Smit starts at hooker
26 Nov 2009
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
409 Comments
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27 Nov 2009, 09:08 am
@justrugby: @justrugby: @justrugby: Great….hope its dry! Meet at the arms at 3…30?
That midfield will be tested BOD the man!
@TheTackler: No dispute….facts are facts…
27 Nov 2009, 09:10 am
@grant10:
Cool
27 Nov 2009, 09:16 am
@justrugby: Heard all about Gin yesterday, at least in one thing we are alike I love Bulldogs Banning him from watching when Playing ENgland was just cruel
27 Nov 2009, 09:16 am
@grant10:
We are up against one of the best centre pairings in the world, by brining Jean in I would have started him, he and Jaque have a record for centre partnerships therefore understand each other. This is a vital aspect !!!
It would be harsh on WO who does deserve a run, but in such a critical game , up against a potent centre pairing I personally would have started with JDEV adn JF.
I just hope that WO has the game of his life as this could make or break him !!
27 Nov 2009, 09:17 am
@Sharksgirl:
LOL !!! still heartbroken and miss the oke !!
27 Nov 2009, 09:28 am
@justrugby: I agree with you on this one!
Sorry didn’t mean to bring back painful memories
27 Nov 2009, 09:40 am
All those knocking Kanko are partly correct, he is lacking in the upper strength department, but they are also being very short-sighted.
Kanko is still very young and there is no doubting his abundance of talent. He’s proved this many times over. So give him some time to build his strength and watch him become a truly great player.
He could bulk up very quickly if he goes the ‘juice’ route which is rumoured to be Spies’s method (who knows?), we will have to wait and see.
27 Nov 2009, 09:45 am
@justrugby: Can’t be great for WO starting knowing that the slightest mishap will see the coaching staff bring on Jean DV. Hope he plays out of his skin and doesn’t choose to be conservative to prevtn him being subbed
27 Nov 2009, 11:14 am
Peter De Villiers makes such a idiotic comment…”‘We will always look inside our own country first. If we can’t find someone good enough, only then will we look outside.”…the better players are playing overseas so he will not pick the strongest squad….just plain stupid!!!
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