Comments on: Juan working on comeback

By: puff

puff — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:49:33 +0000

Woops – left out Alberts.

By: Skeppie

Skeppie — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:48:40 +0000

@puff-41: And the gives the forwards great balance, can then afford a real fetcher and a more ball orientated no8.

By: puff

puff — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:46:52 +0000

@puff-42: Include Steenkamp, Strauss, Jannie, Rossouw, Bekker, Kolisi, Coetzee in the squad plus Ralepelle, Louw and Kankowski on the fringes... ... and you have a world-beating bunch of forwards right there!

By: puff

puff — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:45:11 +0000

@JA-JA-30: Swap the locks around and I'd buy that for a dollar! Smith, Burger and Bismark - all could and would lead from the front!

By: puff

puff — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:44:18 +0000

@JA-JA-32:

Actually, he’s 1.97 – not 1.96.
Not that I’m looking to quibble over such a small difference.
But it just shows you – he’s taller than both Thorn and Danie Rossouw.
Plus he’s alwaysa been a banker in the lineout.
When he withdrew from participation in the 2011 WC, Jake White stated how much Boks would miss him and how crucial he is to the lineout supremacy of the side – even with Matfield and Botha/Rossouw there.

By: puff

puff — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:42:22 +0000

@mshiniwami-23: Couldn't agree more!

By: Bouts

Bouts — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 07:54:57 +0000

Hmmm… if he can come back in good form, I’d have him as captain rather than Jean who obviously have gone from bad to worse.

I saw him a few weeks ago, and he looks fantastic. Guess we’ll know in Feb whether he should retire.

By: kwas

kwas — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:37:21 +0000

Juan certainly a legend but not in the same mould as Brad Thorn who remained without serious injury for virtually his entire career. Brad was indestructible whilst Juan has been plagued by injury throughout his Bok career. Two very different situations, gents.

By: Jeraldjay

Jeraldjay — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:58:23 +0000

Finally some news on Juan……

At 31 it won’t be easy but his one of the few players that can hit the ground running after a long lay-off.

If the Cheetahs get a decent defensive coach they will have a great 2013 Super Rugby season.

By: kaksioek

kaksioek — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:48:11 +0000

@ JA-JA 30: I think Etsebeth would be the 5 in that lock combination, but otherwise looking good.

By: JA-JA

JA-JA — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:40:03 +0000

@gunther-34: If they will be awesome or not, but they will be amazing.

By: gunther

gunther — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:13:57 +0000

@JA-JA-30: That's a great pack but there are a few ifs and buys there.

By: JA-JA

JA-JA — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:11:39 +0000

@JA-JA-30: That pack will weigh in at about 910kg

By: JA-JA

JA-JA — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:03:55 +0000

Just had a look and Juan Smith is 1cm taller than Brad Thorn and 6 years younger, he can easily captain the Boks to next RWC in 2015.

Now I hope more than ever he makes a return to form and I’m sure he will.

By: goforthegap00

goforthegap00 — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:00:53 +0000

@JA-JA-30: great pack there

By: JA-JA

JA-JA — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:26:27 +0000

@katman-28: I thought he was shorter than that.

It would be nice to see a Bok pack with,

1.Beast
2.Bissie
3.Coenie
4.Etsebeth
5.Juan (C)
6.Brussow
7.Burger
8.Vermeulen

By: Big Hit

Big Hit — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:21:29 +0000

@mshiniwami-23: yeah Smith probably edges it, some great names there. A word too for Gorgodze (Geo), Zanni (Ita), Ferris (Ire), Kaino (NZ) and Fernandez Lobbe (Arg) who played half his test career at blindside.

By: katman

katman — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:37:44 +0000

If his injury has healed properly, I have no doubt he can get back to his peak. I’d also like to see him switch to lock. At 1.96m and 112kg, he’s big enough, and he’s a great line-out option. A lock combo of Etsebeth and Smith would be something to look forward to. And he’d be my pick as captain by a mile.

By: groen

groen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:30:47 +0000

http://youtu.be/X8tu6-GvK2g try vs ireland

By: mshiniwami

mshiniwami — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:59:04 +0000

If Ali Williams can come back and win a wc medal after 2 yrs out with same injury as Juan than surely Smith can do it