Smit to lead Springboks at World Cup

[FlukeArtist]

I agree- Habana and Smit would be gone-ski if it was the ABs (but then saying that- Rokocoko keeps getting chances...)

I think SA could do to cull a few others too, to be honest.
I haven't seen Matfield put in a quality performance for quite sometime now. Ditto for Steyn and Spies.

SA has better players running around now (Bekker, Lambie and Vermeulen for example)

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yeah I agree with FlukeArtist.

Their are players more off form than Smit. Smit is close enough to 2nd best hooker for me not too be upset at all. The question of him being picked ahead of Bismarck is a bit but having him in the squad is good.

Others bother me more, particularly Spies and Kirschner. I am not sure about Frans Steyn; what from he is in or whether he will feature at all in any case. Last time I saw him in a Bok jersey he was dreadful; slow and disinterested.

Matfield and Botha are off the pace as well and Botha only looks interested in trying to injure players weighing less than 90kg's and has totally forgotten how to play the ball and not the man. We have good cover for lock but don't expect the 'blood brothers' to get dropped. I am only hoping the occasion will jump start their interest in playing some actual rugby.

Others off form are Habana and Morne Steyn. I'd still include Morne though as he is a player for big occasions and Fourie du Preez while not having gotten back to his best is still a player I'd bet on. Habana had a decent enough game last week but didn't get a chance to butcher an attack so its still a strecth IMO to pick him ahead of JPP, Ndungane bro's and Basson.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

When you look at players who are off form (Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Stegmann, du Preez, Morne Steyn, Spies, Habana, Kirchner) it is frustrating to see all these players being picked constantly to start for the Springboks. Especially this Super 15 season, there have been a lot of players who have shown to be better than the old picks. Andries Bekker, Patrick Lambie, Keegan Daniel, Duane Vermeulen, JP Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Sarel Pretorius, Riaan Viljoen, Bjorn Basson have all shown they are in top form and can seriously complete at the highest level.

The only position where I would pick experience over form is scrumhalf since du Preez is World Class, even when he is not on top form. However, if I would replace him, it would be with Ruan Pienaar, not Francois Hougaard or Sarel Pretorius, simply because of the experience Pienaar brings

 

[JJR]

Bulls players started getting things together in their last game against Chiefs. Bulls will be back to their normal game and form after the Bye they have now. Not good news for The Sharks who have to still play them home and away, gonna be tight games. The two Bulls fixtures are the only 2 games i am worried about for the rest of the Sharks games, the rest should be wins.

 

[Shaggy]

Getting back to the Smit captaincy, I think P.Div's hand has been force somewhat, as I don't see much advantage in picking Matfield as captain, as they are both going to retire at similar times anyway, and the younger guy that they were looking at (Juan Smith) has been injured at the times they wanted to try him as captain, and isn't a certainty to make the cup squad anyway.

... It's hardly a surprise that Smit is captain, P.Div has said that they are going to play the defensive, kicking game anyway, so it stands to reason he'll stick with the leadership and personnel that has brought him success in the past

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Besides the older Matfield, Smit and injured Smith, who would be a suitable captain?

Andries Bekker? Jannie du Plessis?

 

[Amobokoboko]

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

Unless your P diddy Devilliers.

 

[JJR]

I expect Juan Smith to become the captain after the world Cup; Burger and JDV as the Back up leadership.

 

[Draggs]

Besides the older Matfield, Smit and injured Smith, who would be a suitable captain?

Andries Bekker? Jannie du Plessis?

I'd go with Bekker or JdV.
du Plessis can get hot-headed, a bad quality for a captain.

 

[Nicolaas]

i knew pork chop would be captain. if he plays like he did against the chiefs then it will be ok but bismarck will still always be better than him.
matfield - i cant see how he is better than bekker in any way - even in the line outs.
also wouldnt pick botha, rossouw is better than him especially in handling skills and wont cost us as much penalties or get cited everytime.
sarel pretorius just has to be the best currently even in the world in my book but i do agree he doesnt have international experience so luckily that eint my worries.
i think even if spies returns to his best that alberts will be better than him. he has been in form since last year even so hope that will continue.
no idea how the flippen hell bandise maku made the squad when we other guys like gary botha and deon fourie. wish liebenberg cud hav been there.
and zane kirchner is just an idiot who starts side stepping 30 metres before the defensive line and then STILL runs straight into a tackler! steyn and aplon much much better than him.