Smit to lead Springboks at World Cup

[TRF_Cymro]

John Smit has been confirmed as captain for South Africa's defence of their Rugby World Cup crown.

The 33-year-old hooker led the Springboks to glory in 2007 and is the most-capped Test captain of all time, but many have questioned his playing credentials given the form of his Sharks team-mate Bismarck du Plessis.

http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/story/139170.html​

 

[JJR]

Smit performed very well in his frist game at 2 this year against the canes; unfortunately i think he has picked up another injury.

My Best Bok 22 for world Cup:

1.Beast
2.John Smit (C)
3.Jannie Du Plessis
4.Bakkies Botha
5.Victor Matfield
6.Heinrich Brussouw
7.Schalk Burger
8.Pierre Spies
9.Fourie Du Preez
10.Morne Steyn
11.Basson/Habana
12.JDV
13.Jaque Fourie
14.JPP
15.Frans Steyn

16.Bismarck
17.Brian Mujati
18.Andries Bekker
19.Willem Alberts
20.Francois Hougaard
21.Patrick Lambie
22.Bjorn Basson

Players that could possibly start too-
G. Steenkamp
D. Rossouw

Loose trio combination will change if Juan Smith has recoverd from his achilles injury.

 

[Black Heart]

Any surprises?

 

[SavageLez]

JJR: A great team but Duane Vermuelen deserves a spot. I love Spies but he is outa form. Start with Vermuelen and bring Spies on as an impact player once play opens up in the 2nd half! Otherwise, a great team. Lambie, Hougaard are very versatile, so is Frans Steyn, JdV and Fourie so I would only have 2 backline players on the bench and bring in Duan. This will ensure that we dominate upfront.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I thought Matfield would become captain.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I suspect they might rotate Smit between playing prop and hooker at the WC. Whatever his form he is a class act.

 

[JJR]

JJR: A great team but Duane Vermuelen deserves a spot. I love Spies but he is outa form. Start with Vermuelen and bring Spies on as an impact player once play opens up in the 2nd half! Otherwise, a great team. Lambie, Hougaard are very versatile, so is Frans Steyn, JdV and Fourie so I would only have 2 backline players on the bench and bring in Duan. This will ensure that we dominate upfront.

If we have a 5:2 split i would rather have Rossouw than Duanne. Alberts is actually a number 8. Yes, Duanne played very well against Sharks this past weekend; but he runs very upright and he has shown how inconsistent he can be. Our ball carrying loose forwards. Burger,Smith, Spies, Alberts, Rossouw. Don't need another really.
Deysel is also a better ball carrying loose forward...has the extra weight and gets lower than Duanne; New Zealand pitches will be a bit heavier in when world cup comes around, won't suit Vermeulen or Guys like Kankowski. I do think Elstadt should also be second choice number 4 behind Bakkies...he is the only 4 at the moment that can match his attitude to the game. I am a lot more confident after this last weekend that The Boks will defend their ***le...we will have a seriously physical/big team, great defensively and we will have great kicking halfbacks and fullback...perfect for Knockout rugby. Go Bokke!!!!
Rassie Erasmus will also bring some extra innovation and x-factor to South Africa's Coaching team at the World Cup. Things coming together nicely at the right time.

I suspect they might rotate Smit between playing prop and hooker at the WC. Whatever his form he is a class act.

P.Divvy has said recently he only considers Smit as a 2; and i agree. He plays very average at prop. Boks have great Props in Steenkamp, Beast, Jannie Du Plessis and Brian Mujati. Matfield will cover capatin when Smit comes off for Bismarck in the second half. Smit can even play a full game at 2; he played well enough at 2 against canes to prove he still has the quality to still be a great player/captain and not just captain.

 

[FlukeArtist]

No disrespect to Smit, but how can you pick a guy as captain when he is not the best in his country in his position? (and I mean either as a prop or a hooker)

Personally, I feel you have to select the best players first, then select your captain from that group

 

[Amobokoboko]

Politics and a tribute to a player.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Exactly. Smit is second choice as hooker and 3rd or even 4th choice as prop. This means the best hooker we have will be on the bench. How is that possible?

 

[FlukeArtist]

"tribute to a player" is not a basis for selecting some one for the RWC

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Tribute to a player is something you do in a November Test or a Tri-Nations match when everything is already decided. I agree. Smit has been an extraordinary captain who has won everything there is to win (except a Super Rugby ***le) but he should have decided to quit in 2009

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Still don't understand why people want rid of him, he's still a quality player, a good player to have around the squad and has vital experience. He has lost the weight that people said he carried to much last season and his performances have been good this season. Granted Bismark is a better player, Smit is an able player and a good player to have in the match day 22.

 

[FlukeArtist]

So then, back to the original point; he shouldn't be captain if he can't make the starting 15

 

[TRF_Cymro]

So then, back to the original point; he shouldn't be captain if he can't make the starting 15

Has he been named match playing captain or squad captain? Matfield has been appointed vice-captain.

 

[Draggs]

Has he been named match playing captain or squad captain? Matfield has been appointed vice-captain.

I would imagine it is squad captain.
Hard luck for Bismarck who has been the in form SA hooker.

While I understand the need for experience, would you want Mefin Davies in the squad because he has been around even though there are better players? (Granted, I'd rather see him over Huw)

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I would imagine it is squad captain.
Hard luck for Bismarck who has been the in form SA hooker.

While I understand the need for experience, would you want Mefin Davies in the squad because he has been around even though there are better players? (Granted, I'd rather see him over Huw)

But for me Smit is the 2nd best hooker SA have, Bismark being the first. Mefin is probably 6th - 7th in line.

 

[Draggs]

But for me Smit is the 2nd best hooker SA have, Bismark being the first. Mefin is probably 6th - 7th in line.

I think Gary Botha, Tiaan Liebenberg and Deon Fourie might have something to say!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I think Gary Botha, Tiaan Liebenberg and Deon Fourie might have something to say!

Granted Botha has been good, not heard or seen anything of the other two. Outside of them you might look at Brits. But Smit is not has bad as most members are making him out to be. He's probably not good enough to be considered a starting hooker because of Bismark, but would deffo have him on the bench. He has looked pretty decent this season for the Sharks.

 

[Draggs]

Yeah, Schalk Brits is a pretty decent hooker and very good in the loose.
I think that one reason Smit has been seen as such a poor performer is that his form has left him rather quickly.
He played well enough during the Lions tour, but really after that his form dropped noticeably.
Peter de Villiers will have to drop some favourites (Notably Smit and Habana) who have been badly out of form, or face possible poor performances.