Smit must prop up Bok bench
12 Apr 2011
JON CARDINELLI says the Sharks have provided the solution to the John Smit conundrum.
Peter de Villiers may be blind, but the answer’s there for all to see. Smit must go to the World Cup as a leader; not as a frontline player. That’s not a contradiction.
De Villiers has criticised the Sharks for their present management of Smit. He’s made it clear that he wants Smit playing hooker at the Sharks and at the Springboks.
But Sharks coach John Plumtree has had other ideas. Smit has played just 18 minutes at hooker in the 2011 Super Rugby competition. While it seems clear to De Villiers that Smit is a hooker, the Sharks believe that he better suits their purposes as a reserve prop.
Plumtree and company are not at fault. Bismarck du Plessis is in the form of his life. He’s not only the best hooker in the country, but one of South Africa’s most important players. Du Plessis is a crucial cog at the set-piece and a bully at the breakdown. The Sharks need him to play as many minutes as possible in the big games. The Boks do too.
Smit struggled when he was shifted to tighthead at the end of 2008, and failed to make a successful transition back to hooker in 2010. He shed a lot of weight in the 2011 pre-season, but at 33 he doesn’t offer as much grunt and dynamism as Du Plessis.
The Sharks have at times included the bustling Craig Burden on the bench, preferring to deploy Smit as a reserve prop. In seven appearances, Smit has featured four times at loosehead and twice at tighthead. He may be given another crack at hooker this season, but his real value in the games that matter is as a reserve loosehead.
There may be an argument to start Smit at No 1 for the Boks, as he has done in three Super Rugby matches thus far. But to do so would deny the Boks another dynamic player. Beast Mtawarira continues to improve at the scrum, and his work-rate around the field is tough to match.
Mtawarirra and the Du Plessis brothers are likely to form the Bok front row at the World Cup with Smit providing support from the bench. Smit told SA Rugby magazine last year that he would play off the bench if it was best for the team. If the first eight rounds are anything to go by, Smit is making good on his word.
The truth is Smit still has a lot to offer as a leader. De Villiers has committed to Smit, and it’s no secret that the Bok captain and senior players play a big role in the running of the side. He may not be indispensable as a frontline player, but he’s crucial to the World Cup cause.
Victor Matfield is the natural successor to Smit, but his captaincy has been less than inspiring over the past 12 months. He made some dubious calls as the Bulls’ skipper in the 2010 Currie Cup semi-final, and wasn’t at his best on the Boks’ subsequent tour of the Home Nations.
The 2011 season has also witnessed a disappointing effort, as unlike Smit, Matfield doesn’t possess the underrated ability to stay on the right side of the referee. It’s something he needs to address, as with the Boks’ robust reputation, you need a charmer wearing the captain’s armband.
376 Comments
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12 Apr 2011, 12:22 pm
@the peanut gallery(peanut)-145: So what?, he is a character, the press could have labelled him “eccentric” but they chose to call him “insane” or “dumb” and thats his point.
12 Apr 2011, 12:23 pm
@the peanut gallery(peanut)-148: peanut i dont expect you to admit it cost us , ur from WP , but ask 99% of people that love rugby in this counrty and are from the other provinces what cost us that world cup
the other mistake they made was keeping lem out the team jannie de beer in that other fatal match
12 Apr 2011, 12:24 pm
@the peanut gallery(peanut)-148: Did you watch the programme before the Stormers game on dstv on Saturday? They had interviewed Mallett and it came straight from Malletts mouth. That had Teich been there as captain when we played Oz in the semi we could have beaten Oz. But he had dropped his captain and it was his biggest mistake ever. Mallett said it himself buddy.
12 Apr 2011, 12:25 pm
but ultimately it was the dropping of teichmann
12 Apr 2011, 12:26 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-147: I’m still here waving PDV’s flag, whatever he decides to do,I’ll back him 150%, even if it means Smit going to the WC, personally I’m not convinced of his reasons but I respect them and will support him all the way.
12 Apr 2011, 12:27 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-155: agreed , thus like i said if he fails and gets fired so be it its fair practice
but if he is succesful he should get rewards just like a jake white or kitch was for success
12 Apr 2011, 12:28 pm
From the keyboard of JC.
“Peter de Villiers may be blind, but the answer’s there for all to see. Smit must go to the World Cup as a leader; not as a frontline player. That’s not a contradiction”.
Well,……………………………………………………………………………………………………………lay me down and give me a good hard shaggging!.
Call me an illiterate Oke from Oklahoma.
Call me a what you like………………………………………It will have been said before.
But I’d call that a contradiction.
12 Apr 2011, 12:28 pm
reward is not only financial…
12 Apr 2011, 12:29 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-152: Mallett said in that show on Saturday. He wanted to have Lem play in that semi against Oz, but cause Jannie played well in the quarter against England felt ha had to select him again. Well it was another mistake, cause think if Lem started that game, we would not have had to rely on Jannie to get us into extra time with that great kick on full time. Think we would have beaten Oz in the 80 had Lem started. Mallett should have gone with what he wanted to do.
1999 was there for the taking. France had one superb game against ABs then were really terrible in the final against Oz.
Plenty mistakes that can cost a team. We need to think smart about our selections and not leave some really game winners here at home this time.
12 Apr 2011, 12:29 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-142:
john smit is the second best hooker in SA.
joost was captain at 2003 world cup not stinkgat
12 Apr 2011, 12:30 pm
@Puma(Puma)-153: there’s a difference between “could have” and “would have”.
12 Apr 2011, 12:31 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-151:
eccentric is how you describe your strange aunt.
PDV’s desire to be considered an eccentric coach explains a lot.
12 Apr 2011, 12:31 pm
@Puma(Puma)-159: and if lem had played against england we would have lost that game.
12 Apr 2011, 12:31 pm
@cane(cane)-157: hiyas Cane
trust me its vital Smit goes to the world cup in our squad, will he be good enough at that time to start ?? who knows
but if there is one leader in our rugby capable in keeping our divided rugby together in this country ? its JOHN SMIT
trust me under pressure it will not be Matfield for example,
12 Apr 2011, 12:32 pm
@cane(cane)-157:
ahhhh.
You are thinking like russel crowe in Gladiator.
JC is thinking more along the lines of George W in Bomb Iraq Motherless Part I.
It’s a nuanced perspective.
12 Apr 2011, 12:33 pm
@Puma(Puma)-149: I’ll disagree with Mallet or anyone for that matter, we lost a tight semi final in extra time through Larkhams one and only drop kick, kicked 48meters out!!!!, how the hell can one claim the loss of weary Teichmann was the cause for that loss. Its debatable whether Teichmann’s legs would have carried him to the extra time that was needed to settle that game.
We went on to beat the All Blacks in 3rd place play off.
12 Apr 2011, 12:33 pm
@munkiboi(munkiboi)-160: yes untill they brought in skinstadt
and even though he did not take over the captaincy ?? he was given the captains place , and that a capt that made that team tick
and agree 150 % with you , smitty is still 2nd best hooker in this country
12 Apr 2011, 12:34 pm
@Puma(Puma)-159:
difference between mallet and PDV. mallet admits he made mistakes and has learnt from then.
PDV still does not understand why the boks did not win last year
12 Apr 2011, 12:36 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-166: not true
there was nothing wrong with teichmans fitness
also it broke the belief in the team that they had as a unit, its been admitted by all the experts Xhosa so sorry for not taking your word seriously
12 Apr 2011, 12:37 pm
@Puma(Puma)-153: Funny that Mallet said that, I say so because, when I asked him in 2005 in Monte Casino, he thought Lem’s absence was huge.
12 Apr 2011, 12:39 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-170: its in his book xhosa , nothing funny about him admitting it, he admitted it to a public conference at a hotel in durban a few years ago
12 Apr 2011, 12:39 pm
There have been many situations in rugby that not nessarily the best player gets picked but the best combination …..The WC is still a good 6 months away J Smit has time to peak , he has not let SA down in the past so i see no reason not to elect him Captain , i also think the Bok scrum will be more stable with Smit at hooker ……….. Bismarck is good , dont misunderstnd me , but i would use him rather as an impact player and he will get his position next year ……….. Only in SA will they fire the WC winning Captain months before the WC – it just doesnt make sense
12 Apr 2011, 12:40 pm
@munkiboi(munkiboi)-162: Not so literal, just an example of how the media choose angles for stories depending on how they feel about you.
12 Apr 2011, 12:41 pm
@stew(stew)-172: amen stew , and look nicely where the anti smit sentiments get shouted from ….
its pretty clear
12 Apr 2011, 12:42 pm
I really, really, really hope that both Smit and Matfield are in the Bok scrum.
12 Apr 2011, 12:42 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-169:
do not mess with xhosakid.
not only does he have the pdv sextape.
but he also has recorded conversations with the last 5 bok coaches.
as well as the fiancial records for our world cup stadiums.
and most importantly, copies of your latest tax returns.
you have been warned.
12 Apr 2011, 12:43 pm
@the peanut gallery(peanut)-163: Well he could not have played against England, cause he was injured that day. Jannie had to play. They worked out they would do the drops cause Jannie was playing, cause he played a different game to Lem.
We just might have scored more tries had Lem been there, he was a better flyhalf. But yes those drops got us into the semi but still feel we would have made it if Lem played.
12 Apr 2011, 12:44 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-170: here read puma is giving you facts yet you refuse to believe it?? yet you want us to believe what you say????
FROM A POSTING TO YOU MADE BY PUMA
Did you watch that programme on dstv with Mallett before the Stormers/Reds game on Saturday? He said the biggest mistake he made was not keeping Teich as Captain for 1999. Said had Teich been on the field in that semi against Oz we could have won it. We missed our captain that day he said. Joost also said John has to go to this wc cause leaving out Teich was a terrible mistake and we should never do that again.
12 Apr 2011, 12:45 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-176:
gunther , lol boet,
12 Apr 2011, 12:46 pm
@stew(stew)-172: Best post of the day. Well said mate.
12 Apr 2011, 12:47 pm
Viva Smit Viva!!!
Smit should at least play two pool games and one knock-out game.
12 Apr 2011, 12:47 pm
@Auntie Mavis(Auntie Mavis)-175:
I really really really hope you are making a nice melktert for the ouens.
12 Apr 2011, 12:49 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-167: I must ask: If we need Smit to get us through those really tight and tense games and he starts off the bench as a reserve hooker, wen do you bring him on? 20 minutes to go, the score is 12-12 in a semi with NZ and things are about as tight as they’ll eva get. Bissie is playing just as well as we expect him to… Which coach would have the guts to take him off then wen he could be the catalyst of an historic victory or wld u take off Beast at such a moment?
12 Apr 2011, 12:49 pm
@stew(stew)-172: Its going to be an interesting few months leading up to the World Cup.
12 Apr 2011, 12:49 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-182: dont forget the koeksisters
12 Apr 2011, 12:50 pm
@munkiboi(munkiboi)-168: Boks did not win last year?, what do you mean?, anyway, do not answer, I think you have already demonstrated selective retention “tendencies”, by the way, Corne Krige was the Captain in 2003 but I guess too far out for you to remember considering you have already forgotten the successful end of the year tour.
12 Apr 2011, 12:51 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-170: Well it came straight out his mouth. I listened to him speak in that show on Saturday. Surely some others watched that show. It came just before the Stormers/Reds game.
Lem was injured for the quarter final against England. He then thought cause Jannie had a good game against England he should get a chance against Oz, BUT felt he wanted to select Lem for that game but gave Jannie another chance. He said it himself while being interviewed, came from Malletts mouth. Many must have watched that show. So he had a chance to start Lem against Oz and went with Jannie. He said it himself. Not sure when the show was recorded but it must have been very recent. Jannie and Joost was in the studio listening to that show as well as Joost was asked about taking John to the wc. Joost said John MUST go to the world cup, no question.
12 Apr 2011, 12:52 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-171: But I asked him myself in 2005 and he said it was Lem’s absence against Australia. Thats my point.
12 Apr 2011, 12:53 pm
@Ace11(Ace11)-183: Tough.
12 Apr 2011, 12:55 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-176: You forgot that I drink Lagavulin with Julius Malema…….
!!!!!
12 Apr 2011, 12:55 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-164:
Sharkie,
You can have but ONE leader.
Trust me.
We once made the grave mistake of taking Two Coaches to a WC.
With disastrous consequences.
If Smitty is your Capt, fine.
If NOT,
his leadership role would only contribute to the many mixed messages players are already getting.
-Coach,
-Captain.
-Senior Players taking responsibility.
-Young Ones stepping up.
In that order. With no room for Hangers On.
Some kind of off field mentor. Leave him behind. The past is exactly that.
12 Apr 2011, 12:56 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-188: Well then Mallett just says things to suit himself. Cause he said on Saturday it was cause of Teich not being on the field against Oz. HE could have selected Lem but decided to go with Jannie.
12 Apr 2011, 13:00 pm
We all still have to wait and see who is not injured after this S15. Another 8 games to go. Only half way through and we seeing many injuries already. Some top players we think will go to wc could be injured. Have to see who is still there at the end of this tourney.
12 Apr 2011, 13:02 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-178: My point is that I didn’t see the programme Puma is talking about. All that I know is that when an opportunity came for me to ask Mallet about 1999, Him not selecting Lem against Australia was the biggest mistake, clearly he has since changed his mind about it.
Again, this is not hearsay, I asked him myself and he told me. He also said Carter is the best shhhyyt since sliced bread.
12 Apr 2011, 13:02 pm
@cane(cane)-157: LOL
12 Apr 2011, 13:05 pm
Matfield’s form as been MUCH worse than Smith this year.
12 Apr 2011, 13:05 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-190:
julius drinks black label out of a blue label bottle.
but you have taste in whisky I’ll give you that.
rumour has it thast you are the only person alive who knows Julius “Tasting Menu” Malema’s true pants size.
even his tailor has to take his measurement blindfolded in case he should cathc sight of the Lion of Sandton’s junk.
as well as a secret powerpoint document with all 532 of Jayzee’s erogenous zones.
to distract him whenever he starts talking about getting tough on this corruption business.
12 Apr 2011, 13:06 pm
Matfield’s form as been MUCH worse than Smit’s this year.
12 Apr 2011, 13:11 pm
@cane(cane)-191:
the horror
i agree
with a
keewee
12 Apr 2011, 13:11 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-197: You can pour him Viceroy out of a Blue Label Bottle, he probably wont spot the difference, after all , “All brandy is the same”
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