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
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 » Show All
10 Jan 2012, 10:53 am
pity Luke not playing superrugby…..
he may have been a great cappie if he could get back to top form
10 Jan 2012, 10:53 am
@Mr Black-42: That sounds good, and should bring the Sharks haters out in full force
10 Jan 2012, 10:57 am
@grant10-51: I doubt very much he is respected by his peers after the comment about wanting to puke on the Springbok jersey and it would be very hypercritical on his part if that were to happen. One minute koching and the next minute leading in the jersey that mad him so ill.
10 Jan 2012, 10:57 am
@Mr Black-48: haha, mr slick?
he wishes.
@grant10-51: he is not playing because he is fatter than ricky.
funny thing is that he sharks could have asked for him on loan but i suspect they would rather put big ears back on the field.
anyway, daddys making sure his lack of big time rugby doesnt hit the bak account too hard by all accounts.
10 Jan 2012, 10:59 am
a luke ust just sommer prove everyone wrong b playing outstanding rugga and geting offers from all and sundry.
good luck to the lad.
10 Jan 2012, 11:00 am
@stormersboy-41:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brcvS87dUnI
Youd like this guy as your number one 8thman. A lock shouldnt wonder around in the backline. Id rather have Juan at lock.
10 Jan 2012, 11:01 am
@grant10-51:
hahaha!
why has no one offered him a contract?
10 Jan 2012, 11:03 am
@Treehugger-53:
Agree, Luke is a Cancer in any team environment. He is old news anyway.
10 Jan 2012, 11:06 am
@grant10-51: now there’s a turbo reverse of a career.
10 Jan 2012, 11:12 am
@Mr Black-58:
He didn’t seem to have that effect at Bath.
10 Jan 2012, 11:13 am
life has many twists and turns
very few things are definite.
I suggest the next couple of weeks may have a few interesting twists still
10 Jan 2012, 11:21 am
@grant10-61: We still have to hear where Fransie Steyn is going…….
10 Jan 2012, 11:23 am
“‘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.’”
…and in 2015 he’ll be over the hill but still command a place in the Bok side for the RWC because he is the captain or will the new coach have more ballas than PdV and drop him in two years time if he cannot make the side on playing ability alone?
Njaa, look at somebody else to captain the side.
10 Jan 2012, 11:25 am
@grant10-61:
Do you also write for the daytime soapies?
10 Jan 2012, 11:26 am
@nama1-63: there is no player that can be guaranteed to make the side in 2 years time.
10 Jan 2012, 11:30 am
@David-64:
like sands through the hour glass…
10 Jan 2012, 11:30 am
I don’t think Schalk should be Stormers captain and I say this as a Stormers fan.
Look up “Brain Explosion” in the dictionary and you’ll find a picture of Schalk there.
10 Jan 2012, 11:31 am
A happy 2012 for all of you. May you dreams come true and may you teams win some trophies.
We’ll (Stormers) wiil probably at least win the Plascon Velvet Cup.
A belated happy birthday to you, Puma. Hope you had a good birthday and a wonderful festive season.
Getting closer to the 60′s are we, Puma?
10 Jan 2012, 11:32 am
@David-60:
He did every where else, so lets call that an exception to the rule.
10 Jan 2012, 11:32 am
Schalk Burger was one of the best Boks at the RWC so logical choice, J Smith is a bit too quiet!! It’s a shame Burger wasn’t captian for the RWC with BIssie playing!! The Boks missed a great chance of making history!!
10 Jan 2012, 11:34 am
Jeez – Willem Alberts was twice the player Spies was at the RWC. Things have got to change his year for the Boks!!
10 Jan 2012, 11:41 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-66:
Exactly.
@Mr Black-69:
His only problem was his political stance, which would be considered quite normal outside SA.
10 Jan 2012, 12:12 pm
@stormersboy-62: yes
hope we get some decent news
it is overdue
10 Jan 2012, 12:14 pm
@David-64: lol
days of our lives
10 Jan 2012, 12:21 pm
was banging a Saffa air hostess a few years back and she told me Burger tried to pick her up in a Cape Town bar one night, said he was as thick as two planks, her words not mine
10 Jan 2012, 12:22 pm
@trupisero-65:
The new coach will identify a group of core players that he would build his team around. That is the way most coaches do it. JW did it, PdV did it, Deans did it, Henry did it and the new coach will do it as well. Amongst these group of core players will be the captain.
Changes may take place outside of this group over the next 2 – 4 years but it will only be because of injuries that a coach will drop his preferred player/s. See Juan Smith and Bakkies (injured)…. Habana, Smit, FdP (lack of form).
So if Schalk is appointed as captain, he may well find him in the same position 2015 that JS found him in this year. Not being able to deliver on the field the way he used to but still making the side because he is the captain and at the same time keeping a better player on the bench.
Some players that can be guaranteed a place in the Bok side for the next two years (at least), barring injuries will most probably include:
Beast
Bismarck
Andries Bekker
Heinrich Brussow
Burger
Hougaardt
Just my opinion of cause.
10 Jan 2012, 12:32 pm
@NZINCHINA-75:
Most of the SAA hostesses are actually men.
10 Jan 2012, 12:36 pm
@nama1-76:
I’d add FS to that list if he’s back in SA. More realistically, though, I think JdeV will also be retained as a senior amongst the backs.
10 Jan 2012, 12:36 pm
@NZINCHINA-75: Yeah right. More like you were thinking of the Saffa hostess as you were rubbing one out in the cattle class toilet at 30 000 feet. The singles mile high club.
10 Jan 2012, 12:38 pm
@nama1-76: I’d agree with that…glad you don’t have Spies in that group!
10 Jan 2012, 12:41 pm
@Mr Black-48: we should have another “fae to face” meeting soon so you can assess how slick i am now
10 Jan 2012, 12:42 pm
@trupisero-80: If Burger is thick then Spies doesn’t know he is alive
10 Jan 2012, 12:42 pm
@rangerman-54: don’t hate, congratulate son
10 Jan 2012, 12:45 pm
@NZINCHINA-75: pathetic…now you have even copied Fern hahahaha
10 Jan 2012, 12:45 pm
@>^..^< katman-79:
he sounds like a guy who’s done a whole lot of masturbating in his life.
could he ever bang babes.
10 Jan 2012, 12:46 pm
@Jeez-39:
Rather give Juan the role that Andre Venter/Danie played…a reserve spot where he covers for the 5/7 positions.
Groom a younger lock with Bekker to get him ready for 2015. Juan has no chance in hell to last until then.Doubt if he will last this season. Just too many serious injuries the last few years and with his age being in the 30′s already…
Mosterd did OK during the 3N this year. Maybe with more chances, he can do even better.
10 Jan 2012, 12:48 pm
@NZINCHINA-75: according to bryce_@nama1-63: according to bryce_in_oz schalk is this uber genius who aced his matric with distinctions and cummed his viticulture degree, is minting it playing rugby and stands to inherit a wine farm.
but you’ll have to believe bryce_in_oz though.
10 Jan 2012, 12:55 pm
@rangerman-55: The Sharks have suffered a serious injury setback ahead of the 2012 Super Rugby season with the news that Conrad Hoffmann has torn a pectoral muscle.
The former WP utility halfback has suffered from numerous disruptive injuries over the course of his career and ended up missing out on the latter half of last year’s campaign thanks to a dislocated elbow. This latest injury will require surgery to correct and could see Hoffmann out for 6 months or more.
With Ross Cronje having left to join the Lions, the Sharks now look to be forced to utilise Fred Michalak as scrumhalf backup to Charl McLeod, with uncapped Cobus Reinach the only other 9 in the squad
10 Jan 2012, 12:57 pm
@David-78:
Yeah, we need one or two more senior back line Boks going forward. I guess his name will come up with that of JPP, Aplon and Lambie. Even though you can’t regard Lambie as a senior yet, he does have the experience of a RWC behind him. Also, his age and versatility will probably count in his favor.
@trupisero-80:
Spies!!!
NEVER!!! NEVER!!! NEVER!!!
Let him captain the Bulls. One of the best jokes coming out of Pretoria.
10 Jan 2012, 12:58 pm
Chilliboy has always been earmarked as the next captain. He would make an ideal candidate and set up the platform for radical change in terms of transformation. But can he set up to the plate and comand a starting position as hooker for the Bulls 2012 campaign. (Bissy “King of Impact” will have to warm the bench again).
The question is, when will the new coach announce his captain. Will it be during the Superugby competition or at the start of the tests against England.
10 Jan 2012, 13:10 pm
NZChina is of course 100% correct.
There are doer’s and thinkers in this world.
And I doer think Schulk is a doer.
Leave the Captaincy to someone less remote.
10 Jan 2012, 13:14 pm
“Smit backs Burger for Bok Captaincy”.
A more appropriate Thread Heading might be:
Lardarse backs The Gouger.
10 Jan 2012, 13:16 pm
Or perhaps.
Barney backs the Rubble.
10 Jan 2012, 13:16 pm
@cane-91: agree
10 Jan 2012, 13:22 pm
All jokes aside……………………………..
“Smit, who led the Boks in 83 Tests…………………………….”
That is an awesome achievement.
Beyond awesome…….
Stellar.
beyond stellar even.
Has any human being on the planet, Captained an International Rugby Team anywhere near this milestone.
10 Jan 2012, 13:23 pm
@cane-92:
the pots are not allowed to comment on the kettles.
we’ve been over this already.
10 Jan 2012, 13:24 pm
@grant10-94:
Thank You Grantie……………
However ………………………..at a rough guess…………………I think you will not agree with my post 95.
8)
10 Jan 2012, 13:25 pm
@Jeraldjay-90:
Chilliboy was overlooked as Bulls captain. Would be surprised if he were to be become captain of the Boks.
Another hooker conundrum looming in the next four years with both Bissie and Chilliboy vying for the position in the Bok team. It would be most interesting to see how Chilliboy goes this season now that he has ended the season without any injuries and with enough time to rest (no EOYT).
I suppose he’ll be the no. 1 hooker at the Bulls with G. Botha gone. That is if the Bulls don’t decide to convert one of their flankers into a hooker and let Chilliboy warm the bench.
Steggies perhaps?
10 Jan 2012, 13:25 pm
1. Burger – Cap
2. Becker – Vice Cap
10 Jan 2012, 13:30 pm
have always been and remain a very big fan of the Incredible Schalk…
IMO… he and Juan Smith are the only two realistic choices as bok captain going forward… would have no prob with Juan being given the nod… but with all his injuries continuity would be a problem…
so my choice would be schalk every time…
the guys who suggest he shouldn’t be in the team, let alone captain it… are simply trying top be controversial for the sake of controversy or are following provincial agendas…
schalk simply commands respect from all players… saffa and foreign… and the only disrespect he gets is from fans… who have never had to face him on a rugby field… and would never have the courage to face him off it and dis him like they do on this blog…
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.