P Divvy: John Smit offers something different

[TRF_Ezequiel]

PdV defends selection policy

Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis provides something different to the other two line-out throwers in the squad, head coach Peter de Villiers said on Monday.

Du Plessis started off the bench in South Africa's 17-16 win over Wales in their World Cup opener on Sunday.

De Villiers, however, said his solid performance had not earned Du Plessis a place in the starting line-up, with John Smit and Chiliboy Ralepelle providing something different.

All the players in his squad, De Villiers said, were expected to know their roles, and would be used accordingly.

"If you look how comfortable Wales was against that starting line-up, and when we brought up that bench, what a hell of a difference they made," said De Villiers.

"I think that is the way to go, if you can have something up your sleeve.

"If you don't have that you become as ordinary as anyone else."

The debate around the inclusion of South Africa's long serving captain, Smit, ahead of Du Plessis, had been taxing for the Bok coach in the build-up to the tournament.

Smit repeatedly stated he did not select himself while his form ahead of the global showpiece was not that far off the pace either.

With a horses for courses strategy seemingly providing the way forward, De Villiers said disrupting the team structure could count against the World Cup ***le holders in the long run.

With Jean de Villiers (rib) and Victor Matfield (hamstring) added to the Bok injury list during Sunday's bruising encounter, De Villiers said they had been rewarded by consistency in their planning.

"I think the one thing that we need to take credit for as a South African team is that we lost the two best leaders that we have in our country, and we still managed to pull it through when it mattered," he said.

"At this moment we look at the cohesion of the team, what everybody can bring to it, and what we need to understand from our opponents.

"We look at it holistically and then we make our decisions there, because definitely there are some attributes that Bizzy (Du Plessis) has that John doesn't have, and there are some that Chilli (Ralepelle) has that the other two don't have."

After snatching a late win in their opening match, De Villiers reiterated that the Boks faced a tough pool in qualifying for the playoffs.

"Some people think New Zealand is the team to beat here," he said.

"We think that to get there first is one hell of a job before we can think of beating the best in the world.

"For us to be undercooked we will let 50 million people down and we will let ourselves down."

http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7173334,00.html


Well, normally I bash P Divvy, but he does have a point by saying John Smit brings something different compared to Bismarck... He doesn't say if it's positive or negative though

 

[Nicolaas]

well there's absolutely nothing chilliboy has that bismarck doesnt have (mayb fractionally more pace) and how can he say that bismarck didnt earn his place in the starting line up? does he mean he is better as an impact player or does he think smit is still "the best hooker in world rugby"? probably the latter...

 

[JW.]

This has to be the most ridiculious selection process I have ever seen. And how can he just sit there and say stuff like that, just say he needs J.smit on there for leadership don't say someone doesn't deserve to be there when he does. If Bismarck was anything other than a patriot he must've thought **ck this asshole im gone. Smit did absolutely nothing last match as he has been doing nothing in a match for the last year, how can you still select this guy over someone who IMO is the best hooker in the world easily.

 

[Jer1cho]

This has to be the most ridiculious selection process I have ever seen. And how can he just sit there and say stuff like that, just say he needs J.smit on there for leadership don't say someone doesn't deserve to be there when he does. If Bismarck was anything other than a patriot he must've thought **ck this asshole im gone. Smit did absolutely nothing last match as he has been doing nothing in a match for the last year, how can you still select this guy over someone who IMO is the best hooker in the world easily.

That's SA rugby for you. Everyone gets picked on reputation. Willem Alberts burst onto the international scene last year, with a phenomenal EOYT. He is, in my opinion, the best crash running loose forward on the planet. What happens? Show pony Spies keeps startiong, over, and over, and over, and over. Why? Because the coach is retarded.

Patrick Lambie is the future of SA rugby at 10. What happens? He plays 12, then 15, then 10, then 15 again, then he sits on the bench for all eternity. Why? Because Morne Steyn has a reputation, and the coach is retarded.

Bryan Hasbeena has been **** for the last 3 years. But the coach picks him over, and over, and over. Francois Hougaard is an amazingly talented player, and scores the winning try against Wales... but no... Habana is Habana.

I can go on and on and on. Jean de Villiers is dead weight, but Juan de Jongh is refused an opportunity. JP Peterson... What the hell is he even doing in the Bok team after being injured forever? Gio Aplon provides so much more attacking power than Peterson. I won't even get started on Fourie du ****.



No country, and I mean NO COUNTRY has to deal with the same **** that we have to deal with. Do you have any idea how these kinds of things affect the players? Or how the media backlashes affect them? It's like a slow poison in our team. This is another reason why I am so ****** off about everyone trying to make us feel bad about the Wales game. Give us some goddamn credit, because our team runs on autopilot, and has to deal with far more **** than your teams will ever have to deal with.

 

[UilamOsa]

That's SA rugby for you. Everyone gets picked on reputation. Willem Alberts burst onto the international scene last year, with a phenomenal EOYT. He is, in my opinion, the best crash running loose forward on the planet. What happens? Show pony Spies keeps startiong, over, and over, and over, and over. Why? Because the coach is retarded.

Patrick Lambie is the future of SA rugby at 10. What happens? He plays 12, then 15, then 10, then 15 again, then he sits on the bench for all eternity. Why? Because Morne Steyn has a reputation, and the coach is retarded.

Bryan Hasbeena has been **** for the last 3 years. But the coach picks him over, and over, and over. Francois Hougaard is an amazingly talented player, and scores the winning try against Wales... but no... Habana is Habana.

I can go on and on and on. Jean de Villiers is dead weight, but Juan de Jongh is refused an opportunity. JP Peterson... What the hell is he even doing in the Bok team after being injured forever? Gio Aplon provides so much more attacking power than Peterson. I won't even get started on Fourie du ****.

No country, and I mean NO COUNTRY has to deal with the same **** that we have to deal with. Do you have any idea how these kinds of things affect the players? Or how the media backlashes affect them? It's like a slow poison in our team. This is another reason why I am so ****** off about everyone trying to make us feel bad about the Wales game. Give us some goddamn credit, because our team runs on autopilot, and has to deal with far more **** than your teams will ever have to deal with.

Actually the lower tier teams have it worse.

You have fully professional players and most players would rather be a South Africa at world cup than a Canada/USA/Russia/Romania and the other bottom teams.

You get the credit you deserve - You're World Cup Champions twice over despite the political/racial/cultural issues, but you still play sh*t rugby despite the talent you have.

Just get down on your knees, wear your little bokke pyjamas and pray to the Rugby Gods that either the Samoans or the Fijiians answer yours (and most of us rugby fans) and injure Smit so we can Du Plesis to play.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

LOL. Is he really saying that having the better players on the bench is the way to go to 'have something up your sleeve.. otherwise you're just ordinary!?!Why not have that 'impact' from the start? Or are our players not fit enough? Damn, I can't wait for someone remotely competent to take over.

 

[Jer1cho]

You get the credit you deserve - You're World Cup Champions twice over despite the political/racial/cultural issues, but you still play sh*t rugby despite the talent you have.

Wow, really? That sure is the credit we deserve. Like you said.

 

[nickdnz]

And by something different, does he mean John Smit can cook better? Knows origami? Can remember all the words to Billy Joel's We Didn't Start The Fire? Cause I know that he doesn't have the same work-rate and defense. People say "But remember, he's a great captain", well guess what, so is Tana Umaga, doesn't mean I think he should be our starting inside centre.

You get the credit you deserve - You're World Cup Champions twice over despite the political/racial/cultural issues, but you still play sh*t rugby despite the talent you have.

...brillaint.

 

[Jer1cho]

...brillaint.

Wait till you see how brilliant his comments are when we score 6 tries against his team. *Gulp*

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Stirling Mortlock is also a good captain, but isn't in the side either... Elsom was replaced by Horwill as a new captain right before the World Cup... Why can't this happen in South Africa?

 

[Seaton]

No country, and I mean NO COUNTRY has to deal with the same **** that we have to deal with. Do you have any idea how these kinds of things affect the players? Give us some goddamn credit, because our team runs on autopilot, and has to deal with far more **** than your teams will ever have to deal with.

That is most certainly debateable. Fijian rugby has had a pretty torrid time of late for starters, most of it none of their own doing as well.

 

[Deadmonton]

P. Divot is right. Smit does offer something Bismarck doesn't: 30 pounds of fat. I almost want the Boks to get massacred so that the coaching staff can get an overhaul.

 

[j'nuh]

No country, and I mean NO COUNTRY has to deal with the same **** that we have to deal with.

Lol. We played Andy freakin' Goode for 17 tests. Some of England's recent six nations attempts make me laugh over our dismal selection policy.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Andy Goode... What's in a name? He played for the Sharks, offering nothing!!!!

 

[TRF_heineken]

You know, after seeing John Smit starting against Fiji for this weekend's match I've been thinking.

Maybe Rassie has an even better plan that PDV... By starting John now in every game of the pool, chances are there that he might pick up an injury and then we'll be rid of him come playoffs!!

Everybody wins!!

 

[j'nuh]

Haha. You know that you've become bitterly disappointed in your coach's selection policies when you wait in hope that one of your players gets injured...

Doesn't John Smit also play prop? Can't you ship him out there, bring in Bismarck, then job's a good un? Or is that a disaster waiting to happen?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He's a worse prop than he is hooker

 

[Sker]

You poor Saracens ********.