Bismarck: I want to repay Smitty
26 Sep 2011
Bismarck du Plessis hopes to do his mentor and captain proud by producing a strong performance against Samoa this Friday.
It’s been a burning issue in South Africa since 2008, and the international media has stoked the coals of this debate at every opportunity since the Boks’ first arrived in New Zealand in early September.
Scribes from around the world are confounded by the decision to favour John Smit over Du Plessis. Most have described Du Plessis as the best hooker in the world, and nobody is arguing against the view that Smit’s best days are done.
It’s become something of a sideshow at press conferences, as the non-South African pressmen fire the same question at Du Plessis every time he fronts the media: ‘How does it feel to sit on the bench when you’re the best hooker in the world?’
To his credit, Du Plessis has dealt with this line of questioning admirably. It will remain one of the great tragedies if Du Plessis doesn’t start in the play-off matches at this World Cup, but the robust No 2 is determined to put the team’s ambitions ahead of his own.
And don’t talk smack about one of his heroes and mentors. After a training session in Taupo on Monday, Du Plessis was at pains to convey his respect for Smit. Du Plessis will start against Samoa this Friday, and he wants to dedicate that performance to the Bok captain.
‘I hope that I can fill John’ shoes,’ Du Plessis said. ‘John has played well in this World Cup and has really led from the front. It’s great for me to get a start, but I also see this as an opportunity to repay John for all that he has done for me.’
Du Plessis went on to speak about his early days at the Sharks, and listed Smit as a key role player in his early development. The student has since surpassed the master, but in his own eyes, Du Plessis still has a lot to achieve if he’s going to measure up.
‘John’s achieved a lot both as a leader and a player, he’s done a lot for this team.
‘For me personally, he’s been a real mentor. I remember arriving from Free State as a 19-year-old, and my lineout throwing and scrumming weren’t up to standard. John helped me improve in these areas; we put in a lot of hours on and off the field. I have immense respect for him.’
Smit should play off a bench that’s likely to include as many as five forwards. It’s clear the Boks are taking the physical challenge of Samoa seriously, and Du Plessis pointed to the islanders’ scrum as an area of strength.
‘Samoa are very dangerous, especially in their back three. They are also very structured and a lot of their players compete in the English Premiership so they are used to a high standard of rugby,’ he said.
‘They have scrummed superbly, especially in that previous game against Fiji. It’s one of their main weapons and I’m sure they’ll try and use it against us on Friday.’
The Boks battled at the breakdown and collisions in their World Cup opener against Wales, and while they have improved in these areas against Fiji and Namibia, they realise that the minnows aren’t anywhere near as formidable as the top-ranked teams when it comes to forward play.
Samoa are also not as accurate and imposing as the world heavyweights, but they will provide the Boks with a good workout before the play-offs.
‘We look at it as having four games left,’ said Du Plessis. ‘No team has ever won the World Cup after losing a game in the pool stages. We also want to keep improving week after week and maintaining an upward curve.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Taupo
56 Comments
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26 Sep 2011, 13:13 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-50:
Then what is he?
26 Sep 2011, 13:20 pm
stop talking and pay the man please.
26 Sep 2011, 14:03 pm
Kiwi’s Kiwi’s Kiwi’s, t t t . Must be bored. Kwiwis dont cheat, hah. They just bend the rules to a point where they have steped over the line way back in yonder that they forget. Like One Kwiwi said Its not cheating…. in other words the word is not in their vocabulary. But what winges!!!
Looking at the Kwiwi vs Tonga game, Nonu runs through the back line with Cater to his left. He continues running although he is 10m ahead of Carter who has the ball. Cater slips through the defense runs towards Nonu, when he gets tackled he off loads to Nonu who then goes for a try.
Surely Nonu is off side in this case is he not?
At the break down The AB’s have a major “problem” here. They are consistantly off side. In the knock out stage I hope they are policed here correctly.
What is happening to much is our beloved Richie( Funny in Malaysia on the Borneo Island at a rehabilitation center for Orangutans, there was this masive one, so bloody huge I stopped in my tracks, eyes alarge and gob wide open, 50m way, staring at this dude hanging from a tree. His name happened to be Richie!! hey hey) is deliberately playing in the offside position, lying on the ground preventing the No 9 from grabbing the ball. He seems to get away with it more than others. But we all know this.
Another problem is at the break down numerous players deliberately run passed the off side line then back track. A quick ball cant be played or if it is the ABs have a 3m head start. mmmm!
THe Abs love to run “certain lines” deliberately going into opposition players. An effective method but , yes, this is not cheaping.. really its not!
How many players who kick and chase are actually able to get to the ball against the Abs, lets say they would easily get there in an empty field situation?
Why is it even when in the past eg, Habana has run 1m over the touch line and still is disrupted by an AB trying to reach the ball that is 20m down the way? mmmm
The AllBlacks dont cheat, those red necks just dont know what the word is!
But after this little slag, Richie Makak is one of a few, the best in his position in rugby history. No one can argue that. As a Sprinbok supporter, my delight and emotions rolled when Richie gave a little speach on his 100 cap.
Salute…
27 Sep 2011, 04:42 am
@Greenies(Greenies)-53: Oh dear, how bad/sad/mad are you?
Nonu is not offside – he can run there if wants, if he inteferes with their ball from there then yes he is off side, or if he receives the ball whilst in front of his team mate he is off side, but not when we have possession, and Carter catches up, passes to Nonu in an on side position – no problems.
A 3m headstart – haha, they can go up – if they are in an on side position, however, once the ball is sent out of the ruck, if they are still there – then yes they off side. once they retreat they are back on side. You wanna talk off side – try Habana, he spends so much time in the oppositon back line lurking for an intercept, he may as well be wearing their jersey too
McCaw not rolling away – hahaha – if he can he will, WATCH closely. I refer to a previous post – McCaw is allowed to play the ball after the tackle before the ruck is formed. He is not off side by the way. Once the ruck has formed he is told to let go, and must make an attempt to get out. Now, here the interesting thing, most teams would prefer to have him in their being static, rather than out supporting his team, they lock him in. He’s not interferring, but he cant do much either. McCaw has a vested interest in getting out of there.Once again, WATCH closely.
Certain lines – every team’s back lines does exactly this
Kick n chase – are you expecting every team to provide an open road through, law states you can hold your ground
Problem for you is that you can not see the woods for the trees. Every team uses all those tactics described by you. The boks are the worst at the attempted intercept, and furthermore at retreating back into line.
I will happily accept we push the letter of the law to the absolute edge – and the interpretation of the ref – isnt that what you are supposed to do? If other teams are not skilled enough for this – thats their problem.
Sharpen up I would say, but have a bit more common sense to understand its not cheating, its maximising whatever advantage you can under the laws of the game.
Notice how other coaches and players dont accuse us of cheating – only desperate has-beens who hate us. The coaches and players are developing their players to be equal or better.
Watch Brussow – he infringes more than McCaw does every game he plays, he very rarely stays on his feet at the ruck, enters from the side, even on his own secured ball, runs directly across a defending backline creating a block to prevent opposition back lines tackling the boks – thats cheating.
27 Sep 2011, 04:47 am
@KiaKahaNZ(KiaKahaNZ)-54:
Aye we’re innocent aye. Go ram it up another sheep you animal.
27 Sep 2011, 06:00 am
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-55: F*** you’re a ****. Stop embarrassing the good people of SA.
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