I know I really shouldn’t even rise to this sort of thing, but certain other websites are posting all sorts of rumours about John Smit being sent to the Lions at the behest of SARU, in order to be afforded game time at hooker.
Let’s just take a step back here and consider a number of facts. Fact number one is that John Smit is contracted in Durban until the end of 2010 and despite what Lions fans would have you believe, there are some unions in South Africa that actually DO lock their players into watertight contracts. So Smit is not a free agent and is not able to just saunter on over to join the Lions, even if he wanted to.
Whether he would want to is in itself debatable. Barney is a folk hero in Durban, having represented the Sharks ever since he left school. He has repeatedly been quoted to say that he wouldn’t consider playing for another SA team. Apart from anything else, his young family is settled in Durban, where he had numerous business interests away from rugby. His parents live on a farm somewhere up north anyway, so talk about him moving to Joburg to be closer to them smacks a little of clutching at non-existent straws.
The second fact is that SARU has no influence whatsoever when it comes to deciding who plays where. In an ideal world, perhaps, we might have a New Zealand-like system where the national body ensures an even distribution of talent between the five franchises, but the reality is that provincial unions in South Africa are under no obligation whatsoever to move players around at SARU’s behest. So any “demand” from SARU that Smit (or Bismarck du Plessis) be releases to the Lions will be met by Brian van Zyl’s middle finger. Of that there is no doubt.
The Sharks LIKE having options in the front row – that is why they have opted to contract so many top players. Losing Smit will mean they have no Super 14-tested options at either hooker or tighthead should the either of the du Plessis brothers break down. Having depth in your squad is a good thing and competition for places is what’s going to see the Sharks emerge as a stronger squad this year. The fact that the Lions are too sodding useless to find a hooker of their own is not a good reason to let them have one of ours.
The third fact is that the Bok brainstrust have not, as yet, decided that John Smit is going to move back to hooker. As I mentioned in my article yesterday, just because our scrum finally looked ok for a 20-minute period against Italy, the entire world seems to have jumped lock, stock and barrel onto a bandwagon and I feel they are doing so prematurely. Even if Smit starts at hooker against Ireland, there’s no guarantee that he won’t be moved back to tighthead again next year, once everyone else is fit and rested again.
A lot here will depend on de Villiers’ long-term plan for Smit, assuming he has actually got as far as deciding what it is! Should Smit end up back at hooker full-time for the Boks, then the Sharks would definitely have a conundrum on their plate, as the national captain should probably expect to start in his preferred position for his Super 14 franchise. As we know Bismarck does not like playing second-fiddle to anyone and should he insist on retaining the Sharks number 2 jersey, then the Sharks management would have no choice but to find some sort of compromise, perhaps involving one of the players leaving. It’s far too early to predict what might happen in that case, though.
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He did consider playing for WP on returning from France 😈
😯
I don’t understand how anyone can demand to play. What coach worth their salt would stand for it.
@McLovin (Comment 3) : you mean Bismarck? Rankles with me as well, but the persistent rumours about a clause in his contract refuse to go away…
If this come to be, it would be the worst mistake the Sharks have made in their 20 year history!
I cannot see this happen however, too many things working against this with just one or two small things going for something like this coming off.
There is no doubt in my mind (never was) that Smit is the best hooker in World Rugby for the last couple of years, not to mention captain, if worst comes to worst then losing Bissy would be something like the spoils of war.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : In this case him, but in general also. If true it’s seems crazy to me.
@Morné (Comment 5) : you and I are of one accord, Morras
From his book, it did really seem like he enjoyed Dick Muir’s style of coaching… Hope that’s not the case here though. If we can get BJ Botha back, the loss of Smitty would hurt, but not be too crippling…
@Morné (Comment 6) : @robdylan (Comment 8) :
I hope 3 is not a crowd?? Can we make this Un menage a trois ? 😉
Always preferred John to Biz anyway (sorry Mads)
Oh my poor Bissie 🙁 I just think this is good for the Sharks and SBs as there is nothing better to bring out the best in any player than the hunger for the jersey!
I see this possible move in a positive light.
It gives more game time to Bismarck, to whom there were some verbal promises made.
2 Maybe the Lions will now choke in every semi or final they play LOL.
Seriously though, I hope DM brings the Lions back up to speed.
Who knows, if Smit and Waylon goes, some other guys might follow . . .
@Original Pierre (Comment 12) : i am in 2 minds about this one.
on the outset must say that do not think this move gonna happen but if it would .. without detracting from John’s value I think his mind is on Boks and less on Sharks, which I think is quite understandable.
Where are you guys reading this stuff, I would love that to happen, but the Sharks would be bloody stupid to let it, and this seems a stretch, seeing that the team has yet to be announced and PDV has not decided if he will follow through with Smit returning to hooker full time, personally I would love John Smit to go back to hooker because it is the only way he would make it too 2011. Bismark has done himself no favours either this year its almost as if he has become a legend in his own mind, he costs points with his mindless off the ball play and he has not played well at all this season. I am not holding my breath as a lions supporter just to far fetched, but it is South African Rugby so who knows!!
@Whindy (Comment 14) : we talk rugby dot com
@robdylan (Comment 15) : thanks Rob, reckon it might be smoke your socks.com
Ek self is ‘n Valie maar ek dink hierdie is meer wensdenkery
Rob, if you read what I said, I never mentioned that it’s going to happen or that it’s a rumour or anything to the fact that it’s the truth.
I wrote it as I personally think that both Smit and Bissie should be afforded game time at hooker. The only way for this to happen is for either player to move to a different union.
And by the way. John is moving back to hooker, this is from PDV. Watch this space.
Nice site. 😛
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 18) : like I said, if Peter does indeed make that decision and it’s a permanent switch, then the dolls are going to dance 🙂
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 18) : nice to have you here, by the way 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 20) : Thanks.
Yeah, we’ll have to see what happens. Gonna be interesting though.
Actually having the Dup boys both going to the Lions would not be a bad thing for SA rugby, especially if BJ comes back to the Boks. A Sharks front row of BJ, JS and Beast, with Carstens on the bench and Herbst and Cilliers the backups, is extremely good, not to mention firecracker/firehydrant Burden coming on to run the oppo ragged in the last 1/4. A Lions front row of Heinke, Bissie and Jannie would also be something to see in the Super 14. This would leave the Bulls with the weakest front row of the SA franchises. Also, this is dependent on the Sharks finding an opensider that actually plays to the ground and steals ball. The problem is Bissie is our primary ball stealer now because Botes, while first to almost every breakdown does not play to the ground well at all. My Sharks Super 14 loosie combos would be Deysel at 6, Kanko at 7 and Alberts at 8, or Deysel at 6, Rhodes at 7 and Kanko at 8. Depending on conditions. My opinion is Deysel plays to the ground in very much the same manner Brussow does.
Even if this ie beyond the realm of possibilities, and it does happen, if Bissie and Jannie should come – Jannie would just be sitting on the bench again.
He’ll never be picked over Kevin Buys. Excellent srummager, awesome work rate, and has he same defensive abilities as Alberts. Awesome rugby player.
Only played three games this season, but already had offers from three unions. Fortunetely his agent isn’t Peet van Zyl, so he has a different contract with NO loopholes.
Watch him guys, will be the Tighthead of Super 14 2010. Mark my words.
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 23) :
You from rugby dot com?
Welcome. btw! 😀
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 23) : Everyone is raving about this Buys I cannot wait to see him in action.
Damn I am so looking forward to S14 but its now 79 sleeps till it kicks off 😉
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 24) : Yeah. We Talk Rugby dot com.
Thanks, appreciate it.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 25) :
He’s a mountain of a man, HUGE. Used to play 8, but went over to France and they turned him into TH, Strong bugger.
I have never seen such huge thighs on some-one. He’s just a freak.
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 26) :
Guess i am not allowed…I tend to talk a bit more than just rugby… 😆
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 27) :
But then again…I only have time to play on one site..so I’ll stay here, seeing that WE “moet bykom”.. 🙄 😈 😉
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 26) :
“I have never seen such huge thighs on some-one.”
Beyonce Knowles – biggest thighs in the business.
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 28) :
Bwahahahahaha, yeah, Julle moet bietjie bykom. You need to support the Lions.
😆
Always welcome.
@Big Fish (Comment 29) : Hahahahaha, thanks goodness then she’s not a Tighthead.
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 30) :
😆
@Big Fish (Comment 29) :
Good to see you have a little break from making bucks! 😉
@Big Fish (Comment 29) : 😆
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 26) : Really looking forward to see him, he is being touted as the next SB Tight head! Who do the Lions play first in S14?
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 31) :
Or a hooker?
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 32) :
Them saltmines are weighing me down.
@Big Fish (Comment 34) :
Not our fault you choose to be one of the “Hoe Bome”.. 😈
BTW…busy making “friends” agian, like me? 😆
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 35) :
There is nobody else like you. 😉
@Big Fish (Comment 36) :
“ander dam se gans” ??
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 26) : you can link your username to http://www.wetalkrugby.com if you like. I don’t mind 🙂
You are straining my limited Afrikaans now…
Please vote for my kid 🙂 http://www.babyexpert.com/Gallery/Matthew/627290/gallery
@robdylan (Comment 38) :
OLA Don Roberto!
@Big Fish (Comment 39) :
Ah Cummon! You can do better than that! Clever Trevor! 😆
@robdylan (Comment 40) :
Done! He is Gorgeos BTW, Looks like Mom! 😉
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Done. 😎
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Voted! What a goregeous smile Rob, obviously he looks like the dad 😉
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 43) : Oops great minds don’t always think alike 😆
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 42) :
🙂
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 43) :
Thank goodness.
Oh yeah – I did vote for young Matthew too.
@Big Fish (Comment 47) :
😈
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 46) :
you just brown nosing .. 😆
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 45) :
You must look at the face…not the hair! 😆
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 49) : @Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 50) : 😆
thanks guys.
Hola Fishy
Matthew now has 30 votes!!
@wpw (Comment 53) : nice… you can vote once per day 🙂
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 31) : welcome willa, good to see you on this site
@wpw (Comment 53) : make that 32 the last time i checked 😀
@war1 (Comment 56) : it looks like I’m number 35 already
@rekinek (Comment 57) : more more more 🙂
I am a greedy bastard, aren’t I? Demon Daddy syndrome.
@robdylan (Comment 58) :
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Ook so gemaak – cutie pie. Bulls votes do count double 😆
@WilladieLeeu (Comment 26) : HEY WILLA
@diablo (Comment 60) : You voted for a Sharks baby Good on you Diablo 😆
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 62) : Only because Matthew really is a handsome fella – would not have voted had he been an ugly little blighter 😉
@diablo (Comment 63) : aag shame, but surely you know there is not such thing as an ugly Shark 😉
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 64) : I know that there no such thing as an “ugly” baby – alas, the rot sets in later
@diablo (Comment 65) : 😆
WoooHooo, the Sharks are coming to town,
The Sharks will play the Western Force on 26/01/2009 and the Stormers on 29/01/2009, and the Stormers will play the Force on 23/01/2009 in a Triangular friendly S14 warm up.
Compensation for Boland bombing out and the Stormers playing the Sharks in Durban in the S14.
😀
@Salmonoid (Comment 67) : Brilliant, do you know whether these games will be televised? Where did you get this good news?
From he official Sharks website.
No mention of telivising the game yet.
@Salmonoid (Comment 69) : I hope they televise it, but knowing these nutjobs at Supersport ’cause the baby blues are not playing the chances are that it will not 👿
The Springbok team is (test caps in brackets):
15 Zane Kirchner (3)
14 JP Pietersen (32)
13 Jaque Fourie (53)
12 Wynand Olivier (26)
11 Bryan Habana (56)
10 Morne Steyn (11)
9 Fourie du Preez (54)
8 Danie Rossouw (45)
7 Schalk Burger (54)
6 Heinrich Brüssow (12)
5 Victor Matfield (91)
4 Bakkies Botha (65)
3 BJ Botha (18)
2 John Smit (92) – captain
1 Tendai Mtawarira (21)
Reserves:
16 Bismarck du Plessis (31)
17 CJ van der Linde (57)
18 Andries Bekker (2)
19 Jean Deysel (1)
20 Dewald Potgieter (uncapped)
21 Ruan Pienaar (36)
22 Jean de Villiers (54)
No Kanko and I believe Deysel should have started. Damn good team otherwise.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 71) : Like it. 😎
@McLovin (Comment 72) : yeah me too, but I really feel for Kanko 🙁
Oh there goes my emotional thinking again 😳
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 73) : He didn’t exactly do himself many favours with his last performance unfortunately.
However this pack looks like it might be going forward (or at least not backward at a rate of knots) at scrum time, in which case I’d have Kanko ahead of Danie.
Danie has not impressed me much on this tour to be honest.
@McLovin (Comment 74) : Agreed, on both points. When Kanko created that first try by Jacques I was all excited that we were going to finally see the old Kanko back only to be disapointed as the game went on. Danie really looks jaded in this tour, almost like he is just going through the motions.
@McLovin (Comment 74) :
ja nee wragtig – Danie moes bench to at least
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 75) : And looking for a fight (Danie)… 😈
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 75) :
You know what…I have never been a huge Kanko fan, as you can remember from the SR days – because of his ball handling or losing. But I was excited for his sake and because he is a Sharks when he got his SB colours. But I dont think he will ever be remembered as one of teh greats, unfortunately. I think he’s there, because he is one of the better once not one of the best.. 😳
@McLovin (Comment 77) : He is a Bulls player, brawls are their daily bread/drink?
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 76) : Yip.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 79) : True, usually takes a few brandy & cokes though…
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 78) : Me neither but in 2008 he really looked like the real deal and was getting so excited, but it all came crashing down this year, he had some amazing games for the Sharks but then he had some real appaling matches. I think he is just trying too hard and therefore making silly mistakes he should just come back to SA except that for now Spies has the Jersey and get his 08 form again, then he may be good enough to challenge for the position again.
@McLovin (Comment 81) :
Thats a given…its in their system 24/7 anyway! Once in a while there is a little blood too, but that is the exception rather than the rule..
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 83) :
Oh shit – Diablo is here, now I am gonna get it!! 😯 😆
👿
@diablo (Comment 85) :
Ag Diabs, net ‘n ou grappie!! **puppy eyes** 😆
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 84) : Nah, I am aware that you lot are all Taurophobes – I’m not inclined to sweat unimportant stuff 😉
@diablo (Comment 87) :
A Bull that thinks sweating klippies and coke is unimportant?? Miracles never cease!! 😆 😉
@diablo (Comment 87) :
Oh…and I am a Taurus…so no taurophobia here,… 😉 But a Sharks supporter.. 😀
@Xmas Ice-Icle (Comment 88) : Wys jou net. Dangerous to generalise… 😀
Cheers vir eers 😛
I read somewhere that Kanko had a serious knock to the head.