It’s been a bit of a bittersweet week for Bok captain John Smit.
The talk of the town, it seems, has centred around the record-breaking Bok hooker’s thus-far successful attempts to get back into the shape of his life ahead of the Super Rugby season. After somewhat of a disappointing year, from a personal point of view in 2010, Smit (who missed the last part of last year due to a neck injury) has let it be known that he’s fitter than ever and has shed the excess pounds that he packed on a year ago at the Bok management’s behest. The buzz in Durban is very positive, with various sources confirming that the captain is fit as a fiddle and looking lean and mean ahead of the year in which he is determined to be the first captain in history to successfully defend the World Cup.
There was the usual sniping from the Keo’s of the world, of course, with all of the writers employed by that particular website using their twitter accounts to denigrate the captain and suggest that he was past it. While Smit is far too iconic a figure to pay any attention to criticism from such lowly quarters, the fact that his long-time mentor – and once friend – Jake White saw fit to weigh in with his own set of barbs during the week must surely have hit home somewhat harder. John’s got broad shoulders though and has coped with a fair bit of criticism over a professional career spanning more than a decade.
His coach at the Sharks, John Plumtree, confirmed this weekend that Smit will indeed be the man to captain the Sharks in this year’s Super Rugby competition, thus ending speculation that Currie Cup winning skipper Stefan Terblanche might continue in the role with Smit limited to a more advisory capacity. The no-nonsense Kiwi also took a fair few shots at White’s statements in a frank interview with Mike Greenaway, which you can read in the Sunday Tribune, or on-line here.
The latest setback, in a week of ups and downs, is the breaking news that Smit has very recently suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain. The injury, which should keep him out of action for a week or two, will see him miss out on the upcoming training camp in Phokeng, but hopefully fit enough to play a part in the Sharks’ second Neo Africa Tri-Series warm-up match, against the Stormers in early February.
Sabelo Nhlapo has been called up from the Vodacom Cup training squad to take Smit’s place on the camp. The team flies to Johannesburg from Durban this afternoon, from where they will travel by bus to the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus, where their week-long training camp will take place.
Rob, pleased you put up that link to Greenaway’s article in the Tribune. Read it this morning. Good read that.
Hope Smit recovers fully from that hamstring strain.
@Puma (Comment 1) : thanks for pointing it out to me
@robdylan (Comment 2) : No problem Rob. There was another great article in the Tribune by Greenaway with Plum’s view how the Boks should approach the world cup. For some reason can’t pick it up on the net. Boks: adapt or die.
Now the question is what position is smit going to play for the sharks. Think it will be between 2 and 3
@Ben (Comment 4) : Plum reckons all three
@robdylan (Comment 5) : 1,2 and 3?
I’m glad you have Phokeng in the headline
@Ben (Comment 6) : yes, check the article in the link.
@war1 (Comment 8) : Can’t my blackberry doesn’t want to load it.
Zuks just told me he’s sure the training will be open to public but I’m not putting my money on that.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Good day all
According to john smit’s twitter stream he is on the bus already…does not sound like he is injured.
Just read that article in the Sunday Tribune and its scary that it seems the springbok coaching and conditioning staff can be so neglecting
@JJR (Comment 12) : ok – so it was probably a bit foolish of me to assume he would miss the trip altogether, making the headline misleading.
He is definitely injured, though, so I’m guessing he’ll be there to participate in the off-field sessions. Which actually makes sense.
@robdylan (Comment 14) :
Rob?
i am sure even though he is injured he would still be on the bus as he is capt and will be there to work out the plans with the team ,
we all make mistakes rob 
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : wha?
@robdylan (Comment 17) : skype
in which he is determined to be the first captain in history to successfully defend the World Cup.
LOL
@robdylan (Comment 14) : Cool sweet…he will have more energy to lift some more weights…
@klempie (Comment 19) : can you imagine an empty Keo after smitty achieves this??
and of course those that will deny this and say they always supporterd smitty lol
@sharks_lover (Comment 21) :
An empty Keo?
Never, Keo is like a reed, he bends which everway the wind blows,
Who woulda thought something soooooooo short could bend that much and that often.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 22) :
it will be empty though as his john smits haters will all hide for a few weeks 
oh and his so called journo’s will tell how they knew john smit would bring us glory
,
@KSA Shark © (Comment 22) : but i do agree with your sentiments re that site
I`m just a little worried. Can we really afford to start John Smit in stead of Bismark?
I don`t want him to play tighthead that leaves 1 and he is definately not better than Beast so our captain will play off the bench?
Could be a good thing, a cool head to close out those tight games . . .
As I said in a previous comment, John Smith and Bismarck should move in conjunction with a loose forward. Either two half fetchers play in Bismarck and keeegs. Or John Smith and a real fetcher plays like Botes. With plum wanting to move John in all 3positions , and when we want to play both Bissie and Smith, we rest one of our props.
Well like Plum says, John is the only player in the world that can play all 3 positions in the front row. Now that is a true asset to have in your team, to have a player that can cover all those positions.
My feeling John will start, not sure in which postion, but being the captain he will start and then probably come off after 60min and Stefan will captain.
Also he should rest as much as possible and not aggravate that hammie strain he has. Even if he does not play in the warm up games in Cape Town, which don’t matter that much. Rather have him 100% ready for the start of the S15.
@Puma (Comment 28) : hiyas brudda
thanks for the mail.
@Puma (Comment 27) : JS is a rare breed of a leader. There are not many leaders like him left in this world.
@sharks_lover (Comment 29) : Howzit Brudda,
Just sent you another short mail.
Going to have a early night. Catch up tomorrow.
Cheers Sharky.
@Mocho (Comment 30) : Agree 100%
Okay not out of here. Cheers buddy.
@Puma (Comment 32) : not = now.
Morning All
eish
i just hope our skipper gets back in good time and carrys on to be our best captain of all times and 2nd inline is our CC very own Oupa Stef
i just hope that the Sharks don’t get so much injury’s this year we need our full team up and running to win the S15
it was a great article by greenaway. what i did find interesting is that the boks management told smit to bulk up. that is what got him in this position of ridicule as he lost a lot of pace. but then you start looking at other players bok management have messed up. basson, chilliboy (if reports of the bok doctor giving the boks a dodgy substance are true), the shark bok players that came back unfit before 2009 currie cup playoffs. it all makes one question the quality of “professionals” we have looking after the bok players. i wonder how many injuries in the boks could have been averted with better management by the bok “pro’s”
@try time (Comment 35) : Agreed 100% . . .
I think in future if bok management tells our shark players to do something they should call the good people in Durban and double check!
@Original Champion (Comment 36) : i think with the hopes of a nation resting on the only successful team in the country, only the best management should be in charge. this doesn’t seem to happen though.
If i’m not mistaken the Bok doctor Craig Roberts is from the Sharks is he not? Poor dears always blaming everyone else.There is no way Smit is a prop.He should either play hooker or sit on the bench.Still it is the Sharks way,trying to fit square pegs into round holes.Get away as soon as you can Lambie or your career will be stymied much the way Pienaar and Steyns’ were by clueless selectors.As for Smit he will regret not taking the chance to join the Lions revolution.Good luck though you’re an absolute legend.
@wade (Comment 38) :
leave smit alone and for Lambie i’m not even going to go there
@chaz (Comment 39) : Psst – let me give you a hint. Wade is a troll. Ignore him.
@robdylan (Comment 40) : thanks
gee another old 
and 
troll 
Not sure what a “troll” is but i assume it’s not a good thing to be.I wasn’t in any way being derogatory towards John Smit who is an absolute credit to himself and everyone he represents and is the type of person,i’m sure,that would never call somebody a “troll”.I simply believe if he is going to start for the Boks then it has to be as first choice hooker.Regarding Lambie,am i alone in my concern that he will be messed around positionally?