SANZAR
John Smit was answering fan questions in the Springbok E-zine and was asked how long he still feels he can play at this level.
Despite consistent criticism throughout this year’s Vodacom Tri-Nations campaign, and a mediocre showing in his 100th Test match, where his fitness and form was consistently questioned, Smit still believes he can soldier on until the World Cup.
The captain was visibly irritated last week by questions about him retiring and a rumour that went around that he would call it a day after the 100th cap. After missing the tackle that cost the Boks the game against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium, he has returned this week more determined than ever to make up for his mistake.
At the end of this year’s Tri-Nations the Springbok management will have to stand objectively and clinically look at the difference between blind loyalty and blind faith as opposed to reward in selecting the best Bokke to lead them into next year’s Rugby World Cup.
This is not their only poser, they have to decide whether Assistant Staff has the ability and afinity to take it competently from here as well as how to adapt or fine-tune game plans for the World Cup.
Today I look at player selection only, the game plan strategies and coaching staff will have to wait for another time.
The Springboks have made two changes to their starting line-up for the Vodacom Tri-Nations Test against Australia at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
After 4 Springbok losses in a row in a Tournament, the Tri-Nations, which lies very close to the hearts of South Africans and with the Rugby World Cup now exactly a year from now, the temptation is there to insist on taking the knives out and to cut some dead wood from the Springbok team and management.
… but we’ve been there before, remembering so well how we, me included, shouted from the rooftops that Jake White needed the axe.
Springbok captain John Smit looked a downtrodden figure as he contemplated missing the tackle that gave the All Blacks a 29-22 victory at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday night.
Article written by Brenden Nel, Supersport
Springbok captain John Smit is as fit as he has ever been and he is not overweight. Those are the views of conditioning coach Neels Liebel, ahead of Saturday’s Test against the All Blacks.
With his 100thTest looming on Saturday for John Smit i found this article by Mike Greenaway. What a place to reach this milestone. In front of the biggest Rugby crowd this century in South Africa. FNB Stadium will witness the Worlds most capped captain reaching his century.
The Springboks are currently busy with a 4-day training camp at Hyde Park High School, where the squad of 29 will be whittled down to 24 on Friday.
World Cup-winning Springbok utility Frans Steyn is one of five players recalled to the Bok squad for South Africa’s home leg of the Tri-Nations.
Article courtesy of SA Rugby
It’s been 13 long years since the Springboks last scored a try at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane against the Wallabies – a record they are keen to change in Saturday’s third Vodacom Tri-Nations Test of 2010.
Two recent performances from the Springboks have raised some serious questions about the team that should take us to World Cup success next year, and whether the current crop has hit the ceiling, or still has a lot to offer Bok rugby. I asked Dr. Ross Tucker, an expert in the field of sport science for his opinions on the matter. Continue reading
Springbok captain John Smit said the coming Tri-Nations tour will be taken serious and not used solely as a yardstick and building block for the World Cup in 15 months time.
“If we want to go there with the focus on next year we’ll miss the plot. We want to go there and focus on things we’ve built up over the last few tests.
It is not often that I listen to Freestaters but this one made quite an interesting point. Continue reading
Is success in rugby defined by an individual or by a collective team effort? Continue reading