Smit starts at hooker
John Smit will revert to his strongest position this Saturday while the uncapped Dewald Potgieter has been named on the bench.
Smit played down the shift when probed on the matter. On a tour marred by poor scrumming and front-row injuries, the Springboks have lost Gurthro Steenkamp, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis and most recently Adriaan Strauss. Bismarck du Plessis has had a rib concern, while CJ van der Linde has just recovered from a hamstring ailment.
The string of injuries sees Smit reverting to the position where many experts, including former team-mate Os du Randt, feel he’s best.
‘It’s been awhile since I’ve played hooker – I think my last start was in the Super 14. Hopefully it’s just like riding a bicycle,’ Smit told keo.co.za.
‘It’s going to be an epic Test. They’re the Six Nations champions and we’ve enjoyed a good year, so it’s going to be tough.’
Peter de Villiers has also selected BJ Botha at tighthead and Beast Mtawarira at loosehead after this front-row combination impressed in the closing stages of the Italy Test. De Villiers, however, refused to say whether this combination would be retained in future matches.
‘We now have a lot of options and can opt for a horse for courses approach,’ the Bok coach said. ‘The front row we’ve selected is perfect for how we want to play against Ireland.’
Botha (Ulster), Van der Linde (Leinster) and Jean de Villiers (Munster) all play their club rugby in Ireland, and are included despite the policy that frowns on the selection of overseas-based players.
Peter de Villiers said this stance was relaxed given the number of injuries and the fact that the trio were playing in Ireland.
‘We will always look inside our own country first. If we can’t find someone good enough, only then will we look outside.
‘We are fortunate that Jean was here and thought it would be stupid to fly a replacement out from South Africa. He knows the system and it’s not even three months since he last played for South Africa.’
Other changes to the pack see Danie Rossouw shifted to No 8 in place of Ryan Kankowski while Schalk Burger returns from a rib injury. Bakkies Botha is still battling a back injury but is named in the starting side.
De Villiers said the change at No 8 is down to injury and not because of the physicality Rossouw can bring to the contest.
‘Kanko got a bump against Italy and we’ve decided to manage him,’ said De Villiers, even though Kankowski trained with the Boks on Thursday. ‘It’s going to be a tough Super 14 so we have to think of the player as well.’
Wynand Olivier is preferred in the centres with Jean de Villiers warming the bench. De Villiers was a late replacement for injured centre Adi Jacobs.
Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Dewald Potgieter, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Jean de Villiers.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin
November 26th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
@Wezwp: Worth discussing after the game. I think you may just have to eat your words. The Chippendale may have his breakout game.
Ryan is the Ruan Pienaar of looseforwards. Actually that does Ruan an injustice – although being the fastest sideways runner on earth he is not a Springbok quality 8.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
@grant10: But is he good enough to be in the Bok set-up as a scrummie? He might be our 2nd best 10, but I don’t think he is our 2nd best 9. Look at guys like Adams, Vermaak, Joubert, Hougaard, Rory… Or will he just play of the bench as impact player, or hope that FdP gets injured? I don’t know, I just think 12 will be his best position. Maybe I’m wrong.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
@Johan Fourie: Boet, gifted as he is I don’t think he is a 12.
I agree that he is a better 10 than 9.
Where he broke my heart was at 15, where he has every attribute, including great genes, to be world class and he buggered it up.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
@SodaJoe:
and pumpkin pie?
November 26th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
@SodaJoe:
its in his head…
November 26th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
@gunther: a culinary travesty. Almost the worst food on the planet.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
@soda Will you please wake me up when Wynand has his breakout game. He’s good but we need jean there. Wo is very overated in my opinion.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
@Transformation: According to the definition of “quota”, there can be no way that WO could be classified as a “quota” player. There are waaaayyyy to many “white” guys in the Bok side. Should you disagree, feel free to mention it to PdV; he will tune you right!
November 26th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
@Wezwp: WEZ – I have had the same opinion, honestly, but I just can’t argue with his S14 and CC form.
And defensively he is pretty much without peer at 12, and I include Frans Steyn there, and Jean obvioulsy very good. WO can moer your underpants off. And I think we need that on Saturday.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I dont think many of the bloggers see the value of Juan Smith. That guy is a springbok through and through. What i like about him is his very versatile and does everything for you, even steals opposition line out balls.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
@SodaJoe: \
once and never again…
November 26th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
@gunther: Kills me. The Darryl Cullinan of rugby. Blessed talents.
Ruan is the bunnie of all kicking tees.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
@SodaJoe: So where do you think this leaves him then? Bench?
November 26th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
@SodaJoe:
agreed he is the sort of client a sports psychologist dreams of…
November 26th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
@Wezwp: Completely agree. I most underrated Springbok ever. No weaknesses at all. I am glad hes is resting, Schalk should also have been left at home. And Adi – fk up their careers.
Test rugby is so hard you really need to be 100% fit, 95% won’t cut it.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Playing injured fks up their careers.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
@SodaJoe: Well said!
@Wezwp: On that one I have to agree! Juan is a valuable part of our pack. We missed him against France.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
@Johan Fourie:
it leaves him in pyjamas in a white room clawing the ceiling…
November 26th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
@Johan Fourie: Yes.
Morne is our 10 and FdP our 9.
As a bench player he can play 9,10,15. Hard to beat.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
@soda would you honestly say wynand would fit into the top 5 category in the 2009 s14?……..because i wont, there was way better inside centers. He had a good s14 but it wasnt great. I personally think Zane played a bigger part in the bulls s14 success.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
@gunther: He’s a guy who needs to go to France after 2011, get a life, get a bird, get some respite, and he will come back a rugby genius.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
@SodaJoe:
agreed a change of perspective might work wonders..
November 26th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
@Wezwp: Disagree again. He was imho the best 12 in the S14. Most of the composite teams had him there too. And that was with JdV playing for the Stormers.
Barnes maybe close (great rugby player).
But Saturday is his time, otherwise I am with you – not a Bok quality. But as I said, I think he’s going to be terrific.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
I wish Roy would fix the arrow thingies.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
If you want Pienaar and M. Steyn on the field same time then play M. Steyn at 12 and Pienaar at 10 not the other way around. Otherwise shift M. Steyn to 15.
Wc back line could read something like this
S. Pretorius / Hougaard
Pienaar / M. Steyn
Habana / Mapoe
M. Steyn / De Jongh / WO
De Jongh / J. Fourie
J. Fourie / JPP
Kirchner / Viljoen / F. Steyn
November 26th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I m taking dogs out for a walk, probably see you all later.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
@Johan Fourie: dont try and accomodate players Johan. …thats the cancer in our rugby
November 26th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
@Wezwp: WO had a very good S14. I have to say that his form at the Bulls were far better than with the Boks. Some players find the step up from provincial/S14 to test rugby harder than others, for various reasons. Only time will tell if he will make it at test level. Look at a guy like FdP. He was brilliant at the Bulls, but it took him a good 20 tests before he really settled in at the Boks. At one time Ricky was geniunly better than him. Today he is by far the best in the world. As I say, only time will tell.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
@Johan Fourie:
I think putting Ruan at 12 is a good idea too but not at test level yet. It did wonders for Wilkinson and Carter’s careers at 10.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
@Johan Fourie: #189
If I remember correctly some bloggers on this site kept going on about how we now have two “world class” fly halves after the Lion’s tour. That was after RP’s performance in the first test and Morne’s performance as his replacement in the second test. Now suddenly the cupboard looks bare again.
That is what happens if you give someone super hero status after only one or two good performances.
Grant 10
I see on the news that JS says that he thinks it is too early to determine that the experiment (he at TH) is a failure. He foresees that he will play there again and only play hooker on occasions.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
@grant10: Exactly, that is what I’m trying to say. I think he could be a very good 12, but I dont rate him as one of our 2 best 9’s. If he is willing, and that is vital, he should start at the Sharks at 12, Hernandez at 10, Rory at 9, Jacobs at 13. Not trying to make a place for him in the Bok side, but we are thin at 12. JdV wont be around for long. Ruan is a great player to have on the bench, but it is not good for his career.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Peter Grant is a better no.12 in my opinion.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
@lightie: i tell you here and now Ruan will hve a heart attack….he only wants 9 ….
November 26th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
@Johan Fourie: He will never attempt it….he will go overseas boet…believe me on this one.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
@Wezwp: agree
November 26th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
@lightie: Yip. In the modern game, especially in NZ and Aus, 10 and 12 are virtually the same. Look at Carter/McCallister, and Ghitao/Barnes.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
@nama1: Smit back at 3 and i will have a heart attack!!LOL
November 26th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Ruan has the potential to be the worlds best no9. All this moving around is f@cking his head up. Hes not a utility player just simply a no.9
November 26th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
@nama1: Nama….being a Stormers and WP fan i look forward to Smit at 3 next season….against us….
Idiotic to even think he can play there…..BJ and CJ coming hack….Buys and WP Nel walking the talk….writing is so on the wall…
November 26th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
@Wezwp: amen!
November 26th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
@skopskiet: Why do you prefer Ruan at 10 and Morne at 12? My Bok backline for 2011 will look like this:
15) F.Steyn/Z.Kirchner
14) JP/Mapoe
13) Fourie/Olivier
12) Jean/Pienaar/de Jongh
11) Habana/Nokwe
10) Morne/Pienaar
9) FdP/Hougard
November 26th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
@soda Barnes was without a doubt the best no.12 in the s14. WO is not even a midfield general how could you say he was better than Nonu,Barnes, etc
November 26th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I heard that BJ might join the Bulls soon? Is that true?
November 26th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
@Wezwp: He was definitly better than Nonu, and by far SA’s best 12.
November 26th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Over and out! Later!
November 26th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
If the no12 is no different from the no10, then where does Wynand fit in. He will be a good stop gap replacement on Saturday thats all. Only reason Jean isnt starting is because it will ultimately destroy what he said about selecting overseas players.
November 26th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
@Johan Fourie: Bob skinstad says that BJ and CJ are looking for Provincial contracts …and would come home if they could secure Bok and provincial contracts….both available from May 2010…..so may miss Super 14…..
I guess Muir must be frothing at the mouth….CJ hinted at Cape Town….time will tell….
BJ a real Durban Boy…..DHS, etc….so i think he may head to sharks….depends on Smit to a degree i reckon…and how Sharks gonna use him…
November 26th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
@Wezwp: imo…..JDV and F Steyn our 2 best 12 s …
November 26th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
@Grant10 whatever the outcome we could use them both over here in the republic.
November 26th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
@Grant imo Francois is our best fullback.