White’s captaincy poser

White’s captaincy poser

4 May 2006

John Smit’s fitness probably occupies most of Jake White’s time because Smit’s successor is unlikely to play test rugby this season.

Bok coach White unwisely publicly declared that Cats captain Wikus van Heerden was the successor to Smit should the Sharks hooker and Bok captain get injured in the Super 14 or the early part of the test season. White went on record to say he did not believe he had a capable international captain in his current squad — a squad that included Cats captain Wikus van Heerden, Stormers leaders De Wet Barry, Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger, as well as Cheetahs captain Juan Smith and the Bulls duo of Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez.

Now what?

Van Heerden thought his season was over because of a knee injury and while the latest is that he may not have to have an operation, it is still unclear when he would be available.

Smit is still there, but has to survive two more Super 14 matches. What happens if the Bok captain is struck with injury? Does White turn to another outsider or does he go cap in hand to the likes of Smith, Matfield, Burger and Barry and tell them that even though he doesn’t rate them as test captains, they now have to lead the Boks?

Rarely has a Bok captain been under so much pressure not to get injured. Rarely has a Bok coach been under such scrutiny for confirming in print what he was thinking.


57 Comments

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  • 1.Staal: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:23 am

    John is a dragon

  • 2.Drunkmonkey: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:23 am

    what bout matfield for bulls

  • 3.katman: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:24 am

    Keo,

    “…a squad that included Bulls captain Wikus van Heerden…”

    Not as far as I know.

  • 4.jds: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:25 am

    “Bulls captain Wikus van Heerde”, wow Keo, Wikus is amasing when he can be cats, bulls and bok captain or what do you think????

  • 5.Moegrat: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:27 am

    I heard from one of my sources Dale Sandton got a call up from Jake White to be ready to replace John as captain and as hooker if John gets injured

  • 6.pierre: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:34 am

    Gaffie is the obvious choice, I have no idea why JW would waste his time with a loser like Wickus (even if he is now the Bulls’ captain).

  • 7.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:35 am

    Van wanneer af is Wicus die Bulle se kaptein??????????

  • 8.munkiboi: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:38 am

    what about Steady Eddie Andrews?

    Any guy with the passion to cry during the national anthem should at least be considered… :)

  • 9.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:39 am

    Keo, then it is true that Wikus is moving to the Blue Bulls?

  • 10.Knersboy: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:41 am

    jake should make himself captain. all he needs is a microphone and then he can give one of the players an ear piece to be his voice on the field.

    eh, using that logic, maybe we can make Nelson Mandela captain.

  • 11.londonshark: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:47 am

    I’d like to kick Eddie Andrews in the nuts!! Useless bugger.

  • 12.bewer: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:49 am

    Did Jake really say that he was thinking about Wikus, or did he just say his Captain back-up was not in the squad that played last year?

    As far as I was aware it’s the latter and everyone then asumed it must be Wikus. Could it not be that Jake is considering AJ as back-up? He was very successful at the Sharks before John Smit returned and I must say I rate the man.

  • 13.Ig: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:53 am

    bewer – no – Jake actually put both feet in his mouth and said Wickus was his next captain.

  • 14.munkiboi: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:53 am

    well londonshark, you’re clearly a well balanced, level headed person.

  • 15.JUSM: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:54 am

    maybe beteken dit dat wikus bulle toe kom!!! jaaa!!!

  • 16.Ant227: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:54 am

    How about Jorrie Muller and Gus Theron as joint captains???

    Or Chuck.

  • 17.bewer: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:55 am

    Thanks for the clarification Ig.

    It’s a pity though, I believe AJ would be much better (as player and as captain) than wikus.

  • 18.JUSM: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:56 am

    as for who should be cappy, both juan smith and aj seem to be good options. better than the rest anyway.

  • 19.sipes: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:57 am

    Stop kakking on Jakes head for doing what we all asked for over the years. Honesty! Jake is honest and transparent and we should all be greatfull.

    He also never said that the mentioned candidates can’t be good captains. He just rates Wikus at the moment

    And with good reason

  • 20.Ig: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 09:58 am

    Agreed JUSM

  • 21.Andre_WP: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:02 am

    Juan Smith or Wikus van Heerden , anyone of these two guys.

  • 22.Bluecap: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:04 am

    Gus Theron, he’s the man.

  • 23.bluebarb: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:06 am

    Earl Rose’s Scrumcap for Captain!

  • 24.Sage: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:11 am

    Anybody suggesting that AJ, Barry, Schalk Burger, Fourie du Preez (heaven forbid!!) and to a lesser extent Jean Div and Vicor Matfield should captain the Boks has no idea what it takes to captain a SA national side.

    Most of our S14 sides lack charismatic, open-minded LEADERS, i.e. the type you will follow anywhere and who attracts the support of their fans whilst creating the right impression on the international stage. All of this while being a great player too.

    The same dilemma exists with our cricket side with Graeme Smith being out of form. There is no capable alternative at the moment. Obvious choices being Kallis, who lacks a personality and Boucher, who has enough to do on the field as ‘keeper are unrealistic.

  • 25.big g: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:14 am

    just make ruan pienaar captain and get it over and one with..
    then we can have another long term captain like tosser smith in cricket and if things go wrong we can evr be the growing side…

  • 26.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:18 am

    Matfield ot Juan Smit…..

    anyway, the way that some of the players are accumulating test caps, come the world cup we will probably have a whole host of players with 50-70 caps?

    Will captaincy really be that important with this sort of experience on the field?

  • 27.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:18 am

    Matfield ot Juan Smit…..

    anyway, the way that some of the players are accumulating test caps, come the world cup we will probably have a whole host of players with 50-70 caps?

    Will captaincy really be that important with this sort of experience on the field?

  • 28.amazon: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:28 am

    St pete

    Youve got it.

    Let someone who can string together a few re hearsed sentences, someone who can speak two languages comfortably. someone who can hold onto a ball when necessary.

    The as they run out just tell him he’s the captain.

    The cliche of saying that everyone is a captain in his position is v true.

    take care of you end of the bargain and speak to whomever , whenever in your team through out the game when it calls for it.

    The test cap experience is what will dictate how they decide on strategy. Lets also be real about it all. The flyhalf and scrumhalf are most influencial in the game. The coach can just strap a bluetooth headset on both parties and then supply instructions when neccerray.

    Otherwise, if you the prop . work in the scrum, hit the rucks at speed and aggression and dont dribble on the ref.

    Story sorted

  • 29.Paws: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:41 am

    I personally believe that john smit is way over rated by JW as a hooker and as a captain.

    Wikus and Juan Smit are much better, as players and captains, and so is AJ, maybe just a little to old. Would like to see what Scalk Brits can do as capt at WP in the future.

    JW maybe places to a little to much emphases on the importance of his captain.

  • 30.cab: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:42 am

    yip, poor old Jake, but Barry will be next in line.

  • 31.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:44 am

    amazon: just make sure that you don’t go talk to your players when the ref says you must…. might have a try scored against you…

  • 32.NottinghamBok: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:48 am

    How about Luke Watson as an option?

  • 33.spokie: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:50 am

    Pleaaaaase no Barry or Victor or Fourie as bok captain!!!!D-E-S-A-S-T-O-R!!!!O ja en weet julle bulle nie Wikus word op die oomblik verbind met die stormers vir volgende seisoen nie?

  • 34.NottinghamBok: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:52 am

    Really think Fester should have given him the captaincy when De Wet was “rested”…

    He’s been a natural captain throughout his rugby career…

  • 35.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:54 am

    spokie: love your spelling boytjie! But agree… ‘cept for de Wet… he’s a maybe!

  • 36.rastafox: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:54 am

    Keo

    What ya smokin Joe???You gettin ya facts all arse about face today????

  • 37.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:55 am

    with a name like rasta i think perhaps you’re the one smoking something… just a thought…

  • 38.rastafox: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:56 am

    Cue the return of Avos!!!!!!

  • 39.seamus: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 10:56 am

    I agree with Jake, there is no real leader in last year’s squad beyond Smittie

    Schalk needs to focus on his tackling, running and securing of ball
    DeWet wont play enough
    Jean doesn’t strike me as a leader
    Big Vic – probably not popular with all players
    Juan Smith – no carisma
    FdP – no carisma

    So, that leaves AP and AJ and AJ is the clear front-runner

  • 40.Turnover: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 11:12 am

    Luke Watson.

  • 41.rednik: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 11:41 am

    AJ Venter would always have been the best choice. Watson is a natural too. Van Niekerk, Barry, Smith, all have experience in this regard.

    A non story Keo.

  • 42.Boychie: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 13:20 pm

    What about Big Joe?

  • 43.Anvil: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 13:33 pm

    How about The Wet Barry aka the Fall guy ?

  • 44.The Ball: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 14:00 pm

    I agree, Andre Vos has had a great season in the UK.
    He was one guy who had huge support from all his peers, and public..
    There is just so little space for loosies at the moment..
    Please dont pick Barry, he has too many brain explosions, we cant play rugby with no captain on the field..

  • 45.capebull: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 14:06 pm

    Jake took Eddie of the weights last year , he was getting to strong and it had a bad effect on his game……mooi man

    and yes what about Big Joke , he can do the captaining from the side line , where he usually stands.

  • 46.capebull: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 14:10 pm

    Seemoes why do you need cars… pick a guy that can play first. The cars…. guys just talk. On the udder hand Eugene Tereblance had cars….. or sorry he had a horse.

  • 47.superbok: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 14:28 pm

    Why does Jake keep on shooting his mouth off like this? The captaincy issue, not playing Burger and Watson in the same squad, making comments before playing Ireland and downplaying Brits’ chances of becoming a Springbok. There are probably many other times as well. You don’t get other major international rugby coaches making those comments, especially when referring to a specific player. This should be done in private. Whether Brits deserves a Bok call-up is not for me to say, but if his scrumming needs a lot of work, why not help him then to become the complete hooker. His attacking skills are certainly different to what we have now. Jake must keep his feet on the ground as he gets more settled in his job, not like some of his predecessors.

  • 48.Boychie: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 14:31 pm

    capebull, the side line, that`s exactly where wannenburg and jacques cronje will be when the boks play.

  • 49.capeflatsboy: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 14:46 pm

    I say it is about time we have a black man to lead the national team.
    What’s wrong with Shimange? He replace Smit as starting hooker and captain. Be brave jake.

  • 50.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2006, 16:17 pm

    Keo,

    All this “scrutiny” comes from you!
    Capeflatsboy, do you think that Shimmie is a leader? Has he captained any other teams before? Not too sure on that one.

    I would like to think that Jake could find a cappie out of his bunch, but if not, the Pirates 2xv flank is a good leader, consider him!-)

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