SA latest – Smit back at tighthead
9 Mar 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises.
Smit back at tighthead -John Smit will start his first Super Rugby game this season at tighthead prop when the Sharks take on the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday.
Smit replaces Jannie du Plessis in the front row and takes over the captaincy from outside centre Stefan Terblanche.
The other change to the pack sees No 8 Ryan Kankowski promoted from the bench, which sees Keegan Daniel move to openside flank and Jacques Botes drops to the reserves.
Wing Odwa Ndungane has recovered from his light concussion to make the run-on side this weekend, while speedster Lwazi Mvovo replaces the injured JP Pietersen.
Sharks – 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Bench: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
Sharks consider London fixture – The Crusaders are planning to stage their home match against the Sharks in London, but they will need the Durban franchise to agree to the change in venue.
Following the earthquake in Christchurch, the Crusaders have moved to Nelson as a temporary base. Since the disaster, there has been a move to stage a game in London in order to help their financial situation.
According to The Witness, Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl has been approached by his Crusaders counterpart and the Durban franchise is weighing up the pros and cons. The fixture is the Sharks’ fourth and final
tour game before they return to South Africa, so to travel all the way to London would place them at a disadvantage.
Both the Crusaders and Sharks stand to make money from the proposed fixture at Twickenham, but Van Zyl said a ‘rugby decision’ rather than a financial one would be made. The decision will be announced following the Sharks’ game against the Rebels on Friday.
Brussow back in action – Heinrich Brussow will make his return to Super Rugby against the Lions this weekend.
Sias Ebersohn will start at flyhalf while Andries Strauss has been named captain for the Cheetahs’ clash with the Lions. Naas Olivier has been dropped to the bench after some poor performances in the first three rounds.
Coach Naka Drotske has made several other changes, with Riaan Viljoen slotting in at fullback, flanks Philip van der Walt and Brussow introduced to the back row and Martin Muller coming in at lock.
Cheetahs – 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss (c), 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Martin Muller, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 Kabamba Floors, 19 Francois Uys, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Fabien Juries.
536 Comments
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10 Mar 2011, 03:14 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-499:
Smit maybe the player coach
10 Mar 2011, 03:25 am
I’m not fully convinced Brussow is going to be the enigmatic super fetcher he was in 2009 when he comes back, firstly laws and game style have changed around dramatically where the pilfering fetcher has been largely eradicated out the game by first tackler having to release and get the hell away from the tackle ball, and secondly he’s coming off one major severe injury and rehab from a big operation, and rushing him in now i reckon would be a mistake, same with Smith who is carrying severe Achilles or tendon injury which don’t heal that easy.
I’m of the opinion that the whipper snapper fetcher in 2011 rugby is less of a factor than they were in 09 when laws favored the defender and not the attacking team or player.
So I would go with a classic No.8 in the Joe Van Niekerk or Duanne Vermeulen mode, or a youngster like Whitely or Koster both proper roving and speedy 8′s very similar to Big Joe or Skinstadt in their youth, or Potgieter of Bulls who is an 8 by profession at youth level.
and a big bruising No.7 in the Alberts or Smith mold of which we have numerous such players. Smith, Joubert of Saracens who is playing 8 there now, Roussouw who can also admirably cover 8, so too big Juandre Kruger who is raring to show his Bok worth. New boy Josh Strauss a big bruising carrier, Viljoen of Cheetahs, another Smith type disciple, or Vermeulen himself, or Deysel if fit, or F. Louw, or if I were to be really adventurous I’d play the new WP kid who is playing at No.4 lock this weekend Rynardt Elstadt, 114kg of muscle at 108 cm and mobile, fast and tough as they come, to my mind the next Juan Smith on the horizon. Or if you want to remain consistent and conservative stick with Schalk at 7
At 6 I would go with speed and effective fetching capacity, Daniel is small but effective through his commitment speed and clear read of the game, like Brussow, though Brussow much stronger physically like a real bull terrier, Stegmann a very similar prospect to Brussow, or Minnie of Lions, or Louw P or Louw F of Stormers , or else Koster again where I think the attributes at 6 and 8 are often interlinked in modern rugby today where speed and hand coordination and game read ability are vital.
Options are endless
Kruger, Vermeulen, Alberts, Joubert, Strauss, Roussow, Van Niekerk, Deysel, Viljoen, Elstadt, Potgieter, Whitely, Johnson, Louw P & F, Minnie, Daniel, Koster, Botes, Floors, Watson
Spoiled for choice is not even the word and Smith, Burger, Spies or Kankowski haven’t even been mentioned yet.
10 Mar 2011, 03:27 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-500:
Well if we’re presuming Victor won’t be out injured he’ll be doing the job… or Juan Smith…
If we assume all will be fit and on form… only a muppet won’t be choosing the current Sharks front-row with Smit and Steenkamp off the bench…
Whether it will be Beast or Gurthro starting on last seasons form is another question… but not one that worries me at all…
With the current crop of quality utility backs available (Ruan, Frans, JDJ, Lambie) it would not surprise me in the slightest to play a 5/2 split on the bench and have the pack go rampaging in the tight-loose in New Zealand…
But one can presume and assume till they’re blue in the face (or as in the toothless Chihuahua’s case red like a lobster)… the season is only 3 games in and has hardly yet started!
10 Mar 2011, 03:33 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-503:
I am not so sure of Victor as captain
Juan is injured and as skoppie says its a injury that takes a while.
yes we have a lot of talent out there I would look at form after super 15 and tri
10 Mar 2011, 03:33 am
Ja ‘next best’ is the prevailing condition, meaning he simply is not THE best at either 1 or 2 or 3, so effectively he becomes your numero uno super sub quota player of all time, the captain who don’t have place in the run on squad, so he gotta captain from the bench.
So common Mr. Rocket Scientist who you gonna drop for Smitty Boy Blue, Beast or Gurthro or Jannie or Bismark or CJ or who exactly Mr. High and mighty Mr. Blue Collared Ivory Tower cleverdick prick? name your starting front row and captain now.
And spare the PdV sentimentality because then you nothing more than the hypocrite you schmuckarse tries to pretend you are not, just like PdV got one huge quandary about wtf to do with the Smit/Bismark. Beast, Jdup, Gurthro quandary, exactly the same scenario, so do You dumbfck schmuckass Aussiearsecreep money mogul twatass two face pisswilly goon.
10 Mar 2011, 03:34 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-501:
That wouldn’t surprise me either… but it ain’t going to be 22man rugby if the likes of a Ralepelle…who is getting owned at the Bulls… are on the bench to be the mascot and not someone who can really contribute…
10 Mar 2011, 03:36 am
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-502:
Yeah with brussow its wait and see
I really like alberts and yes I agree about Koster and i rate daniel high
I lot of options
I cant see Juan getting fit
I would take Viljoen over steyn at 15. but there is aplon remember
10 Mar 2011, 03:37 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-506:
Yes there are about 5 hookers ahead of Chilliboi
10 Mar 2011, 03:41 am
So its exactly like England found themselves in 2007, a team run by committee of the old boys legendary club, captained from the bench or else Jdv or Matfield or Juan or Schalk or somebody gonna call the shots, but nobody in the thick of the rub taking the flak because nobody is actually the captain on the field on the day of reckoning, the senior status collective will captain the team by committee, so effectively who the fck needs any coach or coaches, for that matter, its all become rather superfluous, same as England in 2007 or Aussie in 95.
10 Mar 2011, 03:42 am
Also the problem with Chilliboi is he seem injury prone
10 Mar 2011, 03:47 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-504:
“yes we have a lot of talent out there I would look at form after super 15 and tri”
Exactly… not rocket science…
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-505:
‘Next best’ makes up the bench… with your ‘best’ starting (or in some cases two players of equal aptitude)… depending on conditions/tactics/injuries…
To win a world cup or 3N you’ll need to be utilising them all particularly with such taxing modern forward play… this has been the bugbear of many a loss in the last 5mins of a 3N game with players out on their feet… yet there is a Ralepelle or Shimange etc not being used on the bench!
And can you quit rattling off so many average, out of position and not to mention unproved flankers above it’s absurd…
A case in point Juandre Kruger who failed to live up to his reputation overseas at lock ,nor has he proven not to be the athletic dynamo he was as a youngster and now you ranking him as a blind-sider to take on the world’s best?
FWIW I don’t see Juan Smith coming back this time from such a bad injury… athletes rarely do… and taking into account all the knocks to the head perhaps it’s not such a bad thing for himself and his family…
10 Mar 2011, 03:49 am
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-509:
So we agree Big joe as captain
Well liked by players
very experianced
Classic # 8 ( please no spies thank you )
Has captained other sides very well
Extra lineout option
10 Mar 2011, 03:51 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-510:
The problem is he just goes through the motions as best he can and does not have ‘impact’ at the point of break-down, in the tackle nor on the run… Bulls made a big mistake losing Maku and now they are paying for it with Botha out… I see even their promising young fiery U20 hooker seems to have slipped through the cracks…
10 Mar 2011, 03:52 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-511:
Yep a blessing in disguise for Juan
I think he has RCS Repetitive concussion syndrome
10 Mar 2011, 03:54 am
I wouldn’t play Smith or Burger or Spies this time, but thats me, I may consider Burger and/or Spies off bench, but if Pdv is going to be consistent with his old boys club loyalties he will probably stick with his front runners, meaning Smit starts, at either 1 or 2 or 3 which is probably behind why Sharks are experimenting with him back at 3 this weekend, and PdV will likely stick with Burger at 6 and Spies at 8 and if Smith is injured he’ll go with Alberts at 7 or 8 with Kanko off bench. Brussow might only get considered if he comes through S15 with flying colors.
10 Mar 2011, 03:55 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-513:
I heard talk of Chilliboi taking of the the captaincy from J Smit I dont think it will happen.
Remember he was Pdv’s baby bok captain
10 Mar 2011, 03:57 am
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-515:
yeah you are right I think It appears Pdv want to find a starting place for smit somewhere in front row.
I would not hesitate to start Alberts at 7 with juan out
10 Mar 2011, 03:58 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-512:
Problem with JVN (surprised Snor gave him only that one chance) is that he was and still is terrible off the back of the scrum… crabbing sideways too upright… he seems to be getting slower too in France which is understandable as he get’s on… always thought he’d could have played well at 7 but then look who he was behind…
Fact is he like a few others are not going to factor into the selectors thinking so all mooting is relatively pointless…
10 Mar 2011, 04:00 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-518:
Smit;s getting on to
Ah remember the try vs ABs when he broke of back of scrum and went right?
10 Mar 2011, 04:00 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-516:
Hahaha well yeah anything is possible in RSA…
Back to work… laters…
10 Mar 2011, 04:03 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-518:
Also i agree with Skoppie about playing a classic # 8 like vermeulen and joe even maybe alberts there.
Spies imo opinion breaking off the back of the scrum is worse than big joe
he runs into 3 players dies with the ball or on looses it in the tackle.
On and on that subject he cant tackle or defend
10 Mar 2011, 04:04 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-520:
cheers
10 Mar 2011, 04:05 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-519:
Yep but just last season he was still pulling off magic like this (and with prop weight)… so quickly punters forget… or in some cases are tunnel-visioned with too much scape-goating!
There are scores more examples just from last season!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcqg6GoAnWg
10 Mar 2011, 04:07 am
time out, so long C. Pete
10 Mar 2011, 04:08 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-523:
You will NEVER see a Ralepelle pulling off any of those two examples, not as a 25 yr old let alone at Smit’s age…
Pull up the WP/Sharks game last season for more…
As I said many are too tunnel-visioned from scape-goating single to see what’s ‘really’ what…
Cheers mate…
10 Mar 2011, 04:56 am
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-524:
Cheers Skoppie
10 Mar 2011, 07:19 am
I was confident for a win here under captain Stefan, not so sure under Captain Barney.
I understand playing him, rotating the squad is a good idea, but leave the Captaincy with a proper Captain.
10 Mar 2011, 07:48 am
Quite feisty here with the usual cheerleaders putting the boot in.
10 Mar 2011, 08:17 am
I agree on form, the best front row at the moment is Beast, Bissie and Jannie. But that doesn’t mean its going to stay the best. FFS its a long season and we haven’t even seen what kind of form JS is on, yet everybody condemns him before he’s even started a game in Super Rugby?
What do you want from the guy?
10 Mar 2011, 08:25 am
If Brussow stays fit he will have a huge impact. Don’t worry. Rule changes, whateva, the guy is a thinker and will adapt his play.
10 Mar 2011, 09:46 am
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-528: you mean the same trailor trash twisting words and enciting **** as usual
10 Mar 2011, 14:44 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-466:
{{{ ” some here like to shout bantu biko’s name in vain yet one gets the idea they have no clue what the man stood for…very interesting. ” }}}
How very opportunistic!!
Who are the “some”?
If you cannot name them and shame them then I suggest you be quiet ‘enkwenkwe ncinci’
Your “no offence taken…” post 474 calls into serious question your post 466 too.
10 Mar 2011, 14:53 pm
“Coaches choose the players, blame them for choosing an underpar player. Don’t blame the player.” Ala PA. Amen to that.
10 Mar 2011, 14:57 pm
Slow day I see…
10 Mar 2011, 15:06 pm
Let’s see. The Kings are k@k and don’t deserve to be in the CC. Not to mention the Super 15!!!!
10 Mar 2011, 15:17 pm
@Atlas(Atlas)-534: @Atlas(Atlas)-535:
Yip, slow day….
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