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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9 Mar 2011, 14:08 pm
sharks opened the door for problems here….there scrums gonna be a lottery at best…
9 Mar 2011, 14:09 pm
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-146: Joke. Herst, Van Staden, Jannie ad John all better.
@grant10(grant10)-147: I didn’t say he was a has been. He’s a class experienced player. Most props are in their peak at 30. A really clever signing.
9 Mar 2011, 14:11 pm
@grant10(grant10)-151: Like the Stormers unit? I’ve seen more predictable roulette wheels than your scrum.
9 Mar 2011, 14:12 pm
Hey Grantie, hows the bank account looking. Have a spare grand lying around?
9 Mar 2011, 14:13 pm
@grant10(grant10)-136: forget about the guppies, the Boks are in kak! and not because of Divvy. It he who believes in his own aura will probably insist on wearingthe #1 or #2 jersey in the RWC quarter final … quarter final exit confirmed.
Now Smit, the prick said that if he is not good enough to earn his place on merit he would walk away … well he is definitely not better than Beast, he is not Better than Bismark and nowhere near good enough to play 3 for any province.
So SL why does the aura hasbeen not walk away?
9 Mar 2011, 14:14 pm
So he bulks up to play TH but they then play him at 2 or LH, he loses weight and bulk to play LH and hooker, but they play him a TH ????????
I genuinely am concerned for Smits safety after that neck injury , playing him at TH is putting him at risk !!
9 Mar 2011, 14:17 pm
@justrugby(justrugby)-156: Um, you bulk up for loosehead traditionally, sidekick. Go read Granties manual again.
9 Mar 2011, 14:20 pm
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-154: yip….i will honour the bet…hope you feel the same way?
9 Mar 2011, 14:20 pm
@MTN RedLion Roars…(RL)-155: There was a time not so long ago that you were quite excited about the prospect of John playing for the Lions. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9 Mar 2011, 14:20 pm
@MTN RedLion Roars…(RL)-155: i agree
he is the real poison in the system…the real cancer
9 Mar 2011, 14:21 pm
Beast Bissie Smit – isn’t that the same trio that destroyed Britains best? Together again finally. After destroying in 3N 2009 and the BI Lions tour!!
9 Mar 2011, 14:22 pm
@grant10(grant10)-158: For sure!
9 Mar 2011, 14:22 pm
@MTN RedLion Roars…(RL)-155: And this opinion that he is not good enough to earn a position in the side is whose opinion and based on what? Does the same crtieria of assessment apply to JDV, VM, BH, MS, et al. The problem with some critics on this blog is that they are like a dog with a bone, all excited about nothing (no meat onthe bone) and the best thing they can do with it ( their opinions ) is bury them.
Nobody is saying that Smit had a gr8 2010 and nobody is saying that the awesome scrum in Dunedin justifies his selection, but all one calls for is a balanced view based on facts,history,talent and above the whole picture. If you are a scrummaging guru who has played in the front and understands the nuances of the role a tightead plays and why JS fails at it then by all means convince me, as I have yet to be convinced
9 Mar 2011, 14:22 pm
When the vulgarity is removed the limitations(sexual references) stand out like a diamond pendant on a velvety background.
B i t c h on cinderfella!!
9 Mar 2011, 14:22 pm
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-135: did you pinch the aura’s sucks … stop smoking it man.
9 Mar 2011, 14:22 pm
So then genius explain why he is listed as LH for the Sharks squad , loses 7kgs and is on this lean and mean drive but according to you it’s all wrong, he should be bulking up to play LH ???????
9 Mar 2011, 14:24 pm
plum should have played smit at hooker rather….it would be a better call…this allows the rebels an opportunity to upset the scrums….and puts pressure on the loosies and backs….this is a dumb move plum
9 Mar 2011, 14:26 pm
smit at 3 is like kanko at 7….it is just not the right call…ever
9 Mar 2011, 14:26 pm
but anyway, its the sharks call….not us stormers….so ..moving on…
9 Mar 2011, 14:27 pm
@MTN RedLion Roars…(RL)-155:
You really can be a sulky, rude s.o.b
1) The WC squad is not being chosen yet. Why should he step down at your convenience?
2) Smit is probably the 2nd best hooker in the country. All that nonsense about the others like Liebenberg is nonsense
3) Smit had an awful post S14 2010. No-one denies that. Not even Smit.
Matfield, Botha, Spies, Habana, JdV, Morne Steyn and others were also poor in 2010.
Why dont you hold them to similar standards.
Your hatred like all hatred is irrational
9 Mar 2011, 14:27 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-159: Mitch did not want him … I wonder why.
9 Mar 2011, 14:27 pm
I am a John Smit supporter but Smit at 3??? nooo. John is not a tight head, he could be slotted in at 1 or 2 but not 3. Is this pressure from PdV?
9 Mar 2011, 14:28 pm
@justrugby(justrugby)-166: 1 – Plums said he’ll play everywhere in the frontrow this season.
2 – Traditionally your loosehead or no. 1 is your bigger prop. Hayman is the exception. CJ too, but he’s not a natural. look at Somerville, BJ, Jannie, Gawie and Kempson and compare them to Os, Guthro, Beast, etc.
He’s got into shape as he probably wasn’t where he should have been last year, like many top boks.
9 Mar 2011, 14:29 pm
@Biscuit(Biscuit)-170: some good points there biscuit JS is probably the 2nd best hooker at the moment, and the best captain for the Boks.
9 Mar 2011, 14:32 pm
@grant10(grant10)-167: Whatever Grantie. Lets just watch the match so you can pick up any micro error from Smit. We gonna DOMINATE.
9 Mar 2011, 14:33 pm
bottom line is Smit is all washed up…been a passenger for a long time already….but still he lingers on filling the coffers….all the while the team takes a hammering….
What should be a rather easy romp for the sharks has just taken on a different shape…
ek sien kak kom
9 Mar 2011, 14:33 pm
Re the London proposal “Van Zyl said a ‘rugby decision’ rather than a financial one would be made.” ha ha ha…. jaa fk right, if that was the case the decision would already have been made for the Sharks to play in NZ as from a rugby perspective it would make absolutley no sense for them to play in London.
9 Mar 2011, 14:34 pm
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-175: okay….lets wait and see
9 Mar 2011, 14:35 pm
The Rebels scrum is probably weak enough to play Smit, though I believe that Terblanche should retain the captaincy, as under his leadership the Sharks won the Currie Cup and the first 3 matches of Super 15…why mess with a winning formula?
9 Mar 2011, 14:35 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-163: it only applies to Smit because he said it with his own lips … if he had any integrity he will do as he says
9 Mar 2011, 14:35 pm
@grant10(grant10)-176: look at all the other passengers at the moment including habadonna, januarie, maybe even spies?? so why don’t you go on and on and on about them too??
9 Mar 2011, 14:36 pm
@grant10(grant10)-176: If by passenger you mean that he is better than the whole Stormers frontrow.
9 Mar 2011, 14:37 pm
@daydreamer(daydreamer)-179: Ya, hard on Terra, but I’m sure he’ll still have a huge leadership influence.
9 Mar 2011, 14:38 pm
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-175: The BI lions chose a mobile loosehead for the first 2 tests in Gethin Jenkins, when they had Sheridan play, he destroyed Smit, as did Franks, but possibly the worst thing Smit ever did, was making Australia look like a competent scrummaging outfit! Smit is a disaster waiting to happen at TH. People are trying to find a way of including him in both squads, when the best thing to do is make the tough call and say goodbye. He should stick to what he’s best at and play hooker, but on merit, he’s only 3rd choice at the Sharks, forget about the Boks.
9 Mar 2011, 14:39 pm
@foreverrugga(foreverrugga)-181: i do …i am glad ricky is dropped…as for spies i have been saying for a while he should be dropped…M Steyn as well…read properly young man
9 Mar 2011, 14:41 pm
@grant10(grant10)-185: I have read and read and read grant, you seem to be obsessed with downing Smit in particular, what’s the deal old man?
9 Mar 2011, 14:43 pm
does anyone know who the rebels 1 is?
9 Mar 2011, 14:45 pm
@foreverrugga(foreverrugga)-186: I have a huge problem with smit as i believe he knows it is very difficult for the coaches to drop him ….they are far too sentimental….smit wields a lot of power and this makes the teams he plays for weaker….i happen to dig the sharks and dont like the s hit he brings to the party there…
watch them struggle against the rebels
9 Mar 2011, 14:46 pm
@daydreamer(daydreamer)-179: you call Somerville weak? no the aura is weak.
9 Mar 2011, 14:46 pm
no more from me on the subject…better things to do.
cheers all
outta here
9 Mar 2011, 14:47 pm
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-184: Jenkins is a highly rated scrummager. Also Smit packed with Chilliboy in the 3rd test, its was our B-side. Are you forgetting the game in Wellington where John destroyed the All Black scrum?
By the way. 3rd best hooker at Sharks? Are you for real?
9 Mar 2011, 14:47 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-64:
This clearly translates into not having the ABILITY to respond to the cogent points made in post #61.
Woefully weak but expected as it encompasses linking more than two ideas in possibly two or more adequate sentences.
9 Mar 2011, 14:49 pm
@grant10(grant10)-187: is it Rodzilla
9 Mar 2011, 14:49 pm
@grant10(grant10)-188: he hasn’t brought any s hit to the Sharks so far? so donno what you on about? Like I said in my post earlier he is definitely not a tight head so it wasn’t the right choice to put him there, but he can play at 2 and 1 and should be rotated especially during the long season. Its actually a benefit for the Sharks.
9 Mar 2011, 14:50 pm
@grant10(grant10)-190: WHAT? Come on Grant, you disapoint me.
Tell me again, how losing to the French was all his fault. The BI Lions scrum was weak and how the All Blacks don’t scrum in Wellington. Who do you blame the Scot loss on?
9 Mar 2011, 14:50 pm
It’s interesting Gwantie forgot to watch how the over-the-hill Plod destroyed WP’s finest hooker last year in every aspect of the game just last season… hmmm… now why doesn’t that surprise me?
9 Mar 2011, 14:52 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-196: Haha and that was Tiaan, imagine what he’s going to do to Fourie!!!
9 Mar 2011, 14:53 pm
@grant10(grant10)-188: well said man, bravo …
9 Mar 2011, 14:53 pm
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-184: I’d say he’s 2nd choice at Sharks and for the Boks.
9 Mar 2011, 14:54 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-196: Well said.
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