Smit, Joubert complete Sarries rout
14 Nov 2011
GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Saffas who impressed in Europe over the weekend.
The English Premiership, French Top 14 and Pro12 were all on break as the top northern hemisphere clubs competed in the European Cup.
Retired Springbok captain John Smit came off the bench in the 58th minute to make his debut for new club Saracens in a 42-17 mauling of Italian outfit Treviso. The reserve hooker featured alongside fellow Saffas centre Brad Barritt, scrumhalf Neil de Kock, SA-born English prop Matt Stevens, starting hooker Schalk Brits, No 8 Ernst Joubert, Stromers-bound prop Deon Carstens and flanker Justin Melck in the match 22. 
Smit and Joubert scored tries in the final quarter to seal the convincing win for the English champions. Former Cheetahs and Stormers flyhalf Willem de Waal added two conversions and a penalty for Treviso.
Lock Johann Muller and No 8 Pedrie Wannenburg were key in Ulster’s 16-11 win over flanker Gerhard Vosloo’s Clermont. Especially Muller, who made the most tackles in the match (12) and won eight throws in the lineouts.
Front rowers Wian du Preez and BJ Botha packed down in Munster’s 23-21 win over prop Brian Mujati’s Northampton Saints. It was a major win for the former, who edged ahead three minutes into injury time as flyhalf Ronan O’Gara slotted a late drop goal.
Prop Heinke van der Merwe and hooker Richardt Strauss featured in Leinster’s comeback as they drew 16-16 with Montepellier after trailing 13-3 at the break. A last-minute penalty from pivot Jonny Sexton forced the stalemate.
Bok flanker Francois Louw delivered an impressive individual display in Bath’s 26-21 defeat to Glasgow. The 26-year-old Louw gained 44m in his five ball carries, made the most turnovers in the match (3) and made 11 tackles, not missing one.

238 Comments
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14 Nov 2011, 15:03 pm
@ufo(ufo)-197:
I’ve never been to one.
Everytime I get to the turnstile they confiscate my heavy artillery and call the police.
14 Nov 2011, 15:04 pm
Drinks definitely on you then…!!
14 Nov 2011, 15:07 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-190:

classic
14 Nov 2011, 15:09 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-201:
Good grief man, be careful with your words “next time” implies at least one previous time…
talk about trashing your image…!
????
14 Nov 2011, 15:10 pm
@ufo(ufo)-202:
sorry… 202 is for helen…
great job you’ve got…!!
14 Nov 2011, 15:12 pm
@Helen(Helen)-179:
If thats what you are looking for in a man, you are wasting your time with that bunch.
Look no further..
14 Nov 2011, 15:20 pm
@ufo(ufo)-202:
I don’t think so…. although I have had sushi on me before and once even choricio
14 Nov 2011, 15:22 pm
Funny thread this
14 Nov 2011, 15:23 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-208:
HG, how you doing girlfriend?
Any kiwi scalps to brag about today?
14 Nov 2011, 15:28 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-208: So we can assume that you weren’t arrested by the NZ cops for calling Bryce a filthy bribetaking cheat? Or do they allow you to blog from prison?
14 Nov 2011, 15:30 pm
@Helen(Helen)-209: Huzzit HellsBells. Nope, no Kiwi scalps. I reckon I may have actually finished the sheepshaggers off once and for all.
14 Nov 2011, 15:32 pm
@ufo(ufo)-204:
um er.
My name is gunther.
I have no image.
14 Nov 2011, 15:32 pm
@Finfan(Finfan)-210: Answer to Q1: No. Not yet. They haven’t even tried. Dammit… Cowards.
Answer to Q2: I don’t know the inside of prison…yet… Best you ask ET or Shaun youknowwho about that.
14 Nov 2011, 15:39 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-212:
hehehe…
you virtually have one…
you’re so nearly there…
don’t waste the hard work you’ve already put in…!!
14 Nov 2011, 15:56 pm
Fuckmeslowlyonthefloor Timothy.
I wonder if all the big rich guns who employ the slackers here know there’s fockall work being done on their so-called big ticket mega money yacht-purchasing investments.
Instead everyone fecks around talking kuk here all day
14 Nov 2011, 16:05 pm
Am so chuffed for Captain Fantastic, well done Cyril !!!!!!!
What did victor have to say in his book about Smit, someone ???
14 Nov 2011, 16:08 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-215: Does that include the so called “Big multinational” in which you are apparently ensconced and for who you are doing a stirling job
14 Nov 2011, 16:10 pm
@Helen(Helen)-209: Stormersboy is not nerdy to look at, in fact he is rather dishy
14 Nov 2011, 16:11 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-215: Don’t be like that. I’m sure Helen can organise you a summer internship on his Highness’ yacht.
All the grey goose you can drink.
They are still on the dop system there….
14 Nov 2011, 16:13 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-218: You are going to make me blush….
14 Nov 2011, 17:15 pm
@grant10(grant10)-204: “M.r.t” – To the best of my knowledge it is Muffdive Repetitive Therapy….? Not the same as HRT though… Severely needed by you.
14 Nov 2011, 18:34 pm
Smit appears to be revelling in his new surroundings. Once a Bok great, always a Bok great.
14 Nov 2011, 18:38 pm
One good thing that came out of His Royal Majesty King Luke Watson’s rugby journey from South Africa (where he ran from in disgrace for the coward that he is) is that he managed to work on his English accent to perfection what what.
14 Nov 2011, 18:55 pm
@justrugby(justrugby)-24: very out of character for you JR, I always saw you as the ‘good cop’ of the dynamic half-back duo
14 Nov 2011, 20:10 pm
Gary Botha and Shawn Sowerby played superbly for Toulouse vs Glouchester
So did Strauss and Heineke Vdm for Leinster, while Wim Du Preez showed out Mujatie with support from the other side by BJ Botha.
Haven’t watched yet Sarries vs Treviso game but let’s say that’s was hardly a match for JS to redeem himself
15 Nov 2011, 01:11 am
If Smit keeps up this form he may just earn himself a Bok call up next season.
15 Nov 2011, 05:50 am
So Victor so happened to endorse Johnny boys over staying of his welcome. I wonder if they conveniently consulted the buddy buddy system re what was best for the team overall or whether there were to be some back slap endorsements if the backward thinking gambit perchance had to come off. Doomed f.ng strategy if ever there was one.
15 Nov 2011, 06:04 am
somehow the brains embargo over there at least know how the deck should work, play the has been off the bench not starting play him behind the better more mobile younger dynamic hookes in the sealing order, not the wrong way around.-?
15 Nov 2011, 07:34 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-5:
Nice one
and respect to Victor as he must have wanted to be Springbok captain badly and had to accept Vice.
Springbok greats those 2 – my heros
15 Nov 2011, 07:38 am
For Tac:
Bulls pre-season training has started.
Here’s what Pierre Spies tweeted bout his bleep and sprint times;
Pierrespies8 Pierre Spies
“@Redcap85: @Pierrespies8 what level did u do on the bleep? And what was ur sprint times? I’m a fellow loosie.” Bleep 13.1; 40m sprint: 4.8s
15 Nov 2011, 07:39 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-17:
Well said buddy – the guy was a test match rugby player. In the looser stuff maybe not as good at the more athletic players.
2007 was his peak though.
He had a really good World Cup, such a pity we went out in the way we did.
where were the drop goals
15 Nov 2011, 07:41 am
@grant10(grant10)-20:
If you think the last 2 were bad, wait for next year.
15 Nov 2011, 07:47 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-51:
You are going to wish for a Jake White very soon.
He was a coach and the boss. We needed a bit more of that from PDV.
Rebuilding time and it aint going to be easy.
First hurdle – next captain – not easy. Then player identification – not easy.
All you ungrateful people who oan about Jake’s era will be begging for the same era back again very soon
15 Nov 2011, 07:48 am
And a team is not about taking the best player in each position, ask Real Madrid. It’s about choosing and developing combinations.
The flashy are not always the best
15 Nov 2011, 07:53 am
@DocNZ(DocNZ)-59:
well said – thought the same thing.
Fortunately the majority have taken time off. Jacques must be having cash flow issues
15 Nov 2011, 09:24 am
@Mike H(Mike H)-233:
well i am wishing for heyneke meyer with all my heart.
to be fair to jake i suppose he should by now have matured a lot more and grown personally, so would/could be a better people person/man manager this time round if he were in the job again.
15 Nov 2011, 11:58 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-5:
Thanks Tac, you saved me asking a question.
When I read Matfield’s comments I wondered whether you would revise your view.
Must admit the people on this board have wound me up a bit about Smit.
I will never disrespect a Bok with a quarter of the caps Smit and Matfield got.
But it was the respect Smit commands with current and former Boks not to mention other internal players that pacified me.
They have spoken so highly of him over many years. If there were problems they would have leaked.
Vic and John – Both wonderful servants of the Boks.
Will speak of them both over beer when I am an old man (assuming I get there)
15 Nov 2011, 12:02 pm
@justrugby(justrugby)-24:
Your manners are superb. Thank your parents for instilling them… No wait, I am sure they conveyed a different set of rules
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