Backing Bismarck
14 Mar 2011
RYAN VREDE writes that there are no longer sound rugby reasons for John Smit to play ahead of Bismarck du Plessis at hooker with the Sharks or Springboks.
The Smit supporters club, headed by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, have been rendered silent after Du Plessis’ outstanding performances on the year-end tour and most recently, four rounds of Super Rugby.
Du Plessis is undoubtedly the outstanding hooker of the tournament thus far, justifying coach John Plumtree’s selection of him ahead of the national captain. The suggestion that Plumtree is pandering to the demands of De Villiers to manage Smit carefully is ludicrous. He is playing Du Plessis because he is an astute coach who knows that Du Plessis offers the side greater overall value than Smit does.
The 26-year-old would start in every elite Super Rugby side. The same cannot be said about Smit with any confidence. The student, so patient and respectful during his apprenticeship, is now schooling his mentor, and exposing Smit’s limitations through his sublime performances.
Du Plessis is the prototype of a hooker who flourishes under the law interpretations. His athleticism isn’t compromised by his appreciable physical constitution, and the combination makes him an attacking and defensive weapon in a way Smit has and never will be.
Smit’s value as a leader can also no longer be offered as a convincing argument for his inclusion. The Springboks succeeded without him on the year-end tour, losing to Scotland not because of poor leadership but tactical naivety and underestimation of their opponent. The Sharks have won four from four with Smit playing a bit-part role. Indeed he was watching from the substitutes bench while the Sharks launched their come-from-behind victory against the Rebels on Friday.
Plumtree, in hooking Smit with the Sharks chasing the game, inadvertently relayed the message that he believes his experience and leadership no longer demands his retention in those scenarios.
There are lessons here for De Villiers, but ones I suspect he will ignore. His tactical and technical incompetence, pride and misplaced belief in the man he brought back from Clermont in 2008 will see Smit start ahead of Du Plessis at the World Cup, at the team’s peril.
During the 2010 Tri-Nations De Villiers conceded that the experiment with Smit as a tighthead had failed and that he would be deployed exclusively as a hooker for the remainder of his Test career, which will conclude after the World Cup. Blind loyalty isn’t a justifiable selection policy and becomes more deplorable when the player omitted has consistently exhibited his superiority.
De Villiers likes to portray himself as a dog whose bark matches his bite. But it’s time for De Villiers to drop the bravado and show some brains and balls in selecting Bismarck.
* Read Ryan Vrede’s SA Rugby magazine piece arguing why Bismarck du Plessis must start ahead of John Smit for the Springboks in 2011 here.
143 Comments
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14 Mar 2011, 17:03 pm
Sharks hookers in order of ability:
1: Bismarck du Plessis
2: Craig Burden
3: John Smit
14 Mar 2011, 17:46 pm
Harsh words, Ryan the Racist:
“His tactical and technical incompetence, pride and misplaced belief in the man he brought back from Clermont in 2008 will see Smit start ahead of Du Plessis at the World Cup, at the team’s peril.”
14 Mar 2011, 17:46 pm
@grant10(grant10)-99:
“i agree 100 % that a stable scrum is an absolute prerequisite…..”
For what… in 2009 the bok scrum was shite yet with Smit and BDP they had one of the most mobile front rows and won the 3N and BIL tour…
In 2010 they had a much better scrum and got pasted…
Use your brain pal… not your emotions…
14 Mar 2011, 17:53 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-103: oh fark
Now you gonna tell me a kak scrum is a benefit…
Oh fark me ….That just relegates you to the B team….now i have heard it all….oh my word i just swallowed my tea down the wrong pipe laughing….
A prerequisite to win is a turbo reverse scrum?
Man…you have just set a new low in dofness…my word how tragically dumb…
14 Mar 2011, 17:54 pm
but glad you finally admitted it….in your words…in 2009 the bok scrum was *****…well said dumb one
14 Mar 2011, 18:22 pm
My prediction: Smit will end the tournament as the Sharks’ no 1 hooker.
He is like Teichmann: requires a good amount of game time in his rightful position to hit top form. He is just coming back from injury ffs and already had the best stats of any SA no 3, out of position. A mark of a very very good player. Watch out when he hits top form at hooker. Bissy will be the second hooker at the WC behind Smit, if PdV knows what he is doing.
14 Mar 2011, 18:25 pm
Nobody can be sure what that clown pdv will do as he himself doesn’t.
Bismark is the best hooker no question about it. John has a lot to prove and needs to play.
Nothing racist about not rating ou pdv. He is the laughing stock of world rugby.
14 Mar 2011, 18:29 pm
Michael, John has never reached the hights 8ismark has. Yes lets keep an open mind on the subject and let John show he is number 1.
I wouldn’t bet on that happening.
14 Mar 2011, 18:31 pm
John has been there, done that. He has nothing to prove re his legacy. He does have to regain the form which made him the best hooker, which he will do if given the chance. It is a great quandrum for Plum to be in, to have the two best hookers in the world at his disposal throughout a long tournament.
14 Mar 2011, 18:32 pm
Bismark hasn’t won a WC; he was never the best hooker in a WC. His time will come.
14 Mar 2011, 19:03 pm
@Michael(mikeybrass)-110: he has won a WC….
And smit not even in his league
14 Mar 2011, 19:04 pm
and this aint 2007
or 2009
this is farken 2011
smit has hit the descent slope
and hurtling towards becoming a laughing stock
14 Mar 2011, 19:21 pm
He has a WC medal but was NOT the starting hooker and neither was he the form hooker…
And how the heck can you judge him when he (a) is returning from a severe injury, and (b) has had no sequence of games in the no 2 jersey since his return.
Grant, you are one of the posters who I look out for on this turgid forum but you have no objectivity on the subject of Smit.
14 Mar 2011, 19:23 pm
Give Smit a run of 5 games in a row as the no 2 and he’ll prove you wrong by the end.
Either that or I’d admit I got it wrong and he should be benched as the second no 2.
14 Mar 2011, 19:25 pm
The bottom line here is that Smit will go to the WC, guarantees have been given and they are not form dependent.
It will be at the expense of Beast/Guthro or Bissy…………………. sad but true !!!
14 Mar 2011, 19:30 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-103:
What a plonker, that has got to be the most stupid comment ever posted on Keo !!
14 Mar 2011, 19:49 pm
@Michael(mikeybrass)-114: plum will never risk a 5 game in a row for smit at 2…
Why would he Mikey.
IMO it would cost him and the sharks a shot at the super 15.
i AM ONLY BEING HONEST ABOUT SMIT MIKE….!
Thanks for reading my comments…
14 Mar 2011, 19:57 pm
@116. I think what he is trying to say is that we went for mobility in 2009. It didn’t pay off in the scrums but did in other facets of play. The reverse happened in 2010, except for some times on the EYT.
We need to find the right balance.
@117. That’s just yet, your opinion like mine is mine. I see no risk, you do. We’ll know come the end of the tournament on the basis of who Plum starts, if the Sharks make it to the semis.
14 Mar 2011, 19:58 pm
That’s just yet” = “That’s just it”
14 Mar 2011, 20:19 pm
@Michael(mikeybrass)-118:
I think (just my opinion) that mobility had nothing to do with it, this is something of a myth here on Keo, why would he have bulked up to the extend he did if mobility was part of the game plan ??
It was a cop out for PDEV to accommodate JS, nothing more nothing less !! the fact that we were embarrassed in the scrums to the extend we were forced PDEV to call it a failed experiment playing Smitty TH. Smitty himself said he at times he feared for his own safety !!
The fact that we did so well despite being annihilated in the scrums is due to the fact that FDUP, Vic , Juan, Brusow, Morne etc were in the form of their lives had a part to play.
This good form by many of the players were not reproduced in 2010 and add to it a woefully out of shape JS and an injured FDUP and Brusow, and a poor game plan we were always going to struggle.
Nobody is denying that JS was the right guy at the right time for SA rugby, but his desire to be the first captain to win back to back WC’s might in fact just cost us the WC !!!
14 Mar 2011, 20:30 pm
It’s been a while but looking at what’s posted now:
refs never have a bad day at the office – they’re always cheating ******** in the pay of the [insert irrelevant conspiracy theory of the moment]
international players never have a bad day at the office – they’re over the hill, useless to man or beast and should be replaced by [insert personal provincial bias]
coaches never have a bad day at the office – they’re always clueless and would be fired if they weren’t politically in bed with [insert paranoid rant of choice]
selectors never have a bad day at the office – sack them all and pick the players you would select [insert fantasy team with no regard to balance, game plan, ability to execute etc.)
youngsters never have a bad day at the office - they're over-hyped bunny in the headlights chokers who shouldn't be let on the field unlike the godlike [insert any rookie that meets personal bias criteria as above]
Oh ……….. and would somebody please try tuning that big crystal with the flat top down down south cause its still generating a lot of static, mostly hissing and popping, and keeps wandering off to the fantasy channel
So, nothings changed in the last 5 years then ..
14 Mar 2011, 20:34 pm
A bulky Smit at 3 was still mobile than many of the no 3 counterparts playing within SA. Jannie was **** back then. PdV make the error of not using his overseas options for a no 3. Smit should have remained at 2.
As for “might cost”, typical SA rugby supporter hyperbole imo.
14 Mar 2011, 20:36 pm
@121. Us South Africans are too quick to pass judgement, particularly where it concerns rugby.
14 Mar 2011, 20:55 pm
Smit lost us the following games, Smit and his senior status entourage as well as the Smit entrenched play to our strengths game plan of kicking the ball into opposition hands. It may have worked in 2009 but it failed dismally that same year at Eoyt and followed on to entire 2010.
France 2009, Ireland 2009, Nz 2010, Aus 2010, Nz 2010, Aus 2010, Nz 2010.
That is 7 consecutive international losses, directly attributable to the inclusion of one man John Smit at either TH or hooker. Had Smit not been playing I can pretty much guarantee we may not have won them all but certainly would have won at least a couple more than we did.
14 Mar 2011, 21:24 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-70: Not according to the stats that I have available, Beast and Guthro ahead of him.
He didnt have the worst stats though, got around a bit, made tackles but wasnt as dominant at the breakdown though or loose.
So not hopeless but not the best either….lets see where he is in 2 months shall we.
14 Mar 2011, 21:48 pm
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-124: You needed to see a doctor about your affliction many years ago.
14 Mar 2011, 21:50 pm
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14 Mar 2011, 21:50 pm
what brought you back out the gutter Mickey stickytwat was it the sound of the John Smit drum that brought you beckoning for another encore?
14 Mar 2011, 21:53 pm
mikeyboy over here should go read all about it, truth smack in his overawed hero worshiping face
14 Mar 2011, 22:03 pm
haha, same old same old.
smitty you champion, you own grant like he is a little pet poodle.
he urinates on command when he hears or reads your name.
messy little farker but fun to have around for novelty value.
14 Mar 2011, 22:05 pm
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-129: i think its well established that you know less than fukall about the truth you rabid old dingo.
14 Mar 2011, 22:12 pm
another one these hail John Smit guppieyuppie poodle panting hero worshipingwankers rangerprudentiality pons
‘****** if you had to but see yourself you stupid little prudentiality prick its downright embarrassing to go wankingaround like a feeble arselicking pommegranite in this vein all your so called grown up life, siestog man.
14 Mar 2011, 22:20 pm
Looks like the Crusaders v Sharks in London is on… next weekend Sunday.
Not sure it is the best for the players given all the travel but if it does happen I will be there in force!
SHARKS!
14 Mar 2011, 22:21 pm
Relax skop, don’t bring a hernia on yourself…
14 Mar 2011, 22:21 pm
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-132: precisely my point.
now shut up old timer, you are sounding like a deranged hillbilly again.
14 Mar 2011, 22:29 pm
If the Sharks do travel from NZ to Eng to SA it may just be the best opportunity the Stormers have had in ages to beat the Sharks after all that travel…
FIVE straight wins for the Sharks over the Stormers in Super rugby now…
14 Mar 2011, 22:51 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-133: We will be there as well, you should join for some drinks
We go to the Fox, down at the river
Nice and cold there, no speedo wearing budgie smugglers in sight
14 Mar 2011, 22:53 pm
Keo
How about getting with the times, we need an IPad app
14 Mar 2011, 22:57 pm
G10,
Serious question, are you Luke Watson?
15 Mar 2011, 07:43 am
@thresher(thresher)-121:
15 Mar 2011, 07:48 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-139: serious answer….no
15 Mar 2011, 07:57 am
@skopiskoobidoo(ilanjo)-124: Smit scored a try in that loss to France 09….so is it really his fault?
15 Mar 2011, 08:07 am
@iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-142: dont tell me an intelligent oke like you still seeing Smit in the 2 jersey?
Jeez…i am losing faith
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