Massive blow for Boks
18 Aug 2011
Juan Smith is out of the World Cup.
Smith sustained an Achilles injury during the Cheetahs’ Super Rugby campaign and has been in a race to regain fitness ever since. However, on Wednesday an emotional Smith confirmed to the Volksblad that he was withdrawing himself from the squad.
‘I am not 100%,’ Smith said. ‘I won’t be able to give everything and realise I should put my team, team-mates and the Bok fans first. I must stop lying to myself – what I’ve been doing these last three weeks – and realise that I’m not ready.’
The 30-year-old flank conceded that he has trained through considerable pain in recent weeks in the hope of representing the Springboks at his third World Cup. ‘The pain level that I have been practising with was seven out of ten,’ he explained. ‘I really cannot describe how disappointed I am…immensely.’
Smith has been central to the Springboks’ success in the last eight years, his powerful ball carrying and physical defence lending immense impetus to their cause. Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has consistently expressed fears about losing him and now has to attempt to fill the huge void he leaves.
De Villiers has intimated that Danie Rossouw will be the player to step in in the event of Smith’s unavailability. He isn’t short of talented options outside of the Bulls man, with Willem Alberts and Jean Deysel competent replacements. He could also opt to use Schalk Burger in the position, combining him with Heinrich Brussow and Pierre Spies in the back row.
623 Comments
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18 Aug 2011, 22:20 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-595:
Beer, nuts, TV, what else does a man need?
Why leave the Firemans?
18 Aug 2011, 22:21 pm
@carol(carol)-598:
Some guys never learn. Next time he’ll take a size larger.
18 Aug 2011, 22:22 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-596:
It is/was the same in CT. I used to travel the M3 every day and it seemed like every car had a Sharks sticker.
Mind you, it’s a cool little sticker, you can hardly blame them for putting one on their bumper. Much trendier than Provinces disa.
Or maybe i was just sitting behind SL every night
@carol(carol)-600:
Hiya Carol. I’m about 3rd bottom so don’t ask me, I haven’t got a clue
Reminds me, what’s your name on Bru IAAS????
18 Aug 2011, 22:25 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-603:
Brutus, bru.
18 Aug 2011, 22:27 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-5: Boet I doubt he will see a player of his skill, magnitude, commitment and colossal presence in SA rugby for a long time. The guy is one of the all-time greats of rugby. An absolute legend and he for me was the best candidate for Bok captain. What the Boks needed was a hard-b*st*rd no-nonsense captain who leads by example.
I am absolutely gutted he is out of the world cup. I truly hope he will be back. We may never see a player of his calibre again. Kak day for me and it just got kakker receiving this news!
18 Aug 2011, 22:28 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-604:
et tu?
18 Aug 2011, 22:28 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-603:
It just shows to what extent the margin counts. I haven’t accumulated too many bonus points but the win win % at 75 isn’t too bad.
Got the last Scotttish game wrong – won’t make that mistake again. I’m taking your word for it now.
18 Aug 2011, 22:31 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-606:
A first timer. But it’s been good fun. You reckon there’ll a separate one for the WC?
18 Aug 2011, 22:33 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-607:
Don’t listen to me ffs. I’m having a shocker.
Just so happens I never tip against my team. It’s luck, not design
18 Aug 2011, 22:35 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-608:
There is already. Slarti has got it up and running…
Pool name: Keo’s Clowns
Pool code: boldbags
Go sign up mate.
18 Aug 2011, 22:35 pm
@Samba Bok(JayDaFiveOh)-605:
Share your sentiments. He is a colossus. Just hope he will be back. And I mean in the green and gold. He has at least 2 maybe 3 more seasons left in him.
The break will do him good. Missing the WC will be a major disappointment but at least he has a winners medal.
Now think of the disappointment Jean de Villiers has had to endure. Twice.
18 Aug 2011, 22:37 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-610:
Thanks mate. Will do.
Cheers, I’m out for the evening. Will be back for CC tom.
18 Aug 2011, 22:42 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-612:
Take it easy mate. Catch you tomorrow for THE big game of the weekend
18 Aug 2011, 22:44 pm
Juan Smith is the type true blooded springbok warrior champion and his type of guts is the kind of player we should be eulogizing and holding up as the champion of this team… He is the one who puts his team first and his own ambitions a distant last… he is the type leader that this team should be following…pity they ain’t all made of this type stern stuff…
Smit should hold his head in shame compared to Smith he ain’t even worthy to hold his tog bag.
Smith should have been captain since 2008 and this team would have been legions further down the road… having said that watch this team under Matfield.. gonna give Ab’s a shake up… pity they didn’t leave Smit out altogether because bringing him on off bench is just throwing the conniving jackal in among the pigeons at 60 mins… totally unnecessary maneuver.. should have rather played Chili or Strauss off bench not Smit.
18 Aug 2011, 22:52 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-614: Totally agreed about Smith as captain. A Bok legend in every sense of the word. He never left these shores hunting for money and glory.
18 Aug 2011, 23:03 pm
@Samba Bok(JayDaFiveOh)-615:
Rare breed of traditional Springbok who should have led this team a long time ago and it would have been far further than we find it now under the sham shackled shadow of a show boating goody two shoe shekel shining charlatan
18 Aug 2011, 23:04 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-611: JDV can’t even be spoken in the same breath as Smith. He has served SA rugby with commitment and determination harder than granite and has more talent in his little finger compared to JdV. His defence was always 100% solid and he was the archetypal Bok enforcer. He mixed mongrel brute strength with discipline. Something his mate Burger could learn from. I don’t think I have ever seen Smith yellow-carded. He always kept himself in peak physical condition unlike his lousy good-for-nothing captain. A true unsung hero.
I honestly feel for Juan. He has had a sh.it time lately. He lost his father recently and now he has to miss the RWC. I know it was tough JdV but frankly his form does not warrant being selected for the RWC. Smith deserves to be ahead of him. Life can be very cruel sometimes.
18 Aug 2011, 23:05 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-616: Nice alliteration.
19 Aug 2011, 01:20 am
Fullbacks
F. Steyn
Lambie
Wings
JP
Habana
Aplon
Centers
Fourie
de Villiers
de Jongh
Flyhalfs
M. Steyn
James
Scrumhalves
du Preez
Hougaard
Pienaar
Loosies
Brussouw
Burger
Deysel
Alberts
Spies
Locks
Botha
Rossouw
Matfieldd
Muller
Props
Beast
Guthro
Jannie
CJ/BJ
Hookers
Smit
Bismark
Chiliboy
First XV
F. Steyn
JP
Fourie
de Villiers
Habana
Steyn
du Preez
Spies
Burger
Brussouw
Matfield (C)
Botha
du Plessis
Bismark
Beast
Smit
Guthro
CJ/BJ
Rossouw
Alberts
Hougaard
James/Aplon
19 Aug 2011, 01:22 am
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-619: That leaves one spot. Perhaps one more prop or loosie, or another back?
19 Aug 2011, 01:23 am
@Samba Bok(JayDaFiveOh)-615: In the Andre Venter/Ruben Kruger mould. Legend.
19 Aug 2011, 05:34 am
Anyone? A few weeks ago, pdv suggested that Burger was as much as a natural 8 as any? This was on the assumption that Brussow and Smith were fit. Could this still happen if Alberts performs well?
19 Aug 2011, 10:55 am
Dragons. Burp.
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