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Smit commits to Sharks

Gavin Rich - SuperSport

Johannesburg - Springbok captain John Smit will get an opportunity next year to fill in the one gap that was left in his impressive CV following the 2007 World Cup triumph.

Whereas everything went so well for Smit at national level that year, and he has subsequently led the Boks to a series win over the British and Irish Lions before picking up another Tri-Nations title, South Africa’s most celebrated captain would not be human if the Sharks’ last-second defeat in the 2007 Super 14 final does not still rankle.

A try a few minutes from time appeared to have wrapped up the trophy for the Sharks, who were gunning to be the first South African team to lift the Super Rugby trophy.

But a conversion kick that would have put the Sharks out of sight of their opponents flew wide, and then the Bulls’ Bryan Habana scored a stunning try amidst a surreal silence to ruin the party that was already in full swing in the Absa Stadium.

Smit, like coach Dick Muir, cut a forlorn figure after the final whistle and the dejection on the Sharks’ faces was in stark contrast to the elation of the Bulls.

Next year Smit will get a chance to make up for the experience as he has confirmed his commitment to the Sharks, thus ending any speculation that he might follow his former franchise coach Muir to the Lions. It is understood that Smit was made a sizeable offer to move to the Lions, but he has turned it down.

Sharks chief executive Brian van Zyl confirmed from Bloemfontein, where the Shark’s dispute with the Cheetahs over Lionel Mapoe’s contract is being heard, that Smit has signed for the Sharks and will play for them in 2011.

That will be good news for the Sharks as there are few leaders in the Smit mould, and provided he can reach his fitness objectives in his comeback from the back operation that he underwent earlier this week, he should be a key figure in what is building into another formidable Sharks challenge as, under coach John Plumtree's expert watch, they continue to grow their up-tempo game in the Currie Cup.

Although Bismarck du Plessis will be back after his injury lay-off and confirmed in his few Currie Cup appearances for the Sharks in August just what a fine player he is, and Craig Burden has developed impressively as the other hooker, Smit was effective when deployed at loosehead prop by Plumtree earlier this year.
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