Back where he belongs
15 Jun 2010
After a difficult period at tighthead prop, John Smit has returned to hooker. And he wants to stay there.
In the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale this week, Smit reveals how he feared for his safety when he was moved to tighthead prop in 2008, and how the constant media attention on the positional switch drove him crazy.
He goes on to explain why hooker is his best position and says he plans to finish his Test career in the No 2 jersey.
Smit also talks about how his leadership role has changed since 2007, why he doesn’t like to be rested, working with Os du Randt, and having to shed weight to play hooker again.
Also in the new issue:
– Super 14 wrap: We rate all five South African franchises, and pay tribute to the champion Bulls. Eddie Jones, in his first column for the magazine, looks back on the Soweto final and where it was won and lost.
– New Springbok scrum coach Os du Randt on what went wrong with the set piece last year, his ideal front row, and bringing back South Africa’s overseas stars
– Springbok assistant coaches Gary Gold and Dick Muir have had a major influence on the team’s playing philosophy
– Zane Kirchner is ready to establish himself at fullback for the Springboks
– If there’s one thing the All Blacks fear ahead of this year’s Tri-Nations, it’s getting caught out again by the Springboks
– When Will Genia arrived in Australia a decade ago, he hadn’t even heard of rugby union. Now he’s one of the world’s most dangerous scrumhalves
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– Dan Carter on his Super 14 struggles, why the All Blacks will pose a serious threat in the Tri-Nations, his ideal halfback partner, and next year’s World Cup in New Zealand
– SA Rugby magazine looks at the evolution of Super Rugby from the first instalment in 1996 to the competition’s new format in 2011
– Southern Kings CEO Stephan Pretorius on Saru’s empty promises, Alan Solomons’ role as director of rugby, and transformation
– Butch James: ‘I want to play in another World Cup’
– Mike Catt heads into retirement as one of England’s greats, writes former team-mate Will Greenwood
122 Comments
Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All
14 Jun 2010, 06:30 am
Butch…thanks but no thanks
Genia…a legend is born
Smit…you’ve lost weight?
14 Jun 2010, 07:08 am
If Smit’s going to play 2 he can hopefully loose some of that much needed prop weight and get more MOBILE!
14 Jun 2010, 07:11 am
PdV should bring another tight head prop into the system real soon.
14 Jun 2010, 07:12 am
what a selfless hero john is, playing even though he fear for his safety. Captain Courageous
14 Jun 2010, 07:12 am
Hooker is whereSmit makes the least damage, but he isn’t a bad choice at LH!
JS is a must for the Boks team, he cannot possibly be replaced as a political captain and on-field selector, his waning game is of no concern with the decline seemingly of France, ABs and the Wallabies.
14 Jun 2010, 07:14 am
Similar thoughts on the Smit piont.
Genia? Well yeah classy but I’m a bigger fan of Quade Cooper; but I guess we already had an article on him
As for Butch, we buddy, I think you’re can be played off the bench if you do get a chance to play or get choosen at all. We’re happy with loyally South African-based Morne Steyn. Come back down to the Sharks and try compete for a spot in 2011.
As anyone noticed that this article has come right after PDV has started to play a few overseas-based players??? Looks like the “Overseas-based Policy” is been trampled on a bit.
14 Jun 2010, 07:17 am
that cover photo is flattering to john, photoshop makes him look very slim
14 Jun 2010, 07:51 am
Good morning all.
Yip Grant10 was correct and now that is history.
Currently JS will have to step up to be a international hooker imo. The pace is furious and he is not competing enough. Catching the ball next to our fulback in our 22 that’s been kicked by their scrumhalf behind a maul on their 22 just doesn’t work for me..
Bissie is injured so John can now play for an extended period so let’s see.
Bulls – ya well no fine..
nuf said … these Dragons are … well Dragons!
Silver & Minder??? … sorry i don’t rate them at all. Just good average coaches imo.
Genia…. hmmmm.. imo the jury is still out.
Butchie… sorry ou maat die bus is vol.. imo.
Mike Catt? who he?
14 Jun 2010, 08:04 am
JS looked out of puff against France, he will need to do a hard conditioning program before the 3N.
Chilli did well when he came on and the scrum looked better for him being there. Vic did his job, Danie another big game and if we had Juan on then we would dominate the tight-loose.
What a great player Flo is becoming, much like a younger Shalk but far more accurate. Shalk flew all over the show but i think Juan will complement the loosies better. Spies still not that good on defence, I have yet to see him cut a forward down .. still what a great athlete he is.
Ricky was ok again, better than his critics say he is. Morne had a good game I thought. WO is not going to make it, better play JdV. Aplon great game.
Regret Zane is not Intl standard, he has had many chances and still does not instil confidence..
Overall a good result which anyone would have taken last week..
14 Jun 2010, 08:19 am
Definately a hooker and if needed a number 1 at a push at international level.
14 Jun 2010, 08:24 am
@Staal(Staal)-8: I think Mike Catt played for Maties a number of years ago – I haven’t heard a lot about him since then, other than I think he got into the doormat industry.
@bananas(bananas)-9: John Smit played the whole of the first half with a hamstring injury, off course he looked out of puff! Zane hasn’t had many chances – he played against the Lions in the 3rd test, some games on the end of year tour and played about 5 minutes against Wales and 55 minutes against the Frenchies. Thats hardly a lot of opportunities. Percy played 70 tests before he had a good one.
14 Jun 2010, 08:33 am
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21)-11:
I think he started a rugby coaching academy…
Mike Catt’s school of ineffective tackling
14 Jun 2010, 08:37 am
John Smit is a legend. Another brilliant Springbok and captain whose full worth will only be known when he hangs up his boots. Just like Teich. Just like Pienaar.
14 Jun 2010, 08:41 am
I ask myself ….. what do Australians know about football.
14 Jun 2010, 08:42 am
Blitzkrieg.
14 Jun 2010, 08:47 am
@bananas(bananas)-9:
He tweaked a hammie in the final minutes of warm-up in the French game.
14 Jun 2010, 08:49 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-14: About as much as they know about scrumming!
14 Jun 2010, 08:50 am
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21)-17:
And where are all those Ricky naysayers today.
And all those Aplon critics.
Jeez.
14 Jun 2010, 08:57 am
FRANCOIS STEYN IN FOR KIRCHNER
much more solid player in defence and attack
and his boot is very very useful
14 Jun 2010, 08:59 am
Those Italians are gonna wonder if they playing in the Arctic tonight.
14 Jun 2010, 09:02 am
january made 1 good tackle ..that was it .. still 5th best nr 9 in SA … Aplon was brilliant …
14 Jun 2010, 09:05 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-18:
if january
was
good
olivier
was brilliant
14 Jun 2010, 09:06 am
@Staal(Staal)-8: Mike Cat…. aka “Jona’s door mat”
14 Jun 2010, 09:07 am
I’m not in the mood for the village idiots today.
14 Jun 2010, 09:09 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-24:
stay
away
from a
mirror
then
14 Jun 2010, 09:10 am
Januarie did nothing wrong! did what was asked of him,
Aplon shut my mouth for sure, briliant!
Olivier was average, but imo his worth will come through when tighter games are played!
14 Jun 2010, 09:12 am
Prawn is mos Pietman’s hootchie girl
14 Jun 2010, 09:23 am
@Tisme(Tisme)-26:
quite
right
olivier
was average
and so was
january
difference is
olivier
is
a top 2
contender
for no 12
while
january
is at
the best
a no 5
contender
for 9
just like
poor chilli
@ 2
aplon was
100%
and desrves
to be
there
14 Jun 2010, 09:32 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-24: I feel your pain !!!!
14 Jun 2010, 09:33 am
Yaaaawwwwwnnnnn…….here we go again !!!!!
14 Jun 2010, 09:34 am
@Gonzo Journalism(Gonzo Journalism)-29:
and i
feel
yours
14 Jun 2010, 09:36 am
STEYN IN FOR KIRCHNER
14 Jun 2010, 09:38 am
@umfaan(umfaan)-32:
yes please
and i’m
a
bull
supporter
14 Jun 2010, 09:49 am
im also a mad bulls supporter
WE NEED STEYN IN
he offers so many more things then Kirchner..
De villiers has to get off his high horse and select him for both tests against italy
14 Jun 2010, 09:54 am
@umfaan(umfaan)-34:
That is of course if Steyn made himself available for the Boks.
14 Jun 2010, 10:04 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-35:
de villiers and steyn need to sort out whatever problem they have…
it was very unprofessional for de villiers to make those comments about steyn to the media…he states hes not the best fullback in the world…and yet he picks kirchner??
steyn is the logical choice for many reasons…
they both need to just sort there **** out
14 Jun 2010, 10:07 am
@umfaan(umfaan)-36:
That I agree with, they need to sort their **** out.
And he said Steyn was the best 15 in 2009, but fell off the pace since then – he still very much rates Steyn, but both parties need to come to the party.
I am afraid the damage has been done though not so much through Steyn directly, but his agent who insists all communications must go through him.
14 Jun 2010, 10:14 am
I see the racists out in full force today.
14 Jun 2010, 10:14 am
@Porra the Fat Speedster(Porra)-33: I need your advice. I’m going to watch the Portuguese play the Commie Koreans next Monday and I was thinking of making a witty banner. Something along the lines of ”Porras, give ‘em carrots!”
Would this be offensive?
14 Jun 2010, 10:15 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-37:
yes plus with the media hyping it up
just want him back in the team
14 Jun 2010, 10:19 am
Ive always preferred Smit at 2 over Bismark anyway.
Only legend captains have lifter the William Web Ellis trophy and with Smit there, 2011 will be no exception
14 Jun 2010, 10:19 am
@umfaan(umfaan)-36: At Saturday’s test I heard some rather disturbing comments, alleged to have been used by F.Steyn towards PdV. I’ll rather not repeat it, because it may be just another “story”. It more or less boils down to the fact that Steyn doesn’t want to be involved with the Boks if PdV is the coach. I can’t believe that he would have been that stupid – maybe his agent said something, but why will a player say something that will cost him a place in the Bok team ?
14 Jun 2010, 10:22 am
@katman(katman)-39:
you just
go
right ahead
and the
porras
will give
them
carrots
14 Jun 2010, 10:33 am
@CharlesM(CharlesM)-42:
Steyn has not covered himself in glory at all.
And as the whole Watson saga showed if you place personal issues ahead of Bok aspirations you are in trouble, no matter how good you are.
14 Jun 2010, 10:35 am
Said here before – Steyn is not the answer at 15. Move Aplon to 15 when JPP is fit. He will cut opposition to pieces with the space he has at 15. I reckon for ever drop goal that Steyn will kick from 60 metres, Aplon will score or set up three tries. You take your pick
Januarie brilliant on defense, but still too slow to the breakdowns and takes an age to pass. Must admit that there was a 50% improvement in that department and his kicking game was far more accurate. He will deserve his place if his speed to the ball doubles and his service becomes quicker.
14 Jun 2010, 10:50 am
@GI POT(GI POT)-45: January is getting better, and hopefully the trend will continue. The problem is that he’s a favourite with PDV, so we’ve got him, whether people like it or not. Turns out he plays better for his country than for WP so that’s ok
I still saw far to many delayed ruck clearances and the french drove over more than once. It needs to be addressed as we don’t commit enough people to the ruck to have it static for too long. I’ll bet the Aussies and Kiwis have taken note of this.
14 Jun 2010, 10:58 am
And I hope Smit stays at 2. The longer, the better.
The no2 no2.
14 Jun 2010, 11:10 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-18: Also wheres the Ricky article from KEO????
14 Jun 2010, 11:14 am
BJ Botha was annihilated at 3 for the second week in a row. I honestly do not see what everyone sees in him. He will do well against the shorter looseheads in the game like the Aussies, but against big blokes he struggles.
Jannie Dup was better and I believe that it is time for Werner Kruger to be brought into the side. CJ should be played at tighthead as well.
14 Jun 2010, 11:14 am
@CharlesM(CharlesM)-42: I heard its not Steyn thats the problem, its his dad
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