.
It would be the logical decision to start Smit at No 2 with Bismarck du Plessis returning from injury off the bench, and the Bok coach suggested this could be the case.
‘Maybe next week I’ll use John [Smit] and Bismarck [du Plessis] as hookers against Ireland,’ said De Villiers.
‘It’s a nice problem to have, knowing that we can change things around,’ he said in reference to their front-row options now that Botha and fellow overseas tighthead CJ van der Linde are in the squad. ‘I will have to make some important decisions in this regard.’
De Villiers also admitted he was worried about the Bok scrum in the build-up to the Italy Test, and he conceded they looked strongest in the final 20 minutes.
‘I was a bit afraid coming into this game that psychologically [last week's scrummaging problems] would give more to the players than anything else. I know the ability of our scrums, I know that our players are world class, I know they can stand up for themselves under all circumstances and I think the last 20 minutes instilled that kind of confidence that we tried to bring to them in practice.’
The Boks reverted to a physical pack in the closing stages that has the ability to dominate Ireland at Croke Park next week. The Irish struggled against Australia at scrum-time last week, and if the Boks select their best unit, they could use it to disrupt the hosts’ dangerous backline and loose forwards.
‘Our boys regrouped pretty well and again we fell back on that experience of battling behind the things that worked for us,’ said Smit. ‘We stuck to a lot of those things that worked for us today and it ended up becoming a good result.’
In other team news, worryingly Fourie du Preez is reportedly in danger of missing the final tour match with a hand injury. News will be released at Monday’s press conference, but if he is injured, out of form Ruan Pienaar or Francois Hougaard could start at scrumhalf.
215 Comments
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22 Nov 2009, 21:09 pm
#38 SodaJoe: Have to agree with your trio SJ. The Bekker stigma is the same as AJ stigma. Bekker is just a phenomenal athlete. In the frontrow i would also like to see TM, JS, BJ. Bissy and CJ off wood.
22 Nov 2009, 21:10 pm
#50 grant10:
yeah but what i’m wondering is did you hear it down the pub or from someone close to the Boks.
22 Nov 2009, 21:10 pm
#44 Kronung: Ja…i am not sure as yet….
22 Nov 2009, 21:10 pm
#43 SodaJoe: cheers soda
22 Nov 2009, 21:11 pm
#48 grant10:
LOL….. thanks boet !!!!!!
I’m outa heer, shattered, walked 27 holes at Boshenmeer 30+ heat, early night.
Grant10 if a blind man don’t want to see………he will remain in the darkness !!!!!!
22 Nov 2009, 21:12 pm
Just rugby fill us in on your golfing exploits bud.
22 Nov 2009, 21:12 pm
ok, so bj was on holiday and did a rescue job on this eoyt.
come 2010 what happens in the trinations?
will cj and bj be called up again or will saru stick with the no overseas based players?
if the latter, how will pdv play it – go back to js at 3 or has he settled that js will captain from 2?
22 Nov 2009, 21:12 pm
Smit has been a good captain during difficult times. Those times are over however. Snor is shielding the players from the politics much more than Jake was ever capable of.
We needed a diplomat during the Thabo Mbeki years who gave unrestrained license to the likes of Khompela and other racial nationalists in the ANC. Zuma, on the other hand likes Boere and braais with Steve Hofmeyer and Victor.
Make no mistake, Saru would not have been able to give Stofile the finger over Beast if Mbeki was still in charge.
Having aid that, Smit has had one of his best years. After Bissy, Smit is still one of the best hookers in the country, and still has lots to offer.
But I’d give the captaincy the Matfield, and keep an eye on Brussow as the next long term captain.
That way we can pick Smit when he is needed.
22 Nov 2009, 21:14 pm
yip but if you guys are supposed to be the light in the promised land then we in deep ****. just because old Cyrille Winterbottom, the pubs’ greatest kenner from the kaap, says something is so does not make it so.
22 Nov 2009, 21:14 pm
#52 cab: Someone who is close to the sharks camp…..but its all just rumour…..
But with Jannie and Bissy there….makes sense Cab….
By the way i am sorry for the chidish outburst yesterday….it was uncalled for.
22 Nov 2009, 21:15 pm
#55 justrugby: cheers…chat tomorrow…damn thats great news!!
22 Nov 2009, 21:15 pm
#49 justrugby:
sounds like you had a good day on the course – what are you champion of?
22 Nov 2009, 21:16 pm
#60 grant10:
no problem
22 Nov 2009, 21:16 pm
#57 charo: million dollar question Charo!
22 Nov 2009, 21:18 pm
#62 charo:
I’m Chairman of a Golfing Society…..had our club Champs at Boshenmeer today !!
22 Nov 2009, 21:20 pm
#58 allamapstieks: I don’t think VM would be the right guy to lead the Boks.
22 Nov 2009, 21:22 pm
#66 Shakes: but its the safe option. 2x super 14 trophies ….a couple of CC trophys …and a legendary figure….imagine the outcry if Smit were to leave and someone else was elevated over his head!!
22 Nov 2009, 21:22 pm
#65 justrugby: Congrats Mr Chairman and enjoy your “green” jacket!
22 Nov 2009, 21:23 pm
#66 Shakes: Why not? He does pretty well for the Bulls and our first win against the All Blacks in NZ in 10 years were under him.
22 Nov 2009, 21:24 pm
#65 justrugby:
well done.
i play 2 x 18 holes every weekend here in ghana in 33-35c
killer weather but helps build up a thirst for the frosties afterwards
22 Nov 2009, 21:25 pm
#66 Shakes: …and John Smit often leaves the field at the 60 minute mark, leaving Victor in charge anyway.
22 Nov 2009, 21:26 pm
#69 allamapstieks: Need to invest in a jounger player as captain. Victor 2 years left tops.
22 Nov 2009, 21:26 pm
#67 grant10:
i think you are overplaying smit;s popularity, many ppl were calling for his head in the old days, remember the calls first for gary botha and then schalk brits. in fact, i think most would agree with you that smit should not prop at 3 = i happen to think its not been a bad experiment at all – it needs to be monitored and it may be that smit starts to play off the bench, but thats not a bad situation either.
22 Nov 2009, 21:28 pm
#72 Kronung: I agree, and that player is Brussow me thinks. But Brussow is too fresh to the scene to lead the likes of FDP, Habana, Bakkies and Matfield.
If Matfield leads for two years, then Brussow will have 30 caps come his captaincy, exactly the same amount that Smit had.
(I’m tempted to say make Habana captain actually, but how long does he have left)
22 Nov 2009, 21:30 pm
#67 grant10: G10 what you said is exactly the problem with our rugby and cricket for that matter. When players have too much say (power) you somehow trade some national interests for personal ones. I don’t see that happening in eg Aus. It is one of the major reasons why we tend to make the changes later than we actually should. In the context of our discussion I think the changes for 2011 will be made too late cos we holding on to dear buddies til the proverbial bitter end.
22 Nov 2009, 21:31 pm
#74 allamapstieks:
problem with habana is he;s involved in too many off the ball push and shove.
can a wing make a good captain? i cant remember one actually.
22 Nov 2009, 21:33 pm
here is what i cant understand tho – we have our most succesful season i can remmeber with PdV making this change and ppl are calling for sweeping changes, as if it has not worked whereas the results show the exact opposite, as did the EOY 2008. In fact, the only match we;ve lost on tour with smit at 3 is france in toulouse – that not too shabby at all.
22 Nov 2009, 21:33 pm
#76 cab: We’ll I thought Habana is a bit like Brussow, passionate and constantly encouraging their team mates.
Often players are moderated in their actions with responsibility that comes from being captain.
Take your point on wing though, however, was’nt Carel du Plessis the WP captain?
22 Nov 2009, 21:36 pm
#77 cab: Oh come on Cab, its been pretty clear that we have been suffering in the scrums for a long time. I’m a big Snor fan, but being better is never negotiable.
If we have a destructive scrum together with all the other facets of our play we’d be like Sean Fitzpatrick’s All Blacks, or like the Boks that never lost a test series until the 50′s.
Were the Springboks remember! We want perfection.
22 Nov 2009, 21:36 pm
#73 cab: i wasnt around on keo then….never personally believed he should of been dropped from 2 spot before….
As you know i dont believe he should play at 3…especially now with the pending return of BJ and CJ….
i reckon Smit would retire before accepting a sub role……
But…imo…he cuts it at 2…
22 Nov 2009, 21:37 pm
#71 allamapstieks: Currently VM is being overplayed and he might make it all the way to 2011. I actually see us going into a transition phase with perhaps more changes over the next 2 years. Not sure of his ability to lead and mould a young team. At the Bulls he has a settled team with many leaders in their own right.
22 Nov 2009, 21:38 pm
#78 allamapstieks:
yes and i think habana might be a good choice, was it carel or serfontein i cant remember.
22 Nov 2009, 21:40 pm
#8 grant10: I would have thoughtit better to have bissie for most of game, and if the scores are tight, then Smitty on for last 20 to use his experience to settle and guide the team to close out the game.
#27 Transformation: You cannot honestly tell me that the writing was not on the wall after the first couple of games? The time required for Smit to make a transition to international 3 is just too long. the bok supporters will NOT stand idly by as their bloody scrum gets decimated like it ha sbeen. We have not exactly been dominant in the past, but not FREAKING EMBARRASSED like that before.
FFS get Proudfoiot in from WP- he knows how to get the pack to gel in a scrum. Gary gold is gettig on my tits with his inability to reproduce the forward dominance of the first Lions test.
22 Nov 2009, 21:40 pm
#81 Shakes: Most of those settled leaders are in the Boks as well.
And if Matfield only makes it another season, then fine, bring in Brussow (who will have 20 caps).
22 Nov 2009, 21:40 pm
#75 Shakes: Not sure i feel that VM such a bad captain….in fact i cant really understand the negativity towards him….
He would be my choice…as Vice captain and a certain 1 st choice and a respected player with titles under his captaincy i am not sure why there is such a negative sentiment>?
Anyway…Dewalt Potgieter is being groomed …but currently not a 1 st choice??
Why are uyou so against his appointment if it happens….i would seriously like to know….you know i respect your opinion
22 Nov 2009, 21:41 pm
#74 allamapstieks: Beast has the presence and personality to lead the team. He will be around for a long time.
Pity Julius and company would have a hernia!!
22 Nov 2009, 21:41 pm
#79 allamapstieks:
well ok, you calling for change, lets hope you right, and otehr things not sacrificed. all i am saying is that smit was not playing when the bok scrum got done in by leicester and saracens. he started playing TH halfway thru 2008 where we made our first cleansweep of the EOY in ages, and we beat everyone in 2009 except the french – i can remember worse years with better TH’s – but now i actually want to see what happens with the more conservative selection push that is gathering pace.
22 Nov 2009, 21:42 pm
#77 cab: Cab leave it as it is and we will arrive at WC2011 like England after WC2003.
22 Nov 2009, 21:42 pm
js is one of the most destructive scrummaging hookers in the world.
if he goes back to 2, he should start and play for 60 mins with bismark coming on. thing will have loosened up and this will suit bissie’s style.
vm to take over captaincy when js goes off
22 Nov 2009, 21:43 pm
#77 cab: doesent conceal the poor scrum cab….cant hide it anymore…we need to sort it….no question
22 Nov 2009, 21:43 pm
#77 cab: Front row has not been convincing all year. Being the best doesn’t mean resting on your laurels. Constant improvement is a must.
22 Nov 2009, 21:44 pm
#90 grant10:
yes, i;m going to hold you to it grantie, we will see this new improved squad, you might just get what you hoped for…lets see. remember this conversation well.
22 Nov 2009, 21:46 pm
#89 charo: now we on the same page Charo
22 Nov 2009, 21:46 pm
#88 Shakes:
not so, england were old men by the time they arrived at the RWC 2003. Our boys that played France had an average age of 27, which is 2 years younger than the french at 29. The beauty of this squad is that all of them can prob go to 2011, where they will be about the age of the england squad.
22 Nov 2009, 21:47 pm
#89 charo: Charo, thats just not true.
During the 07 WC and before when he and Bissey ws still sharing the 2 birth, the scrum always went better with Bissey.
Sit may be a good scrummaging hooker, but Bissey is better on that score. In fact I’d go so far to say that an in form Bissey is the best hooker in the world by a country mile.
22 Nov 2009, 21:48 pm
#91 Kronung: absolutely….bear in mind the WC 2011 will be in NH type conditions as well….
#92 cab: My call for a proper tighthead…hold me to it with pleasure….i think that thinking showed merit already on Sat in last 20 min….
22 Nov 2009, 21:49 pm
#85 grant10: G10 I respect him as a player and I hope he is managed correctly to be there in 2011. I must admit that I base my opnion on my perception of him as captain being the following: When things are not going well he looks puzzled and defeated. He is never vocal enough on the field giving instructions outside of lineout calls.
22 Nov 2009, 21:49 pm
Bismarck is the best hooker in the world, and therein lies the problem. He is savagely good in the tightloose, young, fit and agressive. If we had another bismarck on teh field v the french, we would win.
22 Nov 2009, 21:50 pm
#96 grant10:
yes well we will, 20mins is easy when casto has been on for 60, as i say we will see and i will hold you to it.
22 Nov 2009, 21:51 pm
#97 Shakes: He he
Yes, but Smit also looks puzzled at times. But granted, Matfield looks puzzled and and very pissed off.
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