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JJ Harmse
The news that John Smit will not tour with the Springboks in November due to injury is not good for coach Peter de Villiers.
The embattled coach is expected to be grilled by SARU’s technical committee next week and may even be forced to take on extra coaching staff for the remainder of his tenure.
The one thing the coach now needs more than ever is his captain, but Smit will not be touring as he is recovering from a neck operation.
I remember the way Smit managed to help Jake White during the 2007 World Cup campaign when the coach was clearly taking strain.
It does provide De Villiers with an ideal opportunity, though, to break new ground with his team. There have been critics who have said that De Villiers is too dependent on Smit, and that he could not run the team without Smit.
That theory will certainly be tested in November!
If De Villiers will miss Smit’s leadership ability, he can count himself fortunate that no tough call will have to be made with regard to Smit’s own selection. Many would pick Bismarck du Plessis ahead of Smit in their test line-ups, but De Viilliers has yet to chew on that toffee given that Du Plessis has been injured for most of the year. With Smit out, Du Plessis a certainty to tour.
It will be interesting to see how the coach handles the challenge from Chiliboy Ralepelle. With no Smit there and thus a different captain, there is no reason why Ralepelle should not start a Test, or get a decent run off the bench if he plays behind Du Plessis. Ralepelle has certainly shown this year that he has the ability to be a serious player, and if given a decent run in the UK in November, it will give his critics an ideal opportunity to judge the player and not the phenomenon.
With possible replacements only an overnight flight away, De Villiers and his selectors will probably opt out of the option of a third hooker (and scrumhalf).
However, if they do decide to take a third hooker, a number of options spring to mind.
Adriaan Strauss has more test matches in him than the couple he has played, while a stalwart like Gary Botha has played in England for a couple of years and could provide valuable experience and information on the conditions and opponents.
De Villiers could also have a look at Schalk Brits, who continues to dazzle the Premiership with Saracens. There is no doubt that Brits has toughened up since leaving South Africa and he remains a very good option.
Tiaan Liebenberg has played great rugby this year, but is injured, while Bandise Maku will have to wait his turn (again) to get a chance at the highest level.
Maku’s case will surely be improved by a move to another province to become the starting hooker, as he is clearly the third choice with the Bulls.
The other issue De Villiers will have to address is that of the captaincy …
Victor Matfield is the obvious choice, but it seems that he will be rested for most of the tour and just play in the first test against Ireland. This rules him out and puts someone like Juan Smith in the picture.
There is no question about the respect Smith has from fellow players, but he also has had a chequered touring record with a bad run of injuries preventing him for playing as well as he can.
The other option must be Schalk Burger, but rumour has it that the Western Province player will also be rested.
I would like to see someone like Dewald Potgieter being tested in that role. He captained the Springboks against Saracens last year and has been threatening to break into the Bok starting side for a while now.
Whatever the coach decides to do, it is clear that he will have to make a couple of tough calls. And the fact that Smit will not be around to help it, could be a blessing in disguise for the coach.
He clearly is his own man, but it might take the absence of his revered captain, to finally show it.
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
The news that John Smit will not tour with the Springboks in November due to injury is not good for coach Peter de Villiers.
The embattled coach is expected to be grilled by SARU’s technical committee next week and may even be forced to take on extra coaching staff for the remainder of his tenure.
The one thing the coach now needs more than ever is his captain, but Smit will not be touring as he is recovering from a neck operation.
I remember the way Smit managed to help Jake White during the 2007 World Cup campaign when the coach was clearly taking strain.
It does provide De Villiers with an ideal opportunity, though, to break new ground with his team. There have been critics who have said that De Villiers is too dependent on Smit, and that he could not run the team without Smit.
That theory will certainly be tested in November!
If De Villiers will miss Smit’s leadership ability, he can count himself fortunate that no tough call will have to be made with regard to Smit’s own selection. Many would pick Bismarck du Plessis ahead of Smit in their test line-ups, but De Viilliers has yet to chew on that toffee given that Du Plessis has been injured for most of the year. With Smit out, Du Plessis a certainty to tour.
It will be interesting to see how the coach handles the challenge from Chiliboy Ralepelle. With no Smit there and thus a different captain, there is no reason why Ralepelle should not start a Test, or get a decent run off the bench if he plays behind Du Plessis. Ralepelle has certainly shown this year that he has the ability to be a serious player, and if given a decent run in the UK in November, it will give his critics an ideal opportunity to judge the player and not the phenomenon.
With possible replacements only an overnight flight away, De Villiers and his selectors will probably opt out of the option of a third hooker (and scrumhalf).
However, if they do decide to take a third hooker, a number of options spring to mind.
Adriaan Strauss has more test matches in him than the couple he has played, while a stalwart like Gary Botha has played in England for a couple of years and could provide valuable experience and information on the conditions and opponents.
De Villiers could also have a look at Schalk Brits, who continues to dazzle the Premiership with Saracens. There is no doubt that Brits has toughened up since leaving South Africa and he remains a very good option.
Tiaan Liebenberg has played great rugby this year, but is injured, while Bandise Maku will have to wait his turn (again) to get a chance at the highest level.
Maku’s case will surely be improved by a move to another province to become the starting hooker, as he is clearly the third choice with the Bulls.
The other issue De Villiers will have to address is that of the captaincy …
Victor Matfield is the obvious choice, but it seems that he will be rested for most of the tour and just play in the first test against Ireland. This rules him out and puts someone like Juan Smith in the picture.
There is no question about the respect Smith has from fellow players, but he also has had a chequered touring record with a bad run of injuries preventing him for playing as well as he can.
The other option must be Schalk Burger, but rumour has it that the Western Province player will also be rested.
I would like to see someone like Dewald Potgieter being tested in that role. He captained the Springboks against Saracens last year and has been threatening to break into the Bok starting side for a while now.
Whatever the coach decides to do, it is clear that he will have to make a couple of tough calls. And the fact that Smit will not be around to help it, could be a blessing in disguise for the coach.
He clearly is his own man, but it might take the absence of his revered captain, to finally show it.
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
