Smith to skipper Canes
22 Nov 2011
All Blacks centre Conrad Smith has replaced Andrew Hore as the captain of the Hurricanes.
Smith beat loose forward Victor Vito to the post, but coach Mark Hammett explained that Vito will still have a job to do in terms of leadership.
‘Conrad is a strong and confident leader,’ said Hammett. ‘I know he is really looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead. We will have a leadership group that will be there to work with him and take this team to the next level and into the future.
‘We see Victor as a leader and when I spoke to him I told him he is still one of our captains in this team, but in terms of leading the campaign and the media side of it Conrad will be that person for a combination of reasons.’
Smith has been on leave since the All Blacks won the World Cup last month and will only be available to the Wellington franchise in February. The Canes will play their first pre-season match against the Blues on 4 February.
34 Comments
22 Nov 2011, 10:04 am
Good Dragon.
22 Nov 2011, 10:06 am
Also now a WC Dragon?
22 Nov 2011, 10:20 am
Always rated this guy… one of the more intelligent centers in rugby…
I really couldn’t believe it when GH dropped him to try out SonnyWilliamWilliams…
22 Nov 2011, 10:23 am
BEST 13 IN THE WORLD
22 Nov 2011, 10:26 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-4: there is no way he is better than jaque fourie.
sorry buddy.
22 Nov 2011, 10:37 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-5:
Your opinion as was Transformations, but of course you understand, i agree with
Trans
22 Nov 2011, 10:54 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-6:
jaque would moer him in a ring, six love..
22 Nov 2011, 11:20 am
Conrad is are like a hurricane
There’s calm in his eye.
22 Nov 2011, 11:54 am
Conrad Smith has been the best 13 for the best part of 2-3 seasons.Best on the planet.Top class both on defense,on the ground competing for turnovers,on attack-pretty much everything. Jaque Fourie is gargantuan on defense but his attack has floundered in recent years(lost a yard or 2).As a complete midfielder & rugby player-Smith is the best.
Smith may not be the quintessential example(aesthetically) of the modern day midfield like the “Thor-esque” Fouire BUT only results and impact ON THE PITCH…Smith is the business.They have tried to displace him with flavours of the in Williams,Kahui,Laulala,Ranger,Stanley and most recently talking up Freaun..but ALL have failed.He even forced Nonu on onto the wing in mid 2000′s then to inside centre when he was the next BIG THING at 13….Smith is a footballer through and through.
22 Nov 2011, 15:36 pm
mshiniwami,
well said.
22 Nov 2011, 15:37 pm
by the way, the chiefs will field a centre combo of kahui and SBW. explosive!
22 Nov 2011, 15:44 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-9: slam dunk!
@rangerman(rangerman)-5: what mshini said
thatha udle, usuthe 
22 Nov 2011, 16:02 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-9: I personally think Fourie but i think in the future Freuen will be one to watch …. Cant wait to see Freuen for the Baa Baas on Sat
22 Nov 2011, 16:04 pm
@viewer(viewer)-11: Going to be a sight to see – expect great things from the Cheifs this season
22 Nov 2011, 16:39 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-12: @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-9:
Hard to argue against the stats.
Mshini, how can you say that Smith is a better attacking 13?!
Fourie has scored 32 tries in 69 tests in a side renowned for their kick chase game plan. 3rd most in Bok HISTORY!
Smith has scored 21 in 55 tests in a side that has won 90% of the games he’s played in.
Fouries attacking ability is second to none. Im talking about speed, strength and running lines(try against BIL comes to mind.)
I’m sorry but both of you are talking a load of k ak.
22 Nov 2011, 16:51 pm
Smith, as brilliant as he is… comes across as too much of a door-mouse to be a captain and only IMO seems to be a bit ‘thuck’… not sure he’s captain material at all…
22 Nov 2011, 16:59 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-15: pipe down johnny boy, how many tries have the wings outside fourie scored? he is selfish and has an errant pass hence his proclivity to go in his own.
smith is a team player, he makes those around him flourish.
22 Nov 2011, 17:00 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-16: “thuck”, a practising lawyer?
does vickerman not look “thuck” to you?
22 Nov 2011, 17:03 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-15:
Where did I mention he is a better “kicking 13″ anywhere in my posts? you are reaching for things that arent even there.
Secondly Fourie’s strike rate is very good as you mention but his outside backs are often curtailed in scoring tries as he is a BALL HOG. A modern day 13 is not only a strike runner but also there to facilitate and set up outside backs into spce…we all know how starved of ball JP & Habana have been for years now outside Fourie,,,Even the Stormers & Lions suffered the same fate in try scoring charts…Common denominator? You figure it out.
By the way Smith’s 21 tries in 55 tests is pretty comparible to Fourie;s 32 in 69 if you look at the ratio….One thing about Fourie is that he is a very good finisher,but so is Conrad..But have a look at the outside backs at AB’s & Hurricanes…look at their try scoring stats outside Smith….Again figure it out…
Using stats goes both ways mate.
Jaque Fourie has a better try scoring ratio than Frank Bunce(20 tries in 55 tests)…Would you say Fourie is better than Bunce??
Will await your answer
22 Nov 2011, 17:05 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-19: @John Galt(John Galt)-15:
my bad John Galt read it wrong on “kicking 13″,it is “attacking 13″.
22 Nov 2011, 17:26 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-18:
Jannie Du Plessis is a doctor… I could rattle off scores of degree’d and in Vickerman’s case double-degreed rugby union players… so what’s your point?
I don’t think Conrad has the commanding presence to be a captain (he’ll struggle with that trait in his profession too)… despite being the best in his position in NZ…
Methinks it’s more a case of there being not many senior candidates left at the Canes… much like the Bulls with Spies and ‘shock horror’ WO…
22 Nov 2011, 17:29 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-21:
And the fact he doubled for Rodders for a short stint in a few seasons back…
22 Nov 2011, 21:33 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-21:
Conrad has been given a tough assignment, the Hurricanes are being touted as wooden spooners. He makes sense when interviewed and comes across as a likeable man. If he can stay injury free and play his usual smart rugby, he can lead by example and be a good captain of a losing team coached by an idiot.
22 Nov 2011, 21:38 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-15:
i like smith. he’s got an awesome work rate and a very low error rate. conrad is the openside of the back line. his attack is good and links well with other players and makes those around him look good. the thing i enjoy bout smith is that even when he doesnt have the ball he’s making things happen, turn overs, being in the right position to foil opposition attack.
jaque fourie would be the best if you were talking about a traditional centre. big strong fast and a rock on defense. 2009 i thought was jaques best year. even though the AB’s dominated the 3N (2008 boks owned the AB’s ,wobblies and world rugby) jaque never stopped attacking and continuosly put in big tackles ,folied many AB’s tries as well as putting in some awesome try saving tackles. he’s a work horse and one can never question how much heart he has. however he doesnt go looking for work , fastidiously sticks to his postional play and he doesnt off load a helluva lot meaning his outsides dont get anywhere near as much opportunities.
i’d have to lean towards smith . a skinny little nerdy white guy playing at this level and taking on opposites almost always bigger and stronger than him yet he not only holds his own but also dominates he epitomises the adage “brains will always beat brawn”
always over looked by the general public as his contibutions arent always obvious, but like a tight 5 forward he’s there doing the less flamboyant dirty work .not surprised that the general public doesnt appreciate what he has to offer as its all the little things he does and does well that makes him the invaluable player he is. not a glory hound just a work horse
22 Nov 2011, 21:43 pm
conrads also redifined 13 in NZ. in the past we’ve always thought of 13 as the big burly player (nonu, bunce, jaqueFourie, joeStanley) and the 12 would be similar but with a kicking game.
conrad came into the superRugby scene and said “nah I’m a 13″. Nonu got moved to the wing and then 12 despite not having a traditonals 12′s kicking game.
bigger stronger faster centres have tried and failed to grab conrads jersey but he’s said nothing about it and just got on with his job.
23 Nov 2011, 04:41 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-17:
lol
nice comeback and alot of truth in it.
Why have wingers like what SA have and not use them?
Maybe John Galt can answer this seen as the rest dont know what they are talking about…… John take it away.
23 Nov 2011, 07:51 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-18:
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-26:
to be fair…
bryan habana scored a record equalling number of tries during a world cup in 2007… equalling the mighty jonah lomu… on 8…
while playing outside the “selfish” jaque fourie with his “errant pass” and “proclivity to go in his own”.
i always find it very interesting how so many posters… in an attempt to ‘prove’ their favorite player is the best in his position… have to completely trash the other player and completely ignore any and all positive attributes of the other player…!!??
just keepin it real
as i said at the top of the thread… i’ve always rated smith… and jaque fourie has been a consistently outstanding player for a good number of years now…
they’re both great and either could outplay the other on any given day… however… IMO… both will outplay just about every other number 13 on any given day…
no need to trash either…
23 Nov 2011, 08:00 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-19: I really dont know how you can blame the lack of ball to the Bok wings solely on JF shoulders….. “Crash ball , one dimensional “JDV must also take some of the blame and “kick it into the blue yonder and hope” Morne Steyn has not helped the cause of running rugby.
I do think with the return of Frans to 12 you will see better distribution and see JF passing more often – but credit must be given to JF on his finishing abilities , once he has that try line in sight he is unstoppable .
23 Nov 2011, 08:24 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-17: @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-19: @Hurricane(Hurricane)-26:
You’ll notice i wasnt actually stating who was the better allround 13. Or indeed who is the best 13 in the history of the game. Ever.
I was rebutting Mshini and Trans’ posts where they completely wrote him off as an attacking player.
I provided stats to prove that he actually does know where the try line is and has scored some unbelievable trys for SA.
In this instance I have no idea how many trys coulda, woulda, shoulda been scored if he had passed as there are no stats to prove that had he passed, the player on his outside would definitely have scored. Thats a matter of absolute conjecture.
I am merely quoting the official stats to prove that the oke is as much of an attacking force as Smith is.
23 Nov 2011, 08:28 am
@stew(stew)-28:
Absolutely correct.
For JF to have scored 32 try’s as a 13 in a skop en jag game plan, he must have something special on attack.
23 Nov 2011, 09:08 am
@Upho(ufo)-27: where you lose yourself is when you think i am “thrashing” mossie when i am ONLY pointing out what I, Transformation perceive as flaws in his game.
how else am i supposed to make my point to john galt if i can’t substantiate and back my opinion with points that he can either agree with or refute?
if you feel any of my point re mossie’s game are shaky, then dispute them. your noncommittal stance is neither virtuous nor necessary and is thus wasted in this discussion.
i like mossie, he has been on top of his game for a while now and i won’t thrash him but this is not an exercise in being vague but one on what we’ve personally observed re the two players.
so shelve the feigned indignation
23 Nov 2011, 09:11 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-29: “completely wrote him off”??
whoa!!!!!! wait a sec buddy, at no point did i write off fourie. he is the BEST 13 in SA and i acknowledge that, i fail to see where i “completely wrote him off as an attacking player”.
23 Nov 2011, 10:20 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-31:
hehehe
interesting reaction…
it’s all a question of balance…
all i’m saying is give credit where it’s due… you only have negative things to say about JF… how about acknowledging what he does well… ? instead of just listing his negative points as you see them…
i’m not trying to be virtuous and if you believe it’s not necessary to be fair and balanced… well… of course that’s your prerogative…
as it remains my prerogative to point out when i think someone is being unfair…
as for feigned indignation…? well…
23 Nov 2011, 10:54 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-31:
“if you feel any of my point re mossie’s game are shaky, then dispute them. your noncommittal stance is neither virtuous nor necessary and is thus wasted in this discussion.”
I did dispute your point quite unequivocally by answering your question
“how many tries have the wings outside fourie scored?”
by pointing out that bryan habana scored a world record equaling 8 tries for a world cup tournament… while playing outside jaque fourie…?
instead of responding to my counter-point you tried to deflect attention away from the point by suggesting my post was vague and had no merit and was “wasted in this discussion”…
but yes… you are right… it is wasted discussion if you simply ignore any points that counter yours…
noted…
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