Juan Smith has done the right thing and made the choice that Springbok coach Peter De Villiers did not want to make.
Juan Smith yesterday announced that he is not 100% fit and is withdrawing himself from the Springbok squad for the RWC. In an interview with a local newspaper Juan Smith said “I am not 100%. I won’t be able to give everything and realise I should put my team, team-mates and the Bok fans first. I must stop lying to myself – what I’ve been doing these last three weeks – and realise that I’m not ready.”
It takes a very big man to make a decision such as this before he has played his 1st game after returning from injury. While some may feel Smith still has time to prove his fitness after being released for possible Currie cup selection this coming weekend, the fact of the matter remains that he has not played any rugby for an extended period of time and would certainly have been going into the RWC well underdone if he hadn’t made this big call.
Smith who has played in two RWC tournaments already has endured severe pain while training before making the call to withdraw himself expressed his disappointment – “The pain-level that I have been practicing with, was seven out of ten, which means I had to endure a lot, – I really cannot describe how disappointed I am…immensely,”
I will be watching with interest to see if Juan Smith is rushed into action this coming weekend after being released back to the Cheetahs. If he is still enduring such pain he should be given more time to recover.
Dammit!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOO
Respect. It’s kak, but respect.
They dont get much more Yster than Juan.Alberts must be his direct replacement
Sad news. He was probably the Springboks MVP at the 2007 RWC.
@Pokkel (Comment 5) : He was.The ream named him as such.
Massive respect for the man who knows that you need to be at 200% to play for the Boks. He doesnt want any token test caps! I hope he manages to get fit but i had a feeling that we wont see the best number 7 the Boks have had again…
Damn! This guy has long been the unsung hero in the Bok backline: as good as Alberts is, this is a massive blow.
I wish him all the best.
@ KSAShark… Juan will not be making any appearances this season. He will soon undergo further surgery on the existing injury, thereafter start rehab and begin with his preperations for Super XV 2012.
Hope he sticks around and guides the incumbent blindside.
Would be a mistake to play big Danie at Blindside as he is too slow to react. He should be backup to Bakkies.
Possible loosies
06 Brussow
07 Alberts/Schalk
08 Schalk/Spies
I expect the extra loosie position is between Deysel & Johnson.
Great news for Deon Stegmann though!!
I hope he goes as Juan’s replacement…
@wpw (Comment 10) : hehe as his replacement for an operation…for his broken jaw
@wpw (Comment 10) : Whats the chances that joke comes back to bite you
@wpw (Comment 10) : That’s not even funny.
I doubt he’ll go with a broken cheekbone though.
Hopefully the 6 loosies to go will be;
Schalk Burger
Heinrich Brussouw
Willem Alberts
Jean Deysel
Pierre Spies
Danie Rossouw
@chucky (Comment 9) : @Ben (Comment 14) : For me the question now is whether Snorre will take another flank or another lock. In my mind its going to be between Mostert/Flip or Deysel who will go with.
This throws the selections wide open…
I’m hoping Alberts is back to his best form this weekend and if so my starting loosies would be.
6. Brussow
7. Schalk
8. Alberts.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 12) : Way tooooooo big for my liking.
@Ben (Comment 14) : I agree with everyone besides Danie Rossouw! He should go as the extra lock not loose forward! Id take Kankowski or Johnson as the extra loose forward although both havnt been great at international level! Keegan Daniel wouldnt be half bad just to add something different to the mix…
@Pokkel (Comment 16) : I would rather go with:
6 Brussow
7. Schalk
8. Spies
I would give Alberts 30min from the bench replacing Schalk or depending on how the other 2 play make a decision at half time.
@Ben (Comment 14) : If Danie goes as a loosie then, Matfield, Bakkies and Mostert can be the Locks.
@SheldonK (Comment 18) : I would laso take Danie as a Lock only and rather take an additional loosie. Kanko or Johnson might just get their chance but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I was Kanko.
@Pokkel (Comment 16) : I still prefer Schalk at 6, but if I were to go with your three loosies, I’d stick Alberts at 7 (better at carrying the ball than Schalk) and Schalk at 8 (better passing/linking game than Alberts). In my ever-so humble opinion of course.
@Culling Song (Comment 22) : @Viking (Comment 21) : We all know that Spies will play 8 unless they realise he has another “illness”! and Brussouw will play 6 if he is fit. So the positions up for decision are 7 and the bench/squad. If Burger is fit he will probably play 7. which leaves Alberts for the bench. I reckon Rossouw on the bench as the lock replacement. In the squad id go for Deysel and I think Johnson will make it too.
@Culling Song (Comment 22) : you better hope schalk ACTUALLY plays like a number 8 insted of ALWAYS lurking @ first receiver like he does for the Stormers.
John Smit should do the same.
@SheldonK (Comment 23) : @Megatron (Comment 24) : You guys misunderstand me; I would have Schalk and Brussow duke it out for the 6 jersey. I was just playing around with Pokkel’s trio of choice.
@Culling Song (Comment 26) :
It’s a hell of a difficult choice between Schalk and Brussow for 6 because they each bring something special to the table and that’s why I would like to see both in the loose trio.
But if I really had to make the choice it would have to be Brussow because he poaches so much better than Schalk.
I like the idea of Schalla at 8 given his linking game, and considering the heavy conditions underfoot – so yep Brussouw, Alberts, Schalk – my extra loosie will be Deysel, better at breakdown and lineouts than AJ – and because I like him from a Shark perspective of course!
@Big Fish (Comment 8) : I take it backline should have read back row?:)
@Pokkel (Comment 27) :
Schalk’s selection is non negotiable now that Juan is ruled out.
No other player in the SA team is as committed as him when it comes to the physical stuff.
@wpw (Comment 30) :
I agree but in what position and at who’s expense?
@robdylan (Comment 29) : I chose not to ask because in some way he is still correct, without his work the backline would get crap ball
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 28) : Hey DD, long time no hear. Kill any good rebel fighters lately?
@Culling Song (Comment 26) : @Pokkel (Comment 27) :
Both your opinions are wrong… in my not so humble opinion!!
@Uli (Comment 25) :
Is Smit injured?
@SheldonK (Comment 23) : I also think Deysel will make the squad. Johnson has an outside chance but it all depends on the locks IMO. If they take Danie as a dedicated lock then Johnson should make it but otherwise they may select another lock.
When will we anounce our 30 man squad? Anyone knows?
@Pokkel (Comment 31) :
6-Brussow
7-Schalk
8-Spies
Alberts on the bench
Besides his commitment of those 4 players Schalk is also the only RWC winner.
@wpw (Comment 34) : So you say we have to play Schalk, to which we both agree. I want him at 6, Pokkel at 7, your not-so-humble take is…?
@Pokkel (Comment 31) : I think Viking has the right idea, I’d have Brussouw, Schalk, Spies/Alberts.
Really upset for Juan, such a legend and such an influence in the team.
@wpw (Comment 37) : Ok, I see you responded before I finished my post.
@wpw (Comment 37) :
So we agree about Schalk then……so hoekom wil jy altyd kak maak?
@molly (Comment 39) :
Which is also the idea I had at comment 16.
@Pokkel (Comment 41) :
Omdat julle ons in die CC finaal gewen het!!
@Culling Song (Comment 33) : Yeah its been too too long, been exiled on a planet with no comms… The rebels did put up a good fight, but it is now finished. Been extra busy starting up my business on the road more often than not… i missed you guys.
@Pokkel (Comment 42) :
Ag shame. I didn’t know it still hurt that much!
@Culling Song (Comment 40) : whoops.
Its a very good idea
@Pokkel (Comment 45) :
I think you were meant to reply to my comment and not talk to yourself.
@wpw (Comment 47) : OOPS!!
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 44) : You get good mileage from your tie fighter? Ok, I have officially exhausted my Stars Wars knowledge now; I’ve got nothing more.
Its ok – we can talk rugby from here on in…
And what makes the Juan Smith situation all the worse is that it could have been avoided before it started. I really hope ‘someone’ learn to listen to the advice of doctors from now on.
And what makes the Juan Smith situation all the worse is that it could have been avoided before it started. I really hope ‘someone’ learns to listen to the advice of doctors from now on.
@war1 (Comment 52) : huh? How could it have been avoided? By the Cheetah’s not playing him against the Bulls right at the beginning of SR?
@war1 (Comment 52) :
It wasn’t the same injury. He carried a totally different injury before he started playing for the Cheetah’s again.
Is Duane Vermeulen still injured?
@molly (Comment 53) : @Pokkel (Comment 54) : Naka Drotske played him despite the team doctor saying he was injured and could not play. Then a few minutes into that match he snapped his achilles.
Divvy would play a lame 3 legged donkey just because he was a racehorse in a previous life… Good for Juan for having the balls to say that he wasn’t ready. Not many players would do that.
@vanmartin (Comment 55) : This is a thread about possible Springboks, what relevance does Vermeulen have?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 58) : I couldn’t have said it better…
brussouw, Schalk, Spies with Alberts on the bench.
Danie Rossouw is a great replacement lock, but he is not a test quality loose forward.
@thatmanvan (Comment 60) : I agree with you
@Pokkel (Comment 13) :
Stegman got a broken cheek bone….
Aye this is going to be so inhumane of me….but good news for the WC Bok team…We have enough cover…
6 – Brussouw / Burger / Alberts
7 – Burger / Deysel / Danie / Alberts
8 – Spies / Alberts / Burger
Johnson can also tag along and they can even take Josh Strauss
@KSA Shark © (Comment 58) : I’d pick him for loose forward cover ahead of Steggman and Rossouw. And where’s Flouw?
Hope some of the other sr players can follow in juan footsteps! They must be honest and put the team b4 personal milestones. Juan was always a true gentleman of the game. See you back soon.
@DarkDestroyer: schalk burger has ,unfortunately, shocking passing skills.can’t play the linking role.and I don’t know how good he will be at controlling a ball at his feet at the back of the scrum-especially a scrum ball under pressure.
(rolling eyes).
@jake white: guess schalk’s passing skills can be contributed to the wonderful work of our schools’ rugby coaches,hey
@wpw: yes,schalk puts his body on the line everytime he puts a rugby years on,be it a weepee one or the bok jersey.