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.

132 Responses to Smit seems intent on continuing at the tank

  • 61

    but still going…

  • 62

    @ sharky_forever:
    Hiya Sharky….How are you doing?
    Anything good on the menu tonight?? 😉

  • 63

    @ J.M.E.:53 – J.M.E. Welcome first time I see you here. Where you living?

  • 64

    @ J.M.E.:
    Hi JME we have never met…If you can see the sea you must be a Sharks or Stormers fan?

  • 65

    @ Puma:I one rescued Shaun Thompson at Cave Rock, he got a blue bottle wrapped around his chest and couldnt breathe. I was doing duties with Dolphins surf lifesavers, his cousin peter is a good mate who worked as a lifie for a while. Shaun started the Gotcha brand I think it was and lost the lot, then he bailed to the States, I dont know if he is back now. His family had Thompsons panel beaters, there near where the new Kings Sports is, I think Marshall street?

  • 66

    (Wild guess) !! 😉

  • 67

    Thank you! WC SA

  • 68

    @ 4man:60 – 4man this was a Durbs Boy. Was splashed all in the papers with the winning of Oosthuizen. Cause the last time it was won by a saffa was by Shaun Thompson. That was the Gunston 500 and it was then held at the Bay of Plenty. You remember in North Beach? Well I was on the beach watching that tourney. Think it was 86 or 87. A long time back.

  • 69

    @ J.M.E.:Were you talking about Gavin? do you know him, if you admit to this then I will have your age and soon your name!

  • 70

    @ sharky_forever:58 – Sharky, brudda for sure….hehehehe.

  • 71

    64@BB Nope Bulls fan

  • 72

    @ Puma:Midget Farrely gave me a Billabong t shirt in 1976, which I still have. He won the Gunston a few times, he was from Brisbane I think…lots of Aussie lifeguards in Durban those days, the Rand was strong.

  • 73

    69@4man Gavin who?? sorry do not know at all….

  • 74

    Billabong Pro jeffreys Bay won by Jordy Smith….hell, I am out of touch, I dont know him

  • 75

    @ J.M.E.:Gavin Rudolph…ok I misunderstood, I thought you knew him, as after my post you said “still going”.

  • 76

    @ 4man:65 – 4man well who would have thought Shaun Thompson would have had to be rescueded?? hahaha.

    Did ST not start the Quick Silver brand?

    I read that this youngster got some advice or something like that from ST. Think his name was Gavin or Grant. Something like that. Was in The Mercury on Monday.

  • 77

    Sorry 4man I was refering to Nelson Mandela

    But it will take you some time to find my name and age…:-)))

  • 78

    @ Puma:76 – Sorry typo again. meant rescued

  • 79

    Gavin Rudolph 1969 world surfing champion.
    1974 convicted of smuggling cannabis sativa inside surfboards to Europe, stripped of his Springbok colours and not allowed to compete for 10 years, he didnt get a jail sentence as he turned states evidence and his compatriots went to prison. Ten years later, he entered a surfing competition…won it and retired from competition surfing.

  • 80

    @ J.M.E.:
    Snap!

  • 81

    @ J.M.E.:77 – J.M.E. You live in that cold country Canada?…LOL. Hope your good weather lasts buddy…..hehehe.

  • 82

    @ J.M.E.:Ah ok…but you are from Province? have you played any representative sport?

  • 83

    Sharky, why are you guys so desperate to hold on to JS?

  • 84

    79@4man I take my hat off for this guy!! I would have done the same (last part only) but that was way before my adulthood

  • 85

    @ 4man:79 – Well you have me there 4man. I never heard of him. Probably cause I was a youngster still living in Joburg.

    @ 4man:74 – 4man. Thats the name and the name of the Tourney. Billabong. He beat a Aussie in the final.

  • 86

    @ Puma:No…Quiksilver is an Aussie brand. Shaun couldnt breathe when we pulled him out of the water, we actually thought he was going to die, stung my bloody hands pulling the bluebottles off him and then got the alkali solution onto the skin to counteract the acid, we always used to ahve it to hand those days and if I recall we had to keep him calm and put the oxygen on…but being a superb athlete, he was as right as rain in a short while. Nice kid, it never went to his head…for a town boy that is 😉

  • 87

    Sighhhhh

  • 88

    @ Boerboel:83 – Boerboel, Cause what he can give back after his playing days. Not just what he can do right now.

  • 89

    @ Puma:See my post 74

  • 90

    @ smallies72:
    Look, we can’t talk rugby all the time it would get a boring as Keo is nowadays!! 😉

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