No replacing Smith
7 Mar 2008
The Cheetahs could struggle to match the physicality of the Chiefs without Juan Smith’s unique abrasive qualities.
The central franchise begin their Australasian tour without three members of their squad, with Smith, Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Gavin Passens left at home because of injuries. Smith is far and above the biggest loss, not just for his inspirational leadership, but for his talent as a player.
Bryan Habana was awarded the 2007 IRB Player of the Year accolade but many critics believed Smith, playing in the unglamorous position of blindside flank, was the true hero behind the Boks’ World Cup victory. Smith has become everything coaches look for in a loose forward. He’s uncompromising on defence, secure and determined with ball in hand, and is a world-class line-out option.
Needless to say, the Cheetahs skipper is a few cuts above anybody else at his franchise. In 2006, then Bok coach Jake White lamented the injury of Schalk Burger as in White’s mind, the dynamic opensider fulfilled the duties of three loose forwards. The same is true of Smith and Naka Drotske’s difficult campaign just became significantly tougher with the skipper sidelined for four weeks.
The back row of the Cheetahs shows so much promise, but lack sufficient exposure at this level to be a real threat. It has to be said Chiefs coach Ian Foster has made an interesting decision to leave Liam Messam and Tanerau Latimer on the bench, with Faifili Levave and Tom Harding starting at blindside and openside respectively. This indicates Foster expects a massive challenge up front in the first half. When the Cheetahs are blowing in the second half, the more athletic skills of Messam and Latimer will be maximised.
Heinrich Brussouw and Duanne Vermeulen have stood up well in the early rounds, but the biggest challenge will fall to Smith’s replacement at No 7, Darron Nell. Nell was used effectively as a No 8 in the Currie Cup, but is best utilised as lock-cum-flank in the Super 14. Although he does not boast the edge and execution of Smith, he will ensure the Cheetahs are physical at the breakdown initially.
Drotske employed a similar game plan to Foster’s in the 2007 Currie Cup, but is without the luxury of Kabamba Floors for this match. Assistant coach Hawies Fourie told this website the super-sub is suffering from a stiff neck after scoring a try against the Blues last week. The Cheetahs are fortunate to have Hendro Scholtz back on the bench, himself a Springbok, but just as Nell is no Smith, Scholtz is no Floors and the Cheetahs will miss the blond flanker’s energy at the rucks in the final quarter.
The return of Barend Pieterse will be a big boost to the Cheetahs line-out, which struggled against the Blues. The Chiefs are without skipper Jonno Gibbes and now Kristian Ormsby has joined their ever-increasing injured contingent. Although Smith will be missed in the line-out, Rory Duncan and Pieterse are well established jumpers while Nell is no slouch himself.
The performance of the Cheetahs tight five is going to be crucial, not just in the set phases, but around the park as well. Adriaan Strauss is an industrious player, but Wian du Preez and Kobus Calldo will need to step up in the loose if the visitors are to have any hope of establishing breakdown ascendancy.
All signs point to a belligerent battle up front in the first half, and despite their previous inclinations, the Cheetahs may do well to keep it tight for the full 80 on this occasion.
By Jon Cardinelli
126 Comments
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7 Mar 2008, 06:28 am
14 beers!!! I still need to get my boy home…can hardly let him lead the way with his dad slingering behind!
7 Mar 2008, 06:29 am
Im kidding Koos. I know you are a responsible dad. Ok 14 pies then.
7 Mar 2008, 06:34 am
14 pies ? Then his wife would kill him !
Coach,
Yes sorry – fat lip .. again apologies … Could not understand why brain was just not firing this morning – then realised I had made it to 12 noon without consuming ANY coffee WHATSOEVER … Well, no wonder !
7 Mar 2008, 06:41 am
14 pies!!! Aish, I can feel the heartburn already!
Coach, you know the story about old Mike Scutte, he said rennies are the only sweets that does not give him heartburn!
Coffee will do wonder for your tummy Princess!!!
7 Mar 2008, 06:44 am
She wont know Princess. 14 beers now thats different.
No Starbucks yet??
7 Mar 2008, 06:44 am
koos
That is okay I took a Zantac to keep the coffee “still” once it gets there:) I thank God & Pharm comapnies every day for Zantac !
7 Mar 2008, 06:46 am
comapnies?! I am sure that was not the original use for it…
7 Mar 2008, 06:46 am
The boxer right?
Nothing Zantac wont cure Koos.
Oh Princess about that Airborne stuff . Class action lawsuit for false advertising. Seems like they were just Vitamin tabs.
Worked for me
7 Mar 2008, 06:49 am
Princess they have got the new high strenth blue minty ones now. Could confuse them for Viagra.
7 Mar 2008, 06:52 am
Coach
You are so naive ! She’ll know – trust me she’ll know & if she is not sure she will nail the little boy with one of those “I am you mother so don’t even THINK about lying to me” looks & ask him ! The child will hesitate for all of 3.87 seconds before folding like a cheap tent in a Typhoon because it is what boys do when their mothers take that tack
Starbucks ? STARBUCKS ? What kind of Philistine do you take me for ? Illy coffee tks very much !
7 Mar 2008, 06:53 am
Thats the one Coach, he also said ‘ek is nou so lus vir ‘n rennie, ek eet sommer ‘n pie!’
7 Mar 2008, 06:57 am
Coach
Am assuming the “mistake” would be “obvious” before long …
What “Airborne stuff” ?
7 Mar 2008, 06:58 am
*GOLFING** *
A Swede, an Irishman and a Scotsman take their wives golfing.
The Swede’s wife steps up to the tee and, as she bends over to place her ball, a gust of wind blows her skirt up and reveals her lack of underwear.
“Good God, woman! Why aren’t you wearing any skivees?” Ole demanded.
“Well, you don’t give me enough housekeeping money to afford any.”
The Swede immediately reaches into his pocket and says, “For the sake of decency, here’s a 50. Go and buy yourself some underwear.
Next, the Irishman’s wife bends over to set her ball on the tee. Her skirt also blows up to show that she, too, is wearing no undies.
“Blessed Virgin Mary, woman! You’ve no knickers. Why not?” She replies, “I can’t afford any on the money you give me.”
Patrick reaches into his pocket and says; “For the sake of decency, here’s a 20. Go and buy yourself some underwear!”
Lastly, the Scotsman’s wife bends over and the wind also takes her skirt over her head to reveal that she, too, is naked under it.
“Sweet mudder of Jaysus, Aggie! Where the frig are yer drawers?”
She too explains, “You dinna give me enough money ta be able ta affarrd any.”
The Scotsman reaches into his pocket and says:
“Well, ferrr the love ‘o decency, here’s a comb. Tidy yerself up a bit.”
7 Mar 2008, 06:59 am
Ja Koos I had forgotten about him.
I was kidding about Starbucks. Geez 1000 times more expensvie than petrol (gas).
Not my boy princess.
She cant get anything out of him
When she asks, “What did you do at school, and who did you play with”.
His answer. Stuff, and friends. Simple answer.
7 Mar 2008, 07:00 am
Right, off to a meeting for a while, chat again later!
7 Mar 2008, 07:01 am
Cheers Koos.
7 Mar 2008, 07:05 am
Coach
When my nephew became taller than his mum (he was 12 years old) he developed attitude followed the learning of a valuable “Life Lesson”. She asked him to take the rubbish out – twice & he ignored her both times. She reached up, grabbed is ear twisted it & dragging his face down to her height and whispered ominously “I am your mother, I brought you into this world, I can take you out. Everyday I prepare food you eat & don’t you ever forget it”. She then kissed his cheek, patted his shoulder … and pointed to the rubbish.
You have never seen a kid move so fast
7 Mar 2008, 07:08 am
Ok princess Im hiding that one from my wife.
He’s 10 and close to her height.
Plus he is already a picky eater.
Tall skinny, possible lock or #8.
7 Mar 2008, 07:18 am
This would be the same cheeky brat who lent his bent elbow on my shoulder in a photogrpah of us on the Great Wall when he came to spend his Christmas holiday with his aunty
Mind you he can in handy when I was bargaining in the antique markets – I told them all he was so big after feeding I had very little money left for shopping ! They would look up at him & then give up on bargaining
7 Mar 2008, 07:20 am
Ok Princess, Ek gaan bed toe.
7 Mar 2008, 07:22 am
Nigh-Night
Go the Cane & the Tahs for starters
7 Mar 2008, 07:24 am
Oh yes, Lots of rugby ahead.
Hey tell Koos to get off his butt and take his son to rugby.
Nite
7 Mar 2008, 07:28 am
morning rp – had any luck with supabru?
7 Mar 2008, 07:58 am
They have Frans Viljoen from Griekwas, why not use him!!!
7 Mar 2008, 07:58 am
More Buck
Nope, still cactus – everytime it sh*ts itself it takes them a week to 10 days to fix it. So far it has been down more than it has been up
If I ran my business like that I would be in the poor house !
7 Mar 2008, 10:24 am
I hope and pray
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