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, 09:24 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-96: The way Spies played last week it wont be such a bad thing to let him start more games.
@pakslae(pakslae)-99: Agreed. 6. Brussouw 7. Burger 8. Spies/Alberts/Deysel/Danie
18 Aug 2011, 09:26 am
Makes no difference, we won’t see the semis anyhow
18 Aug 2011, 09:27 am
What a man puts his team first. John Smit should do the same. Difference Juan is the best in that position, Smit not
18 Aug 2011, 09:28 am
huge loss. juan never has a bad game. along with matfield and du preez possibly the only nother bok who would be a strong contender for a world 15 team.
trio of brussouw, schalk, spies now likely, but think with brussouw and schalk in tandem you need a tighter harder 8. can PDV/Gold/Rassie coach them to gel?
how is schalks injury coming along? he’ll be going to WC with no game time at all.
18 Aug 2011, 09:30 am
@ 101.Sasuke: Agreed.
Burger, Brussouw , Spies, Alberts as backup. Danie backup for locks not a loosie!!! We need Brussouw to play at least 60 mins
18 Aug 2011, 09:32 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-86:
you must be smoking boom early in the morning
18 Aug 2011, 09:33 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-86: Thats what I’m thinking as well
18 Aug 2011, 09:33 am
We really need to get the likes of Eddie Jones to coach us after the RWC. Does PDV’s contract run until the end of the year or just until after the RWC?
18 Aug 2011, 09:34 am
@munkiboi(munkiboi)-104: Schalk has never really needed game time to get into his groove.He goes flying into everything, broken neck and all.
18 Aug 2011, 09:39 am
juan is a legend, this is disasterous news for him and the squad.
nontheless, a real opportunity for alberts and deysel to nail a starting spot.
getting a dynamic youthful newbie into the starting lineup could well be a blessing in disguide.
still prefer to see danie covering from the bench at this stage of events.
18 Aug 2011, 09:40 am
@we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-106: don’t laugh now, laugh when you realise that “transie said this would happen”
18 Aug 2011, 09:40 am
This is a bummer of note, Smith and Bekker out ver ver ver bad for us, think they were both players that could have made a big difference on the field.
18 Aug 2011, 09:43 am
@Provincejoulekkading(Provincejoulekkading)-109: No sissyboy our Hulkanator.
18 Aug 2011, 09:43 am
@munkiboi(munkiboi)-104: He played most of the S15 so he does have some gametime under the belt for the year. Whereas someone like Juan Smith got injured in the first game and hasnt played yet.
18 Aug 2011, 09:45 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-112: wow treelady…..we agree on something !
Finally!!
18 Aug 2011, 09:45 am
@garth(garth)-108: Whats the difference?
18 Aug 2011, 09:48 am
Brussel
Spies
Burger
Alberto on the bench
Diesel on the forecourt.
18 Aug 2011, 09:50 am
@grant10(grant10)-115: LOLOLOLOL , no man Grant, I am sure there was once something else we agreed on, just cant remember what and that is something that should just pop out at us :mrgreeen:
18 Aug 2011, 09:51 am
It’s not a train smash.
With Alberts, Spies, Burger, Brussouw, Russouw and even Kanko and Jhnson in the wings, we can still pick a world class loosie combination.
Only positions where we are thin is at 1, 13, 11 and 15
Not a bad place to be 3 weeks out of a RWC
18 Aug 2011, 09:52 am
@we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-106:
LOL, he’s smoking boom with Pdiv. You can expect anything from this coaching team and I wouldn’t be surprised.
18 Aug 2011, 09:53 am
I’ve changed my mind, best loosie combo:
8 – Alberts – Spies to sub
7 – Burger
6 – Brussouw
Spies is more valuable in later stages when his speed can deal with a more open game.
18 Aug 2011, 09:55 am
@Gunther(gunther)-117: Russian Spies at 7??
18 Aug 2011, 09:56 am
I would even consider putting Brussouw on at 8 in defensive scrums with Alberts moving to blind side.
1st phase tackles will be made and turnovers created by Brussouw and Burger working in tandem – an exciting prospect
18 Aug 2011, 09:57 am
@Helen(Helen)-119: You mean 3 and not 1? Guthro & Beast?
18 Aug 2011, 09:58 am
@Helen(Helen)-123: Not a bad idea.
18 Aug 2011, 09:59 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-122:
I think spies could be a much better 7 than 8.
You certainly have options with those 4 in the mix.
18 Aug 2011, 09:59 am
with burger there you’ll have two loosies and a first five eight at 7
like he did for the stormers
18 Aug 2011, 10:01 am
Alberts is our power sub and should not start. He needs to come on 20 min to go and run hard at the enemy. I’m leaning towards Deysel for 7 but what about Burger because he is not an 8. If Spies build on his performance of last week I will keep him at 8, and eat that humble pie.
18 Aug 2011, 10:01 am
Gunther
Spies as a blindside ?
yes please.
18 Aug 2011, 10:02 am
@Gunther(gunther)-126: Ok.
18 Aug 2011, 10:03 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-128: Forgot about Johnson who played his best rugby for the Cheetahs at flank. I’ll tweet Vic and Smit and ask them what they will decide.
18 Aug 2011, 10:03 am
What about playing Strauss?
18 Aug 2011, 10:05 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-128: Agree with everything you said. I think PDV will find place for Burger whether it be at 6,7 or 8….he will be there.
18 Aug 2011, 10:06 am
It looks like the Abstain for the All Blacks didn’t last very long.
Wellington – A major All Blacks sponsor on Thursday cancelled a campaign urging New Zealand sports fans give up *** to support their team during the Rugby World Cup, after a public backlash.
Telecom Corp had planned to launch campaign next week, featuring slogans such as “abstain for the game”, describing it as a light-hearted attempt to galvanise support for the All Blacks during the tournament, which begins next month.
But the idea of putting *** in the sin-bin met widespread opposition in the World Cup host nation, with Prime Minister John Key saying it was “living proof that not every advertising dollar is worth the money it’s spent on”.
Former All Black skipper Brian Lochore described the campaign as “crass”, while a New Zealand Herald online poll asking fans if they would forego *** generated 17 000 hits, with 92 percent responding: “No, are you kidding?”.
The idea of a *** ban in predominantly rural New Zealand also reportedly generated mirth among fans the All Black’s rivals South Africa, with Springboks fans posting on the Internet that they were “just happy for the sheep”.
Telecom’s retail chief executive Alan Gourdie admitted on Thursday that the company had misread the public mood and announced it had been cancelled, apologising for any offence caused.
“We designed the ‘Abstain’ campaign with the best of intentions and attempted to strike a humorous tone in order to rally even more support behind the All Blacks, but we got it wrong,” he said in a statement.
“We misjudged public feeling, which in reaction to yesterday’s partial revelations in the news media was overwhelmingly negative.
“No excuses. We caused offence to some people, and for that we apologise.”
I see the article mentions some uncouth comments made by Bok fans about the sheep having a nice break.
I think we rose above that here at keo quite nicely.
Give yourselves a pat on the back boys and girls.
18 Aug 2011, 10:07 am
Spies would only make my team as a winger. straight up.
18 Aug 2011, 10:07 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-129: I would be afraid if I was you….remember the blinder he had against you guys in 2006 at Rustenberg. He was influential in the build up to Pedrie’s try in the corner.
18 Aug 2011, 10:11 am
Telecom = Telkom. Same type of dumbfcks in charge.
18 Aug 2011, 10:11 am
@Gunther(gunther)-134: :LOL:
Yes you are correct I only saw 1 happy for the sheep comment!
Just spilled my tea now reading that!
18 Aug 2011, 10:13 am
Sasuke
I also remember read running over the top of him to score last year ( if memories correct on the year).
sorry, very over rated player who was fortunate to have a decent forward pack around him
put him in a pack that struggles, and he goes walkabout ( to borrow Aussie parlance). not what you want from your number 8, so please keep picking him.
18 Aug 2011, 10:16 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-118: LOL
No…i would have surely remembered!
18 Aug 2011, 10:16 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-135:
yep.
I like that idea too.
18 Aug 2011, 10:16 am
@Gunther(gunther)-126: what?
Are you farken insane!
18 Aug 2011, 10:19 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-139: I agree but how do you drop a guy with so much potential?
I hope he can build on the performance of last week and improve on his defence. He was good off the back of a stable scrum.
Do you think its to late to convert him to a winger?
18 Aug 2011, 10:20 am
Gunther
could be devestating in his original position.
18 Aug 2011, 10:21 am
Good Luck for the surgery Juan. Get well soon. We’ll be looking out for you come Super rugby 2012.
18 Aug 2011, 10:22 am
anyway, the time for experimentation is over.
my guess it will be brussel spies and burger with alberts and or ashley of the bench.
one thing for sure.
we are going to miss bekker and juan big style.
18 Aug 2011, 10:23 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-144:
I worry about his hands a bit there.
But then I worry about his hands anywhere he plays.
It would be interesting to see him get a go in the currie cup or something and then take it from there.
18 Aug 2011, 10:24 am
Sasuke.
I think you need to utilize his pace while he still has it. would be an absolute handful for any winger, and so long as his centre positions him properly, his suspect defense wouldn’t be so evident. has the pace to show his opposite the outside and catch most opposition.
18 Aug 2011, 10:25 am
@Gunther(gunther)-146: Yip two key players.
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-145: Cheetahs should have a good season next year if they can keep their players injury free.
18 Aug 2011, 10:26 am
Got to try and understand that at 30 years of age and to hear he went through the pain threshold to try and play for his country is immense and have a lot of respect for this guys efforts as I know all to well what it’s like to live with a snapped achilles
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