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, 22:37 pm
if its mobility and activity in loose then Bismark is ok but what he offers in loose he gives away at scrum time. So best candidate in my view is Smit at 2 now and Liebenberg to follow, Bismark off bench. Strauss Maku have to wait in the wings. Pity it won’t happen but thats the best option.
22 Nov 2009, 22:37 pm
skop…together with the right personnel we must look at a proper scrum coach as well….it is not a quick fix…need to employ a real guru specialist as well….Cobus Versagie may be the right oke….he seems to have had great success….Os …Proudfoot maybe….even the frenchie PDV…..
But the general neglect is not going to dissapear overnight.
22 Nov 2009, 22:40 pm
horses for courses Skop….thats the way to go in the pro era.
22 Nov 2009, 22:43 pm
Hi Grant, where has the reply arrow gone?
You will need them for the Ireland match too!!
You must have got the lucky underpants out again on Saturday.
22 Nov 2009, 22:45 pm
Hi Carol…i will follow all the rituals developed over 33 years of test matches….will gladly sacrifice the Golden Retriever to theRugby Gods for a win…
Well done with the cricket!!
22 Nov 2009, 22:47 pm
Gunther…sorry for being mouthy yesterday….wasnt cool..
22 Nov 2009, 22:47 pm
#80 grant10: I reckon Smit should be managed by only playing a sub role to guide teh Boks at the most critical part of the game.
and I think that if he felt the Boks needed him for a critical skill at a critical time, then he would not mind taking a “sub role”. Besides subs are pretty specialised positions nowadays.
22 Nov 2009, 22:48 pm
157….okay….if he was happy with the set up would be great…
22 Nov 2009, 22:49 pm
146 SL,
dunno what happened to reply button, but surely BJ not going to sharks with jan dup and smit? i mean it will be damn good for them, but get the feeling jan dup will want to move and get a starting spot. if they got alberts and maybe bj, going to be a big season, pity frans lost, he;s still leaps ahead of anything in SA.
22 Nov 2009, 22:49 pm
I notice some people still castigating this coach and his assistants for reading the scrum all wrong, for compromising the bok front row by playing Smit at 3 and Bismark 2 and Gurthro, Beast at 11 but which one of them a year ago would have done different. Bismark was hailed by all and sundry as the battle hardened hooker that we needed in the breakdown trenches. So Smit was shifted to 3 to accomodate him. Now it turns out that rules were changed and set scrum is all important again. Hence this chafing about the correct mix at front row. I would promote Heinke/Beast, Liebenberg/Bismark, WP Nel/K. Buys as my WC front row but looks like they going to want to drag Smit and Bismark all the way through
22 Nov 2009, 22:51 pm
11 = 1
22 Nov 2009, 22:51 pm
The golden retriever is not to be used as a bargining tool….
Collingwood was quite useful today wasn’t he, this does mean you will thrash us again on the next outing!!
22 Nov 2009, 22:51 pm
perhaps the WC pair of F Steyn and J Fourie may be the best combo at centre for the attritional war awaiting at Croke Park….fire with fire and all that.
22 Nov 2009, 22:52 pm
#152 g10
agree, we are now definitely on the same page
22 Nov 2009, 22:52 pm
what? did we lose to pomgola in cricket? that is disgraceful.
do we have any fast bowlers any more.
22 Nov 2009, 22:54 pm
162….The 1 day stuff is all kiss and cuddle …too much candy floss….5day test my forte….will spend a day or 2 with the Barmy Army at Newlands over New Year…
That for me is the real deal
22 Nov 2009, 22:57 pm
stuff skittle sticks who’s interested in such old mens tiddly winks pastimes like croquette or skittle sticks, rather talk soccer if you have to.
22 Nov 2009, 22:58 pm
hey it’s fine grant we are all passionate supporters.. another bonus from smit at 2 was the lineouts they looked much more potent sharp throwing to the back gave us a much better attack platform..something that has been missing a bit lately …
22 Nov 2009, 22:59 pm
166 Grant – You will have to get some chants sorted with Justrugby to counter the Barmy Army Boys!!
Get out your green and gold wigs too!! Or dress up as a Roman Gladiator…you probably have the legs!
22 Nov 2009, 22:59 pm
roundball? no ******, they roll around like its the cannes film festival – at least cricket requires some character.
22 Nov 2009, 23:00 pm
167 Hi Skop – You won’t be beating a path to Newlands over the New Year I gather!!
22 Nov 2009, 23:00 pm
168 Gunther…ja…Smit is a damn fine player….and as many have mentioned probably in the best form of his life when it comes to general play….certainly if he reverts to 2 and has a rotation type policy to keep him fresh i reckon that damn dinner will be on me!
22 Nov 2009, 23:01 pm
cab the truth was our batsmen didn’t get enough runs on the board…
22 Nov 2009, 23:03 pm
173 ….Gunther, and the luck was with us English, just for once!
22 Nov 2009, 23:03 pm
169…Carol….what was the song…great legs…shame about the face!!
Ja…Justrugby won the golf title today…so we will no doubt celebrate big …..hoping he will wait till next Saturday…..kill 2 birds with 1 stone…celebrate a bok win over Irish at the same time…
22 Nov 2009, 23:03 pm
173 gunther
hopeless – saw bits and pieces of the new black kid the other day on the 20/20 -sire was walloping it around, had an afr surname – damn good.
22 Nov 2009, 23:04 pm
I reckon he will have more gas in the tank at 2 as well
22 Nov 2009, 23:06 pm
talking of soccer….saw that Henry cheating the irish….bloody hell…was the ref blind….and the linesman?
Shocker…play it again Sam….
Going to the official WC draw party in Cape Town…200 days to go today…incredible.
22 Nov 2009, 23:06 pm
loots bosman.
was out of favour with mickey mouse for a while but now the bees knees
22 Nov 2009, 23:06 pm
175 – Grant..I will be willing the Boks to win. Will they be wearing blue or white next Saturday as the Irish will be in green?
22 Nov 2009, 23:07 pm
Good god who ever wanna waist a whole day or 3 snorting warm beer at Newlands in the hot midday sun. Only mad dogs and Englishmen perform such idiotic deeds. Swimming in the ocean or eyeing the chicks on Danger Beach St James far better idea. On any Sunday, or Friday or Saturday or any other day for that matter.
22 Nov 2009, 23:08 pm
Carol….mmmm…never thought of that….why dont Irish change there kit??
We the ‘guests’???
22 Nov 2009, 23:09 pm
ja ok, if u put it that way, i;d have to agree.
22 Nov 2009, 23:10 pm
seen some babes today that made my eyes bleed….Clifton is cooking…Gabrielle and i just shake our heads in despair….damn to be 30 again!!
22 Nov 2009, 23:11 pm
‘waist’ well thats cause had chicks on the brain, shoulda been ‘waste’.
Chicks waists now thats something worth talking about instead of skittle sticks.
22 Nov 2009, 23:12 pm
181 Skop, do you wear mirror shades so the chicks can’t see you oggling them? Heheheheheh
22 Nov 2009, 23:12 pm
Loots bowman … He has been around for awhile now good player would like to see him in the 50 over game
22 Nov 2009, 23:13 pm
well all….bloody bath water cold….so a shower it is…
Look forward to seeing what PDV has up his sleeve….
Dont be surprised if CJ starts at 3 …i have a hunch…
Outta here
22 Nov 2009, 23:13 pm
182 – England have some very nice purple kit the Irish could ‘borrow’!!
22 Nov 2009, 23:14 pm
188- See you Grant…mind those bleeding eyeballs!!
22 Nov 2009, 23:14 pm
you 40 something’s wishing you were thirty, spare a thought for us ou toppies we already waiting till next lifetime to hit the beach again. Passe is the by word, no more luck till next time around the block.
22 Nov 2009, 23:14 pm
Gunther…where is Gibbs and Kallis??
22 Nov 2009, 23:14 pm
bosman
22 Nov 2009, 23:16 pm
OK I must go…..Skop, nice to tease you again!
CAB, Charo, Gunther another time!
22 Nov 2009, 23:17 pm
Bok’s will take care of Irish no sweat they’ll be chicken feed next weekend nothing to worry about.
Out now.
22 Nov 2009, 23:18 pm
grant kallis injured for rest of one dayers and Gibbs dropped…
23 Nov 2009, 00:12 am
You negative chaps will not be happy unless John Smit – the most successfl Springbok Captain in history – has been dropped, or retires.
South Africa has a history of treacherous treatment of great Captains – Pienaar, Teichmann… Smit?
Build them up and shoot them down – like an English Tabloid – all emotion, minimal facts/knowledge, and a herd mentality.
23 Nov 2009, 00:50 am
Everybody has to retire/be replaced some day. It’s not treachery. It’s just the way the world works.
23 Nov 2009, 01:49 am
Boks should line up on the Irish side for the anthems and refuse to move. I hear that goes down well
198. it doesn’t make a lot of sense to retire when he’s playing the best rugby of his career and he’s the only viable option for captaincy
23 Nov 2009, 02:23 am
No question that Smitty’s currently the captain among captains.
But he’s definitely not the best tighthead prop for the job or even the best hooker for the job. Others are better.
So he has to go.
His time is up.
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