John Smit is world's best hooker

[Rhyer]

Smit is actually a really good player and it isn't his fault why the the Boks are failing. The South African forwards have dominated consistently the past few years it's just the backs aren't firing. I would tend to agree that over the last few years John Smit has been the best hooker. I also think S.Moore A.Hore and BdP are up there in the top 5 but Smit has won a world cup and has lead his team admirably.

 

[JW.]

I could name 10-15 hookers that I'd rather have on the pitch than J.Smit. He just doesn't cut it anymore at international level. Good on him that he wants to go on, but he should've never been picked.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Smit is actually a really good player and it isn't his fault why the the Boks are failing. The South African forwards have dominated consistently the past few years it's just the backs aren't firing. I would tend to agree that over the last few years John Smit has been the best hooker. I also think S.Moore A.Hore and BdP are up there in the top 5 but Smit has won a world cup and has lead his team admirably.

Sean Fitzpatrick won a World Cup as well but I wouldn't pick him over Mealamu or Hore today

 

[Rhyer]

Sean Fitzpatrick won a World Cup as well but I wouldn't pick him over Mealamu or Hore today

You're foolish then, Fitzpatrick was far better than what Mealamu and Hore are today.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I am not talking about how good he was, I am talking about how good he might be today.

You say John Smit has won the World Cup, giving that as a reason to pick him. He is not the player he was in 2007. He wasn't even the best prop when he shifted.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I am not talking about how good he was, I am talking about how good he might be today.

Sums it up well!


Smit used to be good - now he's past it, and it's almost painful to see him continuously picked over BdP

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Bismarck Du Plessis is the best hooker in the world, I named my puppy after him. I'd be happy if Bismarck came to the Reds. I'd probably shoot myself if they bought John Smit -_-

 

[duncanb]

In his day Smit probably was best hooker around(4yrs ago) today Bismark and Schalk are better players for SA alone let alone others you could pick. PDV picks him I can only assume as his favorite option as captain.
Maybe abit like MJ with Moody and Tindall when probably better option as players but he doesn't fancy anyone else as captain.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

today's John Smit looks easily distracted by a meat pie or custard tart

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Normally I never think this way, but I really hope Smit twists his ankle before the first match which takes 2 months to recover from

My thoughts a well, I'm half ashamed to say. I'd have had more respect for Smit if he'd had stepped down and said he's not the bestas he obviously isn't. Nevermind Du Plessis, there's 3 other hookers I'd pick ahead of him in SA and Brits as well.

 

[psychic duck]

This John Smit is a "good leader" of the team is nonsense, every team should select their best players

Nelson Mandela is a "good leader" should he be expecting a call up to the Bok pack?

Smit really should have done the right thing and stepped down from the captaincy a couple of years ago, and if his form recovered and he got back in the side then good on him, but now he's just a complete and utter joke, Ralepelle, Strauss, Bismarck, Brits, Gary Botha and Maku all have decent claims of being far better

and also Smit can at least try and stay fit ... (Smit 2007 on the left, and 2011 on the right)

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Ahhhhhh somebody ate john smit!!!!!

 

[Seaton]

This John Smit is a "good leader" of the team is nonsense, every team should select their best players
Smit really should have done the right thing and stepped down from the captaincy a couple of years ago

Remember, he left for Cleremont fully expecting his Bok career to be over, however he got the call from PDivvy asking him to come back to captain the Boks.

 

[BladeMode]

I do think that John is chosen from an experience and psychological point of view, and not for his physical contribution to the game. Remember Gary Teichman and when they left him out in the previous world cup after arguably one of the best periods in SA rugby. Even though he was not the best player in that position, his leadership qualities was sorely missed. I dont think they will play John for longer than 20 minutes a game, but merely having him around to organise the troops, will be essential me thinks.


Maybe a good solution would be to appoint John as the coach of the team. He knows how to win a world cup. He also has awesome leaders in his ranks but none as good as him. I think the players respect and follow him the way any employee follows a good Manager regardless of his technical competence.

 

[Sker]

I don't agree. We need a brand spanking new coach and leadership. Look how horrible we were in 2003, we need someone to come and cut out all the dead wood and bring in the next generation of boks. Sure we're going to need some of the more senior players, but let's pick the senior players that are on form.

 

[Seaton]

Many of the senior players are going to be culling themselves, either off to Frogland/ Japan or retiring, I don't think Bok supporters should be worried about dead wood being retained

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

So far it's been verified these players won't be available for Bok duty after the RWC due to moving overseas/retiring:

- John Smit (Bismarck du Plessis)
- Gürthro Steenkamp (Tendai Mtawarira)
- Victor Matfield (Andries Bekker)
- Bakkies Botha (Flip van der Merwe)
- Danie Rossouw (Duane Vermeulen)
- Fourie du Preez (Francois Hougaard)


Between brackets the players who should replace them

 

[187]

P Divvy is the biggest moron in Rugby since... ehm.... since... I don't know. He is the biggest moron in Rugby ever!

Since Murray Mexted!!

 

[Deadmonton]

If Smit is actually the best leader they have then his selection can be justified. It's hard to lead a team off the bench. In my mind if Smit's leadership is strong enough then it's better to have him, even if he isn't the best hooker.

 

[Jansi_555]

This John Smit is a "good leader" of the team is nonsense, every team should select their best players

Nelson Mandela is a "good leader" should he be expecting a call up to the Bok pack?

Smit really should have done the right thing and stepped down from the captaincy a couple of years ago, and if his form recovered and he got back in the side then good on him, but now he's just a complete and utter joke, Ralepelle, Strauss, Bismarck, Brits, Gary Botha and Maku all have decent claims of being far better

and also Smit can at least try and stay fit ... (Smit 2007 on the left, and 2011 on the right)

I have to defend Smit here. In 2007 he was ONLY playing hooker. Later he was however tried on prop, that is why he looks a bit better looked after. I remember P Divvy saying that John is going to soften up for prop. . . Although he is a bit more lovable these days, I still think he is fit, and I believe he will have what it takes to play 50min games and bring the ***le back. . .