PdV sticks with Smitty
6 Oct 2011
John Smit has been reinstated as the starting hooker and captain for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against the Wallabies.
De Villiers started Bismarck du Plessis in the last pool match against Samoa, and it was rumoured that he would continue to play a bigger role in the knockout matches. But with Thursday’s team announcement, De Villiers stuck to the original script, favouring the man he made a promise to in 2008. Smit will start ahead of Du Plessis because De Villiers believes that the former is an indispensable leader.
Du Plessis has been named on the bench, but the Boks could certainly use his particular skill set in a game of this nature. More mobile and aggressive than Smit, he also possesses a strong breakdown game and is known to make the odd steal off the deck. Against the Wallabies, you’d want players of this ilk on the park from minute one.
It is also false to claim that the Boks don’t have the leadership outside of Smit to see them through a knockout match. Victor Matfield has captained the Bulls to three Super Rugby titles over the last four years, and has led the Boks admirably when Smit has been unavailable.
Matfield will play alongside Danie Rossouw in this match, as regular second row partner Bakkies Botha is unlikely to recover from injury. Beast Mtawarira is left out of the match 22, with Gurthro Steenkamp starting at loosehead prop. Other changes to the side that fronted Samoa see Jean de Villiers replacing the injured Frans Steyn at inside centre.
The Bok coach has also reverted to a traditional four-three split on the bench. There is still no sign of Johann Muller, and Willem Alberts will cover lock once again.
Francois Hougaard will cover several backline positions, and Butch James will give the team an alternative flyhalf option if Morne Steyn and the Boks’ one dimensional game plan doesn’t come off. Like the benching of Du Plessis, it’s a selection the coach will soon regret, as James’s skills are tailor made for this type of opposition.
The Boks have spoken about playing a forward-oriented game, but someone like Gio Aplon will lend them attacking impetus in the final quarter. Aplon has been used sparingly in this tournament, but will provide the Boks’ with a lively running option against what should be a tiring Aussie defence.
Again, the team may have been better served if Aplon was selected to start rather than ride the bench. Like Du Plessis and James, he has the ability to influence the outcome of a match and ideally these sort of players should be playing a greater role rather than a bit part in a do-or-die fixture.
Springboks – 15. Pat Lambie, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Schalk Burger, 6. Heinrich Brüssow, 5. Victor Matfield, 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. John Smit (c), 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Subs: 16. Bismarck du Plessis, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Willem Alberts, 19. Francois Louw, 20. Francois Hougaard, 21. Butch James, 22. Gio Aplon.
486 Comments
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5 Oct 2011, 23:16 pm
@willievz(willievz)-295: Danie Dropsy Rossouw
5 Oct 2011, 23:17 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-297: Deysel knocked on in Durban on the way to the try line, that cost us
5 Oct 2011, 23:18 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-297: Louw is covering 6 exclusively.
Given the amount of niggles amongst our resources, and the Wallabies’ competitive advantage at this facet of play, this is an admirable selection IMO.
5 Oct 2011, 23:18 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-282: If you ask me its cos they shot themselves in the foot by not giving Lambie more starting opportunities at 10 and now they cant rely on him 100% to cover 10 in such a big pressure game. Had they played him more often when they could you wouldnt have that problem now. I´d be reluctant to put Lambie at 10 in a QF game myself. Not saying he couldnt do it but it could be touch and go. Thank god Ruaan is nowhere near the match 22.
5 Oct 2011, 23:18 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-293: I dont know why you are inventing some sort of false dichotomy here – I am no fan of Jake the Snake either. I suggest wind that neck in because you are definitely barking up the wrong tree. Dippy is lucky to have Rassie and Nienaber like Jake the Snake was lucky to get Eddie the Eagle to guide him through the WC 2007.
One thing Jake White has though, that even “Great Redeemer” Graham Henry doesn’t, is Old Bill…. Makes you wonder, eh?
5 Oct 2011, 23:20 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-301: Yes Tackles I also have reservatons about his ball carrying technique. He has been guilty of not protecting the ball sufficiently enough when entering collisions and often carries without adequate support on his shoulders.
But I have also seen him take some shaky passes.
You make a point though, our passing accuracy is a current concern for me.
5 Oct 2011, 23:21 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-288: cant agree there – against a fetcher like Pocock Deysel would be nullified a lot. francois Louw is the only othe fetcher who could possibly compete. Louw had a few average games on they EOYT but this years Super 15 his class shone through again. I have faith in him. Look at Raubenheimer – on his EOYT he froze up and did nothing and this years Super 15 he has been a machine. I would never have thought he could do it.
5 Oct 2011, 23:22 pm
Why replace the Beast with CJ? Smacks a bit like the AB’s in ’07 in trying to manage players for a semi and final. This is the knock-outs so you play your best team. The Beast adds way more than CJ ever would. Anyway, here’s to JdV having a blinder.
5 Oct 2011, 23:23 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-307: Louw and Burger are also key cogs in the Nienaber defensive system, which gives the former the nod ahead of other players such as Deysel et al.
5 Oct 2011, 23:23 pm
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-308: CJ is covering both 1 and 3.
If the Beast was on the bench instead of CJ, our cappie would be covering 3.
5 Oct 2011, 23:24 pm
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-308: Who covers Tight head?
The man on the moon?
5 Oct 2011, 23:24 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-297: again I disagree – in the Super 15 he was creating havoc and was one of the Stormers players who consistently got his team front foot ball.
5 Oct 2011, 23:25 pm
@JL1(JL1)-296: You’re right (except it was 19-0) but Jake’s 49-0 vs Aussie easily trumps that. Stroily’s 52-16 hiding by NZ at Loftus comes close, and his 53-3 spanking by England in London too.
5 Oct 2011, 23:27 pm
298,HG
The losses to Saracens & Leceister should actually be attributed to **** Muir who was in charge of the midweek dirt-tracker side.Just like Wayne Smith was made midweek coach when Munster almost beat AB’s in midweek game.
For all those examples,the most telling is PdV record vs Graham Henry.White at NO point had a winning record vs NZ.All blacks are still the measure of excellelnce in the sport..Div 5..Henry 6 in last 4 yrs
Meanwhile “greatest coach on planet” as quoted ny many-Robbie Deans reord vs Ab’s is…14 Henry…2 Deans…
Jake White…3…Henry 8….in 4years.
2 away wins suffered by NZ..first and only time in HISTORY…belongs to guess who? Pieter de Villiers.
You better RECOGNIZE.
Better than inflated win record with lots of victories vs Samoa,Italy,Scotland…
5 Oct 2011, 23:27 pm
see Aussie supporters are very confident, man I hope we have a but of a surprise for them
5 Oct 2011, 23:28 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-313: Yes, Jake the Snake and Straueli have embarrassing moments on their score cards
5 Oct 2011, 23:29 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-305: Hey, Jake fluked a lucky draw — there are Lotto millionaires out there who are dropkicks but who just got bloody lucky. Jake won the rugby lotto twice when BOTH the Antipodeans who had smashed him earlier that year gonged themselves out of his path.
5 Oct 2011, 23:31 pm
@willievz(willievz)-310: @JL1(JL1)-311: What I meant. Is this to manage Jannie? He has been playing all of the games so far. If CJ is there for injury cover then fine but I hope its not just to manage gametime. On Second thought, my critique may have been a bit hasty. Just sad to see Beast not make it. He adds to our bench while CJ does not. But we do not want a repeat of Durban. I can see that now…
5 Oct 2011, 23:31 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-314: Those are the facts
PDiv has a good record against the ABs
5 Oct 2011, 23:32 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-314: Im afraid you too are setting up a little straw man like Tackles. Because I think Dippy is useless, in no way means that I am a Jake the Snake fan. Like Dippy, Jake should have bit the bullet before he could call on someone else more competent to guide him through a challenge too big for him to handle on his own merits… Jake with Eddie the Eagle and Dippy with Rassie and Nienaber – case studies in how the incompetent can hide behind other’s ability.
5 Oct 2011, 23:34 pm
307-Slumtown
My poiny exactly,Flo is amazing in looser environment of 415.Much like Adam Thompson.Test level…Lightweights.
With Bizzie on the pitch,Burger assisting and Deysel not bad on groind and is a huge physical presence as well.He also wud assist in counterrucking to cause turnovers.If Flo doesn’t succeed as the secondary arriver at ruck to steal ball he is anonymous.does absolutely fckall.
5 Oct 2011, 23:35 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-320: Both Jake and Dippy have nearly identical win loss ratios before their respective WC’s of around 60%. Not what you would expect from the Springboks and symptomatic of this tolerance of mediocrity excuse – “Judge me on the World Cup”.
5 Oct 2011, 23:36 pm
******* SNORT
Bismarck best hooker in the world
Boks flying home sunday time
Smitty Fatty you TRAITOR
5 Oct 2011, 23:36 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-317: So dissapointing that we will never know if SA would still have won huh? Not Jakes fault tho nor did he fluke it. Your AB’s just did what they do best, I’m afraid. Simple realy.
5 Oct 2011, 23:37 pm
F-U-C-K SNORT
5 Oct 2011, 23:38 pm
Smit you LEGEND!
Captain FANTASTIC!
5 Oct 2011, 23:38 pm
BOKS available for Currie Cup next weekend
John Smit = TRAITOR
PDV = MORON
5 Oct 2011, 23:39 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-326: Can I hear a AMEN! These fckwits have fck-all respect!
5 Oct 2011, 23:40 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-326:
SMIT YOU F-U-C-K-I-N-G TRAITOR
5 Oct 2011, 23:41 pm
@Boksarenumber3(Boksarenumber1)-327: @Boksarenumber3(Boksarenumber1)-329: Wtf?
5 Oct 2011, 23:42 pm
Here is REAL record of JW vs PdV against top 6 rugby nations in real tests not watered down incoming tours or meaningless cannon fodder nations.
discount all meaningless games.. only count top 6 nations
NZ, Aus, Fra, Eng, Wales, Ire or combined BR. Lions in REAL competition i.e. 3N, or Br. lions tour or EOYT and this the result you get
2004-2007 JW
Played: 32
Wins: 14 - 43.75%
Losses: 17 - 53.13%
Draws: 1 - 3.13%
2008-2011 PdV
Played: 34
Wins: 18 - 52.94%
Losses: 16 - 47.06%
Draws: 0 -
Thats right in REAL TERMS of TOP 6 strength vs strength competition PdV whacks White by a WHOPPING 53% over 44% success = 9% better coach to White. In fact White has a negative success rate of less than 50% = 44% to be exact.
Now suck on them lemons HG.. PDV is the Muhammad Ali of all rugby coaches and don’t you go and forget it again in a hurry.
5 Oct 2011, 23:42 pm
@Boksarenumber3(Boksarenumber1)-329: Mate you are trying too damn hard! Subtlety not your strong suite, huh?
5 Oct 2011, 23:44 pm
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-332:
piss off kid
5 Oct 2011, 23:44 pm
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-318: The perplexing decision is having Butch there
5 Oct 2011, 23:45 pm
@Boksarenumber3(Boksarenumber1)-323: Vent all that anger, young one
Let it out, now pour another glass of meths and try again
5 Oct 2011, 23:46 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-331: I refer you to my posts 320 and 322. I know it is difficult for some of you. Jake the Snake is no hero of mine. Dippy “Clownking” De Villiers certainly isn’t either.
Pop goes the weazley argument… Poofffff
5 Oct 2011, 23:46 pm
SNORT should be kicked out of South Africa
and the idiot selectors with him
The Aussies must be smiling from ear to ear
They dont have to play against the best hooker in the world
5 Oct 2011, 23:46 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-317: actually a more apt explanation might be that the antipodeans side which bashed us earlier that year where more premature ejaculators … they just came too soon
5 Oct 2011, 23:47 pm
@JL1(JL1)-335:
lol another moron
5 Oct 2011, 23:48 pm
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-324: exactly, premature ejaculators …
5 Oct 2011, 23:48 pm
@JL1(JL1)-334: What is perplexing about it? If the ten man approach is failing and we fall behind and have to start moving the ball who would you play?
5 Oct 2011, 23:48 pm
@Boksarenumber3(Boksarenumber1)-339: Haha, you need help, seriously, get rid of that anger
5 Oct 2011, 23:49 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-331: And how you can excuse a 60% win/loss ration for the Boks and losses against Saracens, Leicester and Scotland, I dont know. For me that is not excellence and I will only forgive Dippy if he brings the Willy Webb Ellis Cup back to SA.
5 Oct 2011, 23:49 pm
John Smit that fat old boy does not care about the BOKS
If he did he would make sure Bismarck started
Thats why he is a traitor
5 Oct 2011, 23:50 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-331: You know that would be about an F? It’s a pass, yes but only just…And a 9% better coach? Does that equate to a moment of individual brilliance ala Ricky January In Dunedin 2008 or Morne Steyn in BI Lions series the year after? I’d settle for 75%, at least, against top flite opposition. So should any bonafide Bok supporter.
5 Oct 2011, 23:50 pm
@malcolm(malcolm)-341: …maybe he is there for that, but that does not sound right
Lambie could go to flyhalf and Aplon cover the FB position
5 Oct 2011, 23:50 pm
@JL1(JL1)-342:
piss off halfwit
5 Oct 2011, 23:51 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-336:
Classic.
5 Oct 2011, 23:53 pm
SAINT John our SAVIOR!
John the MAGNIFICENT!
John the WISE!
John the CONQUEROR!
5 Oct 2011, 23:53 pm
@Boksarenumber3(Boksarenumber1)-333: Like I said troll…
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-343: Same here.
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