John Smit is set to move back into the Springbok No 2 jersey for Saturday’s showdown with Six Nations champions against Ireland at Croke Park in Dublin.
But while by returning Smit to the position from which he led South Africa to the World Cup title in 2007, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will be giving Bok fans what many of them were asking for even before last week’s match against Italy, it would not have been an easy decision for him and his fellow selectors to make.
And neither will it be the end of his headaches when it comes to front-row selection, for it is hard to see the prodigious talent of Bismarck du Plessis being ignored and made to wait in line for the next two years.
Smit played well when he moved to hooker in the last quarter against Italy. With BJ Botha coming on to provide specialist tighthead expertise alongside him, the Bok scrum stabilised and even started to look dominant. Smit also showed that he had lost none of the other skill that made him arguably the world’s best hooker in 2007 by finding all his lineout jumpers with his throws from the touchline.
But there are attributes Du Plessis brings to the game that the Boks might be desperate for in a game that is being approached as a war by a home team which has followed the predictable recent trend of opposition combinations by talking up the physical aspect of the Croke Park crunch.
Physicality is one of those attributes. If Bakkies Botha is the enforcer, Du Plessis is the pit-bull in the Bok pack, and when he is on form he must be close to being the best hooker in world rugby.
Another of those attributes is of course mobility, and the Springbok captain would probably be the first to admit that right now he is not the ideal weight for a hooker. At least he is not the ideal weight for a hooker who has the role of getting around the field and fulfilling the role of an extra loose-forward by making a tireless contribution in all aspects of the tight-loose.
Smit was outstanding when he played hooker for the Sharks in their first match of the year against the Stormers in Cape Town back in February. Let’s not also forget that when the Boks scored their record win against England just 12 months ago, Smit was wearing the No 2 jersey as Du Plessis had gone home injured.
But Du Plessis is highly rated as a player by his coaches, and for good reason, and even if Smit can be expected to perform the role of an international hooker for the next six to eight months, expecting him to do it through to the 2011 World Cup, when he would be 33 years old, is a different story.
There is a view that a horses for courses policy should be adopted. In other words, in games where mobility is going to be a requirement, and the opposition scrum has a make-up which might enable Smit to survive at tighthead (in other words, if the props are not short), then Du Plessis should play hooker and Smit at prop. Smit would then revert to hooker with a specialist tighthead coming in for the more difficult scrumming opponents.
If you were to adopt a horses for courses approach, however, this Saturday’s game might be one of those where you go with Smit at tighthead in order to accommodate Du Plessis. The Irish have a lot of strengths, but on the evidence of their recent match against Australia, scrumming is not one of them, and this might just have been a game where the Boks would have been able to get away with the front-row that started against Italy.
Du Plessis was missed almost as much as Bakkies Botha was in the war of attrition that the Boks lost hands down in the first half of the final test against the British and Irish Lions, and Paul O’Connell and his fellow forwards might be licking their lips at the prospect of him being absent from the Bok starting lineup again.
The team for the Croke Park game will only be named on Thursday, but it is expected to include several changes, with Wynand Olivier getting an overdue call-up to replace Adi Jacobs at inside centre and Danie Rossouw, because he is better suited to the anticipated wet field and conditions, slotting in at No 8 ahead of Ryan Kankowski.
Probable Bok starting team: Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Beast Mtawarira.
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Please tell me Jacobs has been dropped!!! O''Driscoll will eat him alive if he plays inside centre on saturday. Rather play him prop than inside centre....
by Darryl November 25, 2009 07:31 GMT
About time, Smit at hooker, BJ at prop and a real no.8 for the northern hemisphere in Danie! And finally Wynand gets a start ahead of the punchy but loose AD Jacobs at centre. I reckon this is probably the best side we have put on all year (with the exception of Jean de Villiers at centre + perhaps Spies at no.8).
by WGMDELKO November 25, 2009 07:45 GMT
Its about time,Jake White cant be wrong.
by David Nel November 25, 2009 07:59 GMT
Can''t believe they want the best hooker in world rugby Bismarck to sit on the bench. They people wonder why our young talent go overseas and earn Euro''s and Pounds.
by Kobus November 25, 2009 08:07 GMT
The obvious thing to do is to pick the best available side for Saturday. I do feel that John Smit should be in the team as a hooker at the moment. I also think that Kirchner should be given time to establish him in the Bok side. When he was first picked for the Bulls in the Super 14, he did not make an immediate impact; it took hom a couple of games to get settled. He did nothing wrong on Saturday and we cannot expect him to make an immediate impact. Give him another test or two and he''ll settle down and become a very good fullback at test level.
by Michael Stain November 25, 2009 08:08 GMT
This is the best team we currently have. Smit at hooker...you never know, we might just pull off a record win like against England last year. All depends on a good start.
by Jeff Addinall - South Africa November 25, 2009 08:13 GMT
Why! I pray why has it taken De Villiers and company so long to recognise that Jacobs is not the answer at inside centre and Smit is the man for the hooker role and not at tighthead prop. Sorry! Bismark no disrespect to you. Well done in selecting a recognised tight head prop in BJ Botha.
by Lippy November 25, 2009 08:23 GMT
About Time Wynand is wearing number 12, Ad Jacobs can carry the water when the team is thirsty his defence is terrible and against a 100 test veteran in Brian O he would be eaten alive!!!
by Gerald Roos November 25, 2009 08:34 GMT
Is it not time to start looking at grooming another captain. So alternate Smit and du Plessis at hooker, while keeping specialist props. I think we may be relying too much on Smit''s captaincy qualities and he is not entirely indispensable in that regard. Smit is not getting younger and du Plessis''s talent is being wasted, which is criminal in itself. Placing all our bets on Smit for 2011 is not good planning.
by LABRAT November 25, 2009 08:47 GMT
The team is good, but we miss two very big guns - Steyn at full back and Spies at #8 If the bokke get revved and keep the focus for 80 minutes I am sure we will take the win.
by Pieter November 25, 2009 08:48 GMT
Why not just pick the best front row by dropping Smit?
by Matthew November 25, 2009 08:50 GMT
We need Biz on the field - he is more important than Danie - flank ?? Deysel ??
by peter November 25, 2009 08:52 GMT
Bring back Jean and Francious and it will the best team , for good measure put pierre at no8
by G Funk November 25, 2009 08:54 GMT
"...for it is hard to see the prodigious talent of Bismarck du Plessis being ignored and made to wait in line for the next two years." Gavin Rich, this is a very poor writing style!" I tried to stay away from your articles just because of it. "For if"..."for when"..."for should" you use these phrases in every article u write! Stop it now pls! I challenge u, the readers to read your last 10 or 20 articles and see how many times u write like a preacher or judge! pls man, just stop it! "SCREEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAM!"
by Carl November 25, 2009 08:55 GMT
Wynand Olivier is a good player. I really feel that Juan de Jongh deserves his place in Saturdays game. Switching to number 12 is no problem for a young talented player of his quality.
by Andrew Badenhorst November 25, 2009 09:04 GMT
I agree this is a good team, we have a lot of good players at the moment, I have always thought WO is a very under rated player, he is a hard tackler and that what we need against Ireland. I have to say that my pick would be JS at hooker, there are better props than him, and maybe even a better hooker, but no better Captain to lead this team. Good luck boys.
by Richard Hipkin November 25, 2009 09:10 GMT
Your team always plays better with Smit at 2 and Kirchner is a class act let him bed in, he won''t let your side down.
Real problem you have is the kick and chase, you probably have the best backs in the business (excluding Jacobs) and when you use them they are fast and strong, either through the middle or out wide, this is how you won the world cup! Eddie Jones coaching your back line was White''s best move - don''t waste it!
by J November 25, 2009 09:14 GMT
Can someone please tell our loose-trio to start scrumming and not let the tight five fend for themselves. They keep on popping their heads out and I personally think its impossible to scrum without shoulders
by Nick November 25, 2009 09:18 GMT
I agree that this starting team will beat the Irish, provided the players rise to the occasion that has crowned us the most agressive team in the world - we need hunger and urgency, which is a hard ask after a long and very successful season. Even without FSteyn, JdV, JSmith and Spies, this team will win. BJ and Wynand must start, and Kanko must go (Deysel bench).
by J November 25, 2009 09:26 GMT
This is the first article that Gavin Rich has been positive about the springboks! I must be quite honest I cannot stand the way you look at every negative instead of bringing out positives from this tour. The way in which Smit played on Saturday was brilliant. If you look at a role of a hooker, its not just about hooking the ball and throwing in correctly but also getting your props shoulders straight in the scrum. Biz is a power machine and no question brilliant in majority of his game but Smit is able to bring experience and is able to create a far more squarer front row. Lets see how I scrum goes on Saturday, and look out for the better "hit". Gavin if you knew anything about scrumming you would know that its not just the props that push, why not look at the rest of the players in the scrum and see who really isn''t pulling their weight.
by Dave November 25, 2009 09:35 GMT
Juan De Jongh at 12!! That bloke can tackle!!
by Ian November 25, 2009 09:43 GMT
@Carl Juan de Jongh is back in SA with the rest of the dirt trackers. Let him learn all about the no 12 position when he plays with Jacque Fourie for the Stomers in 2010 and then promote him on merit to the test team once he has a season of no 12 behind him.
by Rob November 25, 2009 09:45 GMT
Hey all you gus making comments, this is not the selected team it is the probable starting line up.
by Patrick November 25, 2009 09:53 GMT
I think these end of year tours should be about leaving some Boks at home to rest(around 5 of the usual suspects) and blooding in some others. The mid week games shold be scraped if they are still seen as the Boks, would be happier if they were regarded as a mid week team but do not agree with 15 guys who have never played together. I am happy with the team to play the irish, Adi is not a number 12 and will never be. His defence is really not up to scratch. Wynand needs to pass a bit more to become a more allround player. All ther best boys, bring on the Irish
by Dylan Ferreira November 25, 2009 10:00 GMT
I feel that we should allow the likes of Jean De Villiers and Frans Steyn to play for the boks... they are obviously S.A best inside centre and Fullback... the team just does not feel the same without those 2, and the experience of those 2 player is what the boks are missing in the backline... they add and attacking force and 60+ m kicks... game winners they are... also regarding the front row, the best team should take the field, however Smit has to be in the team for his leadership qualities... he may not be as aggressive as du Plessis, however composure and a cool head is what we will be needing at Croke Park against a good Irish outfit
by Steven November 25, 2009 10:09 GMT
I have always reated BJ Botha as the best tithead prop in S.A., he has proven himself all this years and he deserve the nod. I case of the inside center role W. Oliver is good even if his defence is also questionalble, Adi is one of the best centers especially comming to the creative part. Jonh has never been a strong scrummer and he is good at hooker.
by Shaheed Anthony November 25, 2009 10:16 GMT
Seeing as they are starting to ease up on selecting overseas players y dont they select the best no.12 in the world, Jean de Villiers??
by LJ November 25, 2009 10:17 GMT
Hopefully div can get it right and keep John at nr 2 and Wynand at 12, we just Francois at 15 and Pierre at 8 and we would be a force to reckon with, unfortunately I believe the Boks are one tour too long, they should have shut it down after the Currie Cup finals!
by Imraan, Cape Town November 25, 2009 10:18 GMT
Whether this is the probable team or not, I think everybody would agree that this is the best team to play the Irish with the players available. Big fan of Kanko, but Danie impressed me against Italy when moved to No8. And we all know that Kanko doesnt have the best game in the wet. Burger or Deysel @ 7, and Brussouw picks himself at the moment @ 6.
Tight Five should pick itself with the front row that ended against Italy starting against Ireland. Yes Bismarck is a "Pitbull" on the field, but Smit is the Best Captain in the world and is best for the team. Can always call on Bismarck later if we need him.
The backs pretty much pick themselves as well. No 15 and No 12 probably big talking points. But the Bulls have killed all before them this year (Even tho WP shouldve won the semi :(, but thats gone now). So why not pick Zain and Wynand. Adi hasnt produced anything near the form he did last year. Wynand deserves to be given the chance ahead of Adi. But watchout for Juan de Jonge next year.
Go Bokke. One last victory to end the year on high, and then surely lead to a clean sweep of all the IRB awards.
by Justin November 25, 2009 10:37 GMT
Danie hasn''t shown anything on this tour, would rather see Burger at 8, and Deysel at 7. The fact that Bismarck is more mobile and effective in the loose means very little if we are constantly penalised at the scrums. If our scrum is going forward, we will win this game!
by Willem - Somerset West November 25, 2009 10:40 GMT
Can someone PLEAAASSEEE tell me what JP Pietersen is still doing in the squad, let alone the starting line up? He has done nothing for South African rugby since making a crucial tackle against Fiji in the World Cup. I have been watching him for 2 years now, expecting something, but nothing comes! He is scared of the high ball and chases it like a girl with flapping arms and ALWAYS knocks it forward. His defence is lacking, to say the least and he NEVER creates any magic. I used to like him but we have so much better talent in SA - Nokwe, Chavanga, Mapoe, Juries to name but a few.
by Vic--C.Town November 25, 2009 10:50 GMT
Really silly comment to make "Smit''s not getting any younger".! Surely everybody SHOULD know that we ALL get one day older every day, that''s all it is.!! I''m sure Smit will still be there, barring injuries, for 2011 World Cup. However, I think that in ALL sports, FAR too much emphasis is placed on World Cups -- what about the 4 years in between.!? Please guys.!! Why do so many people keep going on about Jean & Frans.? they have NOT been selected for now, so leave it at that -- simple.! CJ & BJ were called up because of injuries & for no other reason. These end-of-year European tours are all part of the world rugby-playing fraternity -- agreed upon between the Sanzar countries (+ others like Samoa, Fiji, Argentina) & the European/British teams. The best teams available are always supposed to be sent on tour, so you can''t just decide to "rest"/leave out certain "important" players.! Why are S.A. players reckoned to be more "tired etc" than the NZ & Oz players, who also compete in the Super 14, from early in the year.?? That''s absolute nonsense.!
by Fred November 25, 2009 10:58 GMT
Juan de Jongh is to small and inexperienced for Saturdays game, world centers are getting bigger and bigger and still you want to play smaller guys there so just stop asking for him there now.. and John is definitely not a slouch wake up and see him play and he is stronger in the scrums at (hooker) than Bismarck is. Bismarck is an excellent hooker rate him and John the same world bests but he is also the perfect impact player really look when he started his springbok career used as impact and was phenomenal hes strength and mobility will be of better use when Ireland is tired they both bring something to the field that the other one does not and i believe that Ireland is going to get slaughtered on Saturday and maybe we should try Deysel at no.8 i don''t know about his speed but if he has it he will be excellent there he''s extra bulk and strength could just be an x factor also seeing that he is the only loose forward that contributes to scrum time by actuality pushing and not just standing around.....
by Piet Skiet November 25, 2009 11:01 GMT
Ek mis ou Jean de Villiers so baie ek huil sommer. Toe Oom Pieter, kies tog die beste senter in die wereld. Hy is daar naby julle, in n plek met die naam van Munster. Ag toe man, asseblief.
by van November 25, 2009 11:08 GMT
OK... Smit or du Plessis at hooker? Come on, guys - we all know, no matter what, John will be in the starting 15, regardless of the opponent. That''s where this Smit at prop nonsense started. Coaches acknowledge that du Plessis is a better No. 2 by playing Smit at prop because apparently the boks cannot do without him on the field. I think the real question here is, WHY was Chiliboy ever selected? How much game time has he had in the green jersey? Yet, he''s cemented into the squad. Let''s be honest. It''s almost predictable that if Bismarck gets injured or subbed, John goes to hooker and then Jannie (or someone) comes on at prop. How many props were "flown in" for this tour?
So someone PLEASE TELL ME, what is Chiliboy in the squad for?
No wonder Schalk Brits left SA...
by Fred November 25, 2009 11:10 GMT
HAHAHA Willem you have definitely been watching different games than i have really JP is great under the high ball great defensive wing and quick so you want to replace him with Nokwe oh when was the last time he tackled i cant remember or caught a high ball under pressure huh cant remember he is a great finisher but has know other uses really JP is the best man for the job he may not stand out like the other that has an excellent one sided ability but is an excellent all rounder and thats what we need there because we already have a great finisher in Habana..
by MZG November 25, 2009 11:17 GMT
Why is everybody picking on Jacobs? I do recall O''Driscoll running rings around Jean de Villiers and Jacque Fourie for the Lions earlier in the year. I also see Wynand Olivier being consistently poor whenever he puts on the Springbok Jersey. In fact I don''t recall him ever having a good game for the Springboks - and no, I don''t count catching the ball and falling over the line as a moment of brilliance. JAcobs misses one tackle a game and people want him dropped. All centers (incl. Olivier, devilliers, Fourie) miss at least one tackle a game but when it''s anybody else, it''s ignored.
by jcw November 25, 2009 11:27 GMT
Bulls forwards were outplayed by just about every pack in the Currie Cup. Yet we have a Bulls dominated forward pack and we wonder why they are struggling. Juan de Jong and Heinie Adams had good games midweek, yet they get sent home and the two that played the worst Olivier and Hougaard stays on? The coach is confused. Danie was invisible in the Test match, so much so that I didn''t even know he was playing until he ran with the ball in the second half.
by kukard jimmy November 25, 2009 11:29 GMT
Div het nie n clue van rugby nie en die spelers wat hy kies is so vrot dat hulle met beserings uit onervarigheid Godsdank uit die span hou gedwing word en plek oop maak vir talent wat hy as afrigter of afvanrigting ,nie kan raak sien soos Morne, Brussow,wynand, BJ,Dysel, ens, ens. Div is Springbok se grootste vyand homself.
by David November 25, 2009 11:45 GMT
The best front row will be Beast, Bismarck and BJ. John is the weaklink infront. He might be a good captain but not the best tighthead prop or hooker in the country. Bring back Jean de Villiers and we have a good captian for the next World Cup.
by erewhon November 25, 2009 11:46 GMT
Bismark gives too many penalties away.
by DH November 25, 2009 11:48 GMT
What''s happened to JP Willem asked? Give the guy the ball perhaps. This is what happens when your back line play revolves so much around Bryan. Brilliant as he is, Fourie should use JP has well.
by Stuart November 25, 2009 12:03 GMT
Let''s stop carrying captains past their shelf life and pick teams on merrit. Jake White & John Smit did well & belong in the SA rugby museum. Nice, job well done lads! Moving forward, I''m sure Victor Matfield is well capable of taking over as captain, Bismark is full value at hooker (how many steals does this guy come away with?), and the props should be picked on form, not sentiment.
Ireland deserve more respect than we''re giving them by carrying dead wood in a test against a team who detroyed us in all phases of the game a few years back. Let''s pick our best team & give them the respect they deserve. The years of Boks being so dominant in the scrums are long over, its a more technical competetive game & we need to turn up with our best players, captains and so on.
Smit & Jacobs haven''t been great on the field, & Steyn I feel is the more solid fullback. Is he injured?
by Lance Dixon November 25, 2009 12:08 GMT
We have faced a not too disimilar problem in our Rugby in the past. After the 1995 world cup Kitch Christie if I remeber correctly moved Francoise Pienaar from no 6 to no 8 purely on the basis that with the arrival of Andre Venter on the scene. He was sinmply a bigger stronger and better player.Then Gary Teichman staked a claim and Francoise Pienaar could simply not command his place in the team on the strength of his play so it was left up to Nick mallett to drop our world cup hero. It was a straight forward case of being outplayed by bigger and better players. He was a wonderful captain and leader and was one of the cornerstones of the 95 win but in sport nothing much stays the same.
John Smit has been a wonderful servant to SA rugby, few people will deny that. Pieter De Villiers in his wisdom or lack there of rushed out after his appointment as coach and reappointed the captaincy to John Smit without ever taking a long term view on where the Springbok ship was sailing to.. Now we may well be in a position that there smply is no place in the team for Jihn Smit any longer. Popular opion indicates that Bismarck Du Plessis is a bettr hooker and then there is still Strauss from the Free State who many would argue is a better and stronger hooker. So there appears to be no space in the no 2 position for John Smit.
Now that it has been convenient if not forced to over turn the slection policy related to overseas players I wonder if there is place for John Smit at tighthead. The decision to play him at no 2 for this forthcoming test may have answered that question as well. As sad as it is John Smit in all probability is simply no longer good enough or if it sounds better has been overtaken by better players. Once someone starts making these tough but fairly straight forward decisions the answer may be a lot more simple than we make out and perhaps it is the right time for John Smit to bow out gracefully with the best wishes of a gratefull nation.
To carry on trying to " find a place " for the man is definitely not the right thing to do.
by Jannie Joubert, Australia November 25, 2009 12:14 GMT
John Smit, maybe not the best player to play in the front row (hooker or prop), but the best captain in the world. the major reason for him to be out there. Victor Matfield, a brilliant provincial captain, but no good for international captaincy. I agree with AD, why is he with the boks in the first place? Danie Russouw, another "hasbeen" with the boks......Juan Deyzel should be in the line up from the start of the tour. Zane, not the answer on fullback.....the only and best thing he can do, is to kick the ball back to the opponents. Terblanche or Ludik should be on tour. Politics and money, the major reason for players to leave the country for Europe. Bring back our mates and then have a look what type of green and gold team we have.....the best on earth.
by Frikkie November 25, 2009 13:13 GMT
Ek sou verkies Jean De Villiers op sentre saam Jaques Fourie maar hy speel op die oomblik vir Munster. As Adriaan op senter speel teen Brain van Ireland - Brain gaan verby hom hardloop en Op heelagter wou ek gehad vir Frans Steyn maar nie hier nie ek sou verkies Ruan Pienaar hy weet wat om te doen - Hooker op John Smith hy speel op sy beste posisie - Ek hoop hul speel die beste game vir die laaste game van die jaar vir 2009 om die toer af te sluit - Bokke speel hard en fokus en onthou taclkle them and defend them and aslo remember dont give them a penalties !!!!! Please play with all of your hearts :)
by Charles, Scotland November 25, 2009 13:45 GMT
The Boks have to play Smit at hooker. If our scrum goes backwards again it will destroy our confidence! Bismarck is fantastic and Smit''s days are maybe numbered, but we need to get the upper hand first. Bismarck will be devastating as an impact player once the Irish forwards have been worn down (hopefully) by the best front row we can put together at the moment.
Like Jimmy I am relieved by the fortuitous injury to Jacobs - not a 12 and nowhere near world class Fourie at 13. Wynand is best choice, although I have consistently been disappointed in him when he swaps the Bulls jersey for the green & gold. I really hope he pulls it off this time and shows Div his potential. Against weaker opposition, Adi can be an exciting replacement and his defence has improved this year, but he is really a little out of his depth.
Like Wynand, Zane has not yet been able to meet expectatons. His time will come. Why does Div consistently ignore SA''s best fullback in Terblanche. He is the best player in the world at the kick n chase. His kicks are almost almost perfectly weighted and his timing fantastic. He may have lost a little pace but it never shows because of his experience, anticipation, intelligence. He still is scoring tries and his defence and high balls are solid.
Of course I don''t see why we can''t select Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn. We can call up (justifiably) BJ and others so why can we not call them up. For that matter, if we did need another hooker, why not Schalk Britz? (Also a relief that Chilliboy got injured - sorry mate, you did your best!).
I am all for playing the Beast! He fully qualifies according to IRB rules and is loved and admired by rugby fans all over the world. My rugby history is not good, but I know that we have had some great Rhodesian and Zimbabean Boks over the years, even in the amateur years. Was Ray Mordt not a Zimbabwean? The government should butt out! Politics was supposed to have gone out of sport with apartheid! If they must interfere, then on the same grounds they should refuse to issue visas to Strauss, Pietersen and Trott to play cricket for England in SA!
GO THE BOKKE!!!!!!
by Jacques Malan November 25, 2009 14:19 GMT
After reading all this nonsens most of you are typing, i realise the only thing we all have in common is that our couch does not know what he is doing. In saying that, who the hell wants to be a SA couch if the SA public performs like this with every decision he makes? Non of us would every agree on who the best nr2 would be, so i''m not even going to waist my time in giving my opinion. To the idiot who said bring back Spies.........being on the Super Sport site, one would at least hope you would know he is injured.....please wake up before making comments. To the biggest idiot who should not even have a computer to give his opinion, is the A-Hole who said "why do we all have something against Jacobs. All our centres miss tackles but when Jacobs miss one he must be dropped". OK IDIOT, please do the following.....dont watch rugby ever,ever, ever again, because you clearly dont know what the F you talk about. Rather go watch Bafanna. Jacobs created three gapes for the Italians to run through.........2 missed takles and 1 were he was so confused when the one Italian ran behind his teammates back ( thats called a scissor ) he did not even attempt a tackle. Did you see his teammates hand. Everyone was so "die moer in", they could not belive what they just saw. And to end off Idiot....rugby is a combination sport, so before you attempt to watch any game again, go think about the following. Every centre that has played with Jacobs looked K@K, do you know why????? Non of them can form a combination with him. Please Idiot, take AD and go watch soccer.
by Andre November 25, 2009 14:22 GMT
We all know that Smittie is the best captain in the world. So even if he just plays for 60 minutes (hooker or prop), we do need him. In fact we need a impressive win over Ireland to end this tour and therefore Smittie must be in the starting line up. Bismarc is obviously more mobile and stronger than Smittie but unfortunately we do need our captain. Smittie is arguably not the best "hooker" in the world, but hey, I think any International team will choose him as captain therefore in any International team he will be in the starting line up. With Danie on no 8, I think it is his best position it was a wise choice. Most probably not a classic no 8 but stable enough. It is a difficult position to fill when a player like Spies is not available and Danie has been with the squad for many years. And lastly our second best no12, Wynand Olivier (Jean de Villiers is no1) is in the starting line up - very wise choice.
Although the guys are tired after a long year, I think we are going to "kick some ass" on Saturday.
by Doug November 25, 2009 14:25 GMT
We miss Frans Steyn !!! Big time! I have a feeling this front row is going to bring it back for us. Lets get a big win this weekend! Go bokke!!!!! GO!
by AL November 25, 2009 14:35 GMT
What''s Frans Steyn doing overseas at such a young age? In a sense I can understand it, because he''s not guaranteed a place in the team for some or other silly reason - he''s a special player. Jean de Villiers - where are guys like you? I''ve got lots of respect for guys like Peter Grant who could be earning lots of bucks, but want to be loyal to their country even when they don''t get picked. Money, money, money.......
by Grant November 25, 2009 14:36 GMT
jcw : Watch it, your anti Bulls sentiment is clouding your counting skills! "Yet we have a Bulls dominated forward pack and we wonder why they are struggling". How many of the 8 forwards during the last 4 tests were Bulls? They have never represented more than 38% of the pack LoL
Before you write off Wynand Olivier in a Springbok jersey as well look who has been at number 10 in all the games he has featured this year - the biggest brain-fart of a selection at no 10 ever. Piet Snor is protecting his selection of Jacobz to such an extend that he sets up Olivier for the fall every time he brings him on by sending Ruan Pienaar on at the same time. The Bulls combination of du Preez, M Steyn and Olivier was fantastic during the S14. Yet not once have Piet Snor let them play as a combination in the Springbok jersey. Very suspicious or very dumb, you make the choice which.
by Knowey Tall, Frankfurt, Germany November 25, 2009 15:33 GMT
Snot bolletjies roll down hill just fine. Uphill, they have a problem. Saturday, the inside center channel is going to get a lot of uphill. As we know snot bolletjies flatten pretty easily. And Pom-Pom is going to get blown away there too. What do you do? Call Jean. Pick up the phone, dammit. He is just over the bloody hill. Francois too. BJ and CJ are good enough for recalls, why on earth not the others? Management''s inability to think out of the box is utterly amazing. It could, of course, be that they are not allowed to.
by Fred November 25, 2009 15:35 GMT
listen up you incompetent idiots how is john smit not needed any more adrian and bismarck is good but Smit can very well be the best hooker in the world.. "he is not needed" were did you come up with that conclusion in the grade one class.. really go do your home work no other hooker in SA is as good as Smit and the other are grate dont get me wrong but they are good in general play and there is a difference between that and hooker the scrum will be much stronger with Smit in hooker than with any other player there wake up and see this
As long as Jacobs and Kankowski. are dropped i am happy
by Chris L November 25, 2009 15:50 GMT
Lance Dixon, it was Andre Markgraaf that dropped Francois Pienaar, not Nick Mallet. Nick Mallet is the one that dropped Teichman from the Bok captaincy in ''99 before the world cup to make place for Bob "the biscuit" Skinstad, who had still not properly recovered from a knee injury sustained in a car crash earlier in that year.
As for Saturday''s game against Ireland, what about Ruan Pienaar, isn''t he supposed to be the "Tiger Woods" of rugby? I would play him at 15 against Ireland he at least has more experience than Kirshner.
by Koos van Tonderlossie-Kappossie November 25, 2009 16:05 GMT
John Smit is hooker! And so is Bismarck! It is great to have two of the best hookers in the world isn''t it?!!
At last our coaching staff select the right way! Yes, it is going to be difficult to let one of them out, but it HAS to be done for now. As long as they are interchanging, who cares? We need BJ Botha, we need CJ van der Linde in our 22! I mean, that is our World Cup winning team!
With Bismarck and John starting/benching interchanging, then we are sorted man! Imagine what a complete, weaknessless, front row we have then!
Playing Smit and Bismarck is risky, and inconsistent. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Now all we need is Juan Smith back, with Burger/Brussow interchanging!
Play our men where they dominate and watch the Springboks dominate too!
When rests are required, then we play around a bit, but not against the TOP 5 in world rugby!
Its just logical guys, we have the best 22 in the world playing for the Springboks, just play Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn too in their Tri-Nations positions, because I believe they are the most talented 2 guys in the history of our rugby. No guy in our rugby has ever had the brains of Jean, and no guy ever in our history as EVER had the boot strength and X-factor of Frans Steyn - what an incomprehensible thing it is to play anyone but Frans Steyn at fullback. STUFF the overseas rule man! FREAKIN PLAY ''EM!
We must be playing little pikkies like Jacobs in the most physical position of all - INSIDE CENTRE. Sorry, ADI, you''re just not going to do what the big boys can!
Do as pappa says, and our Bokkies will never lose. GUAREN-freakin-TEED!
by Coronel November 25, 2009 16:07 GMT
It would be a mistake to interfere with captaincy at this stage so Smit must play and then everyone can have a long think about how to accommodate Smit and Bismarck in future. The Irish side is a bit like France; can beat anyone on the day and lose to anyone too. It would be fatal to play Jacobs and I think Pietersen may also be cut to ribbons by the Irish back 3. There is one other BIG problem. Sexton is not O''Gara. He is fast, difficult to tackle, defends well and kicks as well as Morne. In my opinion SA will need 3 fast loose-forwards to help contain the Irish backline. Of course nothing matters if SA has all the possession; so play your best scrum and lineout and dont blerry kick ball to Ireland or we will beat the Boks ! And call up Jean and Frans!
by LH November 25, 2009 16:16 GMT
John Smit must play until the world cup final, he is one of the most intelligent players on the planet. He should be first choice hooker, and can play prop when needed to bring on Bismark. He is more physical than any hooker in South Africa, and world.
by Shaun hutton November 25, 2009 17:46 GMT
Enjoyed the comments, the idiot who said that JP was no good is a tool. JP is class and deserves to be there without a doubt. Im unsure about the hooker situation, they are both brilliant players (Smit and Bismarck) but John Smit is an incredible captain and needs to be in the starting 15. I rate Adi highly and it annoys me that there so many critics going on about him, i do however beleive that he is 13 not a 12, and we have all seen with the Sharks that he is an impact player so put him on the bench and let him do what he does best, break the line and set up tries. Fourie and De Villiers is obvious 1st choice. Wynand, time to shine. All the best boys, you have had a great season. Oh and Gavin Rich I enjoy your articles, that idiot must have lost his journalism job.
by Center November 25, 2009 17:54 GMT
Why all the speculation about Jacobs / Wynand / Juan de Jongh at 12 verses Brian O''Driscoll? BOD is an outside center... (13.)
by AL November 25, 2009 18:00 GMT
Its has been a long time since we were so spoilt for choice and had such a superb group of players, like the real class acts we have had over the last couple of years. Its a luxury to be tugging between Smit and Dupi. They both have their outstanding qualities that add great value. Arguably the best in just about every position is what we have.The majority of them really pick themselves now some one PLEASE xplain to me, how can Saru stand by and watch PdV''s ignorant and stubborn behaviour prevent the best 15 in the right positions taking the field. Surely they stand to loose more than any once it all comes crashing down as a result like it has started to on this tour.Teams are starting to take the Boks on at their own game and with some inferiour players on the field they will start tearing us apart before we can say PdV! Where is the management?Do they know what it is?
BJ,CJ,JdV-(future cap),FS,pienaar as reserve scrum-half,smit at hooker not prop.Is it reaaly that hard.Rather have an unhappy couch patatoe politician than a die hard Bok Fan!!
by Johan November 25, 2009 18:24 GMT
MZG i dont know which rugby u have been watching but Wynand Olivier has been way better than Jacobs throughout the season he set the super 14 alight and run straight through some of the best centres in the world.
by MARTIN November 25, 2009 19:02 GMT
GEE WYNAND ''N KANS OM HOM SELF TE BEWYS LAAT JUAN DE VILLIERS OP DIE BANK SIT. JOHN MOET HAKER SPEEL. GEE JP DIE BAL DAN SAL HY JULLE WYS WAT HY KAN DOEN,AS JY NIE BAL KRY NIE KAN JY NIKS DOEN NIE.
John Smit is the best scrumming hooker around!! He proved it on Saturday when he took over against a strong Italian scrum. The bok scrum started going forward for the first time this season... bar the first test against the lions .Bismark has alot more all round skills but one of these skills is not scrumming--he is part of the reason that John Smit has struggled most of the season. .South african rugby is not ready to lose such a great leader and player like JS! He has spent the season playing out of position and for the most part, not let the scrum down.People seem to forget that the scrum is an eight man show!
by christo November 26, 2009 06:49 GMT
We have top wings , Kirchner is ok at fullback - give him a chance. Jean Deaysel is tops - he should be 7. Burger at 8 , for Danie is slow and laborious, his backflick was great , but that''s it - he looses the ball in the tackle. Wynand good for this game , Juan de Jongh as backup (ADI- disaster), obviously SMIT at hooker. Bismark gives 3-6 points away per game - Straus on bench till Bismark regains top form. dono who will cover at lock - where''s all the big guys ? who will cover at loose - Alberts etc. ?
