Smit made his debut here against Canada a decade ago
John Smit has recovered from his hamstring injury and will lead theSpringboks on Saturday in the second Test against Italy, at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London.
From New24
Team:
South Africa:
15. Gio Aplon, 14. Jean de Villiers, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Juan de Jongh, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Ricky Januarie, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. John Smit (captain), 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp
Substitutes: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. BJ Botha, 18. Danie Rossouw, 19. Dewald Potgieter, 20. Ruan Pienaar, 21. Butch James, 22. Wynand Oliver
Smit’s inclusion at hooker is one of seven changes to the starting team – five new players and two positional switches – that beat Italy by 29-13 in Witbank last weekend. There are a further six changes on the bench.
Speaking at a press conference in East London on Tuesday Smit said he was excited to be back at the helm.
“It is important for us to refocus for Saturday’s Test,” Smit said.
“It is quite strange to be watching from afar one week and then be back in the thick of things the next. We have a good team and have to make sure that what we do in training translates on the field on match day. We had a good session on Monday and an even better on Tuesday and we have to carry that attitude into the game on Saturday,” Smit said.
With Victor Matfield getting a break this week, Andries Bekker is back at lock for his first Test of 2010, while Schalk Burger is also fit again and takes over at flank in the place of Dewald Potgieter.
The only players that started the first Test against Italy and are selected in the same positions, are Bryan Habana (left wing), Morné Steyn (flyhalf), Ricky Januarie (scrumhalf), Pierre Spies (No 8), Francois Louw (flank), Bakkies Botha (lock), Jannie du Plessis (tighthead prop) and Gurthrö Steenkamp (loosehead prop).
Gio Aplon moves from right wing to fullback and Jean de Villiers from centre to wing, while Bekker, Burger, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh and Smit will all get their first start against Italy this season.
BJ Botha, Danie Rossouw and Wynand Olivier have been included on the bench after not featuring in Witbank.
Matfield, Zane Kirchner, Bandise Maku, CJ van der Linde, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski and Bjorn Basson drop out of the 22.
Asked if the Boks’ mental approach for a lower ranked team was any different, Smit replied: “It is important that we prepare the same every week regardless of who we play. We concentrate on what we do well and on how we want to play. We have to fix some of the problem areas from last week but generally we want to make sure we are good in all departments.”
Smit expressed appreciation for the support of the East London community after hundreds of people turned out to watch the open training session at Grens High School on Tuesday.
“The buzz was massive at Tuesday’s session. It shows how much people appreciate the fact that Test rugby has come to their city and it is important that we make time to meet people and sign autographs.”
The Bok 22 to face Italy boasts a total of 732 Test caps, with 545 caps among the run on XV.
CJ and especially BJ are found wanting, we should rather again look at local talent to replace BJ, Werner Kruger will do better.
Hier broei weer iets uit en ek hou niks daarvan nie.
Not a bad team…. and much as expected bar perhaps Jean on Right Wing and Gio at fullback.
This is closer to a Tri-Nations squad than we would like to believe… except for Victor Matfield and possibly Zane Kirchner.
6 WP okes in the backline…
I think the combinations chosen are solid and this team should put Italy to the sword with very few problems.
I would have like Ruan Pienaar to start in place of Ricky and would have liked to see Werner Kruger in the mix, but Snorrie is bent on BJ and Jannie at tighthead, one can clearly see that.
The coach is giving Ricky all the chances in the world to regain his form, why not give Ruan a chance as well?
Good that Juan starts next to Jaque… with Wynand on the bench… that’s what I would have done for this game as well.
In stead of Butch on the bench, Zane should have been on the bench…. Ruan already covers flyhalf and scrummie.
I can’t fault the loosie combo… this is the 3 we can expect in the Tri-Nations too.
Nothing wrong with the lock combo considering Bakkies needs game time and Bekker is there for Victor who is rested.
The front row is probably like we’ll see them in the Tri-Nations too.
Net een vraag , dink julle werklik dat SA 45 toets gehalte spelers het?
Hoor op die nuus dat PdeV se noudat ons so baie top gehalte spelers het moet die bestuur ook net na daai vlak beweeg. Bespeur ek n windgat arrogansie? Of wat?
Super, ek dink nie 45 nie, maar beslis 30 en ek is heel OK met rotasie in sekere posisies.
8@ superBul:
Ons het ‘n goeie groep van 30 of so maar daar is leemtes in 2 posisies… VASKOPSTUT en BUITESENTER.
Die leemte op buitesenter is egter nie ernstig nie want Jaque is darem daar en seker nou die beste in sy posisie in die wêreld…. en as hy seerkry kan Juan daar inval…
Maar wat gebeur as ons aftjop op vaskopstut… BJ lyk nie juis inspirerend nie, ookie Jannie nie… behalwe as Snorrie nog in die agterkop dink John Smit cover daar ook…. dit sal uiters dwaas wees.
Dit is hoekom ek W Kruger moet aansluit, verkieslik in die plek van BJ.
@ Boerboel:
Naand Boerboel
Ek glo ook ons het sowat 27-30 baie goeies, maar die groep van 10-15 wat daarna volg het regtig nie nou pasela Springbok truie nodig nie. Daai groep moet spelers wees wat uitsonderlike vorm het, en dan kan hy hulle met gemak intrek as benodig.
So die groep kan float, se byvoorbeeld Flippie vd Merwe is daar (31-45) en is witwarm op vorm nou , ja trek hom in waneer die nood ontstaan, ons weet hy is goed genoeg so waarom hom nou kwansuis toets in n niksegende toets teen Italia nie.
@ superBul:
Maar as iemand anders soos byvoorbeld Adriaan Fondse tydens die nood soektog na n Bok vervanging die vorm man is, wat maak dit nou werklik saak dat FvdM nou n pasela Boktrui reeds het. Sien jy my punt?
Ek dink Peter is besig om sy kontinuiteit te verloor, nes NZ gedoen het in 2007.
13@ superBul:
Hoekom is jy so gekant teen die spesifieke span SuperBul…. waar sou jou veranderinge gewees het, inaggenome Victor MOET rus?
JdeV het mooi gesettle in die 12 trui, wat probeer hy nou na 3 jaar weer hom n vleuel maak. Vir jare het hy geweier om hom daar te try nou skielik die ding try. Dit is onnodig en ek sien net DM daaroor geskryf, in DIK skrif.
Gio was skitterent op vleuel, ek as blou bul het skoon van Shaddow vergeet 😆 maar ek jy en enige tom dick en herrie weet hy is goed genoeg om in nood 15 toe te skuif. Wat ons meer nodig met hom het is nog vleuel ondervinding.
Almal se hy is te klein vir die AB en 3Nasies, nou wat kan hy nou op 15 wees, n ER?
Te veel WP manne in die span!!!
hehehehe
Maar ernstig, wat is Snorre se plan met Butch en Morne? Klaar die naweek ‘n slim man gehoor mompel dat Butch die losskakel gaan wees teen die AllBlacks!!!! Voorlangs is ek happy, net Vic wat moet terug en dan kies tussen Danie en Bakkies. Skrumhalf bly ‘n kwota en reserwe hakker ook!! Ek wil nie daarmee vrede maak nie, maarv nou ja, wat kan ek daaraan doen?? Agterlyn, veral senters, lyk my ou Snor weet nog nie wie hy wil speel nie? Ek sou ook vir Jean en Jacque ‘n slag weer saam sou sien speel het. Probleem is dat behalwe Crusty daar GEEN ander heelagter in SA is wat goed genoeg is om vir Bokke te speel nie!! Frans lyk my is ook vir eers uit die prentjie, te danke aan sy geldgierige aggent!!
Ek wonder hoeveel spoed het De Jong en of hy sal kan vleuel speel soos Jean en Jacque gedoen het voor hulle senter toe geskuif het? gisteraand met die O2-
Sorry
Gisteraand by die onder 20’s gesien hoe waardevol ‘n vleuel is wat spoed het!! Problem is dat Snorre seker nie gou vir Hougaard of Shadow sal kies solank Habana, JP, Aplon en die Ndugane’s beskikbaar is nie!!
“We want to see how Gio goes at fullback, so have to ensure that there is height and experience on the wings to make life easier for him,” said Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
YES Shark, Matfield is useless in your eyes 😀
Tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis believes the team will benefit from Smit’s return.
“John has perfected the art of motivating the team for big challenges. After Monday’s training session he immediately told us what the problem was and what needs to be improved,” said Du Plessis.
“He has been in these situations before and knows what we need to work on. It’s a big bonus for the team to have him back.”
Aan die oningeligtes, nuus vanaf die Sharks (wat sommige Bok-kandidate insluit:
Willem Alberts (enkel) en Jean Deysel (gewrig) het albei operasies ondergaan en sal die eerste paar weke van die Curriebeker-seisoen misloop.
Lionel Mapoe, wat hom uit die Vrystaat by die Sharks aangesluit het, sal ook ten minste die eerste helfte van die seisoen misloop ná ’n skoueroperasie.
Ander beseerdes sluit in Gerhard Mostert, Louis Ludik, Adrian Jacobs en JP Pietersen.
Dan oefen die veel besproke Steve Meyer blykbaar ook saam.
Nou Bulle nuus:
Francois Hougaard is fiks en reg om volgende naweek saam met die Springbokke op die vliegtuig te klim Nieu-Seeland toe.
The Sharks need a flyhalf, a young local one and for crying in a bucket, give HIM A CHANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mario Bros is weer vol planne
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