Smit props up Clermont

Smit props up Clermont

26 Apr 2008

Clermont set a club record with a 10th successive win in the French Top 14.

Springbok captain John Smit played tighthead prop for 65 minutes as Clermont hammered Auch 36-15 away from home to retain top spot ahead of Toulouse.

Smit, who has played mostly at hooker this season, told Keo.co.za he was pretty buggered after the tighthead effort, but that playing there could only improve his all-round game.

Springbok centre Marius Joubert, according to reports, again excelled and has easily been the form centre in the competition.

Smit, who was named Bok captain a couple of months ago, may miss the French Top 14 play-offs because of international commitments against Wales in June.

Perpignan consolidated their top four place with an away win against Brive. Percy Montgomery kicked a conversion and two penalties and former Stormers centre Gavin Hume added a drop goal in the 16-7 victory.


10 Comments

  • 1.Greg Dulli for President: Reply to this comment
    26 Apr 2008, 20:54 pm

    John , come home and rescue the sharks.
    we need an experienced captain to call the shots…

  • 2.princess: Reply to this comment
    26 Apr 2008, 21:46 pm

    I agree – Smitty , come home. Sharks please give him a big contract as you certainly need him in the team . Lineouts are not good at the moment and there is NO leadership in the team!

  • 3.Romain: Reply to this comment
    27 Apr 2008, 02:01 am

    Form centre of the competition? hardly. Don’t misinterpret, i like Marius Joubert and everything, but he’s just not that.

    For Smit, he’s been playing prop all season. Mainly because there’s a better hooker than him in the club: Mario Ledesma (arguably best hooker in the world). But at tighthead he’s done well.
    I surely think that he’ll leave France and go back to the Sharks at the end of the season.

  • 4.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    27 Apr 2008, 11:05 am

    Romain, now give us your credentials to qualify you to make the judgment you did.

  • 5.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    27 Apr 2008, 12:05 pm

    John Smit, best hooker 2007, best Captain 2007, WC winning hooker and captain 2007. Only an idiot would disagree.

  • 6.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    27 Apr 2008, 12:48 pm

    * 5 Loosehead

    “John Smit, best hooker 2007, best Captain 2007, WC winning hooker and captain 2007. Only an idiot would disagree.”

    Then there must be many idiots around because there are numerous people who do not agree that he is the best hooker (unless you mean the best hooker in Natal perhaps). For starters the people at his club in France do not agree as even before his injury he could not make their starting team as a hooker.

    You can call people such as Roger Federer and Tiger Woods the best in the world because in their sports there is a. objective ranking system that proves it but in rugby we only have subjective opinions. Those who do not share our opinions are not idiots.

  • 7.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Apr 2008, 13:37 pm

    Boks limited to three overseas players

    Sunday Star Times | April 27, 2008 – 6:09PM

    New Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has been forced to shut the door on many of the side’s World Cup winning stars ahead of this year’s international season.

    Players like Victor Matfield, Butch James and Percy Montgomery now ply their trade in Europe and the South African board has limited De Villiers to a maximum of three overseas-based players.

    World Cup winning captain John Smit, who now plays for French club Clermont, has already been named captain.
    Source: The Sun-Herald

  • 8.Kerneels: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2008, 10:50 am

    I get a sense of déjà vu…our national captain hasn’t even landed in SA and the knives are out for him.

  • 9.fryboy: Reply to this comment
    29 Apr 2008, 09:48 am

    John, enough is enough! the black and white need you….. grab that butch james by the ear and come and rescue the sharks!

  • 10.yaquub: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2008, 22:11 pm

    im shocked!!!!!
    people still doubting john?? probably a stormers supporter..
    most capped springbok captain
    wc winning captain
    why doubt the man?
    he’s led us to the top, what more does he have to do
    win another wc?

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