THE only thing that is likely to be on Springbok captain John Smit’s mind at the moment is how they can possibly overcome the Wallabies in Brisbane this Saturday, but on his return to Durban, he is set to resume contractual negotiations with the Sharks.
Article with compliments to the Daily News.
Rumours have been buzzing around for some time predominantly linking Smit with a possible move to the Lions, where former Sharks coach and current Bok assistant coach Dick Muir is trying to re-build the franchise into a formidable force once again.
Smit’s Sharks contract is up at the end of the 2010 season, and with the Springboks set to have a few weeks break between this weekend’s Tri-Nations test and their next, Sharks commercial manager Rudolf Straeuli said they were keen to sit down with Smit.
“We are waiting to meet with John once he returns from overseas. He’s said that he hasn’t committed to anyone else and that he’ll come to see us when he’s back. So that should happen in the next couple of weeks.”
A source close to the Bok captain confirmed to the Daily News that interest in acquiring the services of Smit had been expressed by the Lions and from other quarters, but that the 32-year-old was in fact likely to re-sign with the Sharks.
Meanwhile, Absa Currie Cup captain Stefan Terblanche will lead an unchanged run-on side against the Pumas tomorrow night at the Absa Stadium, in what will be his 100th Currie Cup appearance (25 with Boland and the rest for the Sharks).
The successful starting lineup from last weekend remains entirely intact, while there is just a solitary change on the bench, where Willem Alberts returns from injury to replace Skholiwe Ndlovu.
Sharks coach
John Plumtree said it was important to reward the players with reselection after they performed so well against the Blue Bulls.
“We’ve talked about how if you front up, you’ve got a great chance of being selected and I thought everyone deserved to be re-selected this week. That’s the kind of environment I want to create, where there is healthy competition for places. If you don’t perform, you don’t get picked and this was one game where everybody really stood up. We do have some guys returning from injury, which is great news for us, but they are going to have to work to get back into this team.”
Alberts is one of those that will have to work his way back off the bench, but he is set to have an extended run in the second half “with a view to giving him some game time ahead of the match against the Cheetahs next week”.
For the most part, though, Plumtree said it was crucial for combinations to settle.
My family Cape Dutch red hair and angry people, I have been all over the place, just the last year in WC before that UK
!968???? jeez I that is very close to when I was born….
@ Blue Bird:119 – BB, Nice catching up. See what you can do when the weather is great… 😀
@ Blue Bird:God has a sense of humour…I am convinced of that…I always think of the Asian Major domo working for Karen Blixen in “Out of Africa” when their coffee plantation flooded for the umpteenth time, he said “God plays with us Sabu”.
Moray eels too should not be on the planet, they bite your hand while you are digging in a hole looking for a crayfish, they think your fingers are an octopus. The clever guys say “leave your hand there, he will let go when he realises you arent his prey”…never worked for me, I broke Moray teeth off a couple of times ripping my hand out of their mouths. Mosquitos, cettain snakes, Blue Bulls supporters, all useless creatures. 😉
@BB have a nice evening! 🙂
123@4man hahahaha blue bull supporters, eat ur heart out!!
@ Blue Bird:Incorrect radio procedure BB, you say over and the other station says out.
@ J.M.E.: 😉 😉
Ok guys and girls I am out…Boerboel enjoy Joeys, I’ll be in Franschoek sometime in Sept, rest of you, good luck for your teams on the weekend.
Boks by 10!!!!!
@ 4man:127 – Cheers 4man.
@ J.M.E.:125 – Cheers J.M.E. Enjoy your weather while it lasts…..hahaha. Good to catch up.
Cheers all. Catch up tomorrow.
Boks by 5 and hoping a bit more.
Cheers guys!
from a lovely WC
and a lovely lady!!
cheers i’m going to pass out as wel. 4man, let me know when yiu are in Franshoek. cheers
127 @4man Franschhoek is awesome!
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