Smit backs Burger for Bok captaincy
10 Jan 2012
John Smit says Schalk Burger should be the next Springbok captain.
Smit, who led the Boks in 83 Tests, said discussions about his successor date back to 2008. Smit, now with Saracens, claimed Burger ticked all the boxes to fill the void left after his retirement from Test rugby.
‘There might be a young player who performs well and is awarded the captaincy, but my money is on Schalk,’ Smit, speaking at the official opening of the Saracens Field of Dreams in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch, said.
‘He has the most experience and is the one who commands the most respect among the Boks. It will be the smoothest transition.He is a hard worker, tough as nails and he understands people.’
Keo.co.za understands that former Springbok forward coach Gert Smal is favourite to be named head coach. In this event, there is a strong possibility that Burger will be named captain. Smal coached the flanker with Western Province and the Stormers and has regularly spoken of his admiration for him as a player and leader.
The decision on the coach will be announced on 27 January, but Smit refused to be drawn on the issue. ‘I’m sure the decision has been made already,’ he said. ‘The South African Rugby Union [Saru] were smart in not making the announcement yet as they have been criticised for impulsive decisions in the past.’
He did, however, offer that the vision of the next man in charge would be decisive in the appointment of the captain. ‘It depends on the sort of leader he wants,’ Smit said. ‘He may want to do something different with the Boks.’
212 Comments
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10 Jan 2012, 20:51 pm
@ashampoopaloo-196: howzit Skop/G10. All the best boys. Time we met for another soda at Forries hey what? Rassie, Rassie, Rassie, what gives? England?
10 Jan 2012, 20:58 pm
@JohnPaul-199: well JP you have a point. But so in a way doth Skop. Burger did gift that try but **** happens. Brussouw’s early injury and ultimate exit caused huge problems, all not helped by an abysmal and inept match officials’ performance. All the Kiwis I spoke to(and that be many) agreed. BUT we lost. That’s what the record says.
10 Jan 2012, 21:13 pm
@TASSIES-202: yeah bryce had a terrible game, but at least he was consistently bad for both sides.
isnt it good that the boks didnt win the WC? can u imagine another 4 years with PDV at the helm?
10 Jan 2012, 21:31 pm
@man1a-203: well I hadn’t considered that risk. When the Boks play I want them to win. Regardless(of the consequences).
10 Jan 2012, 22:07 pm
@TASSIES-204: yeah was a bummer really. but could’ve been worse.
i blame the boks senior players for taking over the running of the team. PDV tried to introduce expansive rugby but was railroaded by the seniors which effectively stopped any new talent or ideas being introduced.
come WC time it was the same old boks with the same old gameplan. a gameplan that had effectively been countered in 2010 (after boks dominated 2009). it would’ve been nice to see what PDV would’ve introduced. i dont think PDV’s a great coach but he might’ve offered something new.
SA will always have the players to field a world class side but they havent done any evolving in the past 8 years.
11 Jan 2012, 02:07 am
@nama1-192:
A wistful thinking?
But don’t bet your house and the family’s bonds on it
11 Jan 2012, 03:55 am
To all those ostriches who think that Smit, Matfield, du Preez, etc.cost us the world cup, the responsibility lies squarely with the coach whose team selections were woeful, whose strategies were outdated and whose innovation was non-existent. Any coach with one, let alone two ballas,and any understanding of how the game is being played would haved done what every rugby fan in the country could see was required,picked the team on form and adapted our play to the new realities.
11 Jan 2012, 07:46 am
@stormer in a teacup-207: agreed
11 Jan 2012, 13:31 pm
Amen! The only thing that would make Burger a more complete leader is if he applied his trade in Pretoria!
11 Jan 2012, 23:57 pm
@stormer in a teacup-207: so the senior players throwing out PdV’s play book and going back to the kicking game had nothing to do with it?
12 Jan 2012, 02:43 am
@stormer in a teacup-207: Agreed. If you have the right selections you CAN win a rigged RWC.
12 Jan 2012, 03:12 am
@j59-211: rigged? lol u so funny
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