How to use John the giant?
rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball says John Smit needs to find a way to transfer his powerful impact off the pitch to on-field performances for the Springboks.
Watching the Sharks’ win over the Bulls last week, it was clear to see how embarrassing it was for Smit to sit on the bench for 78 minutes, so much so that he had an argument with John Plumtree after the match in the team bus for not being used earlier. When it came to the crunch, Plumtree was unwilling to use Smit in a pressure situation, especially with Bismarck du Plessis being so effective.
That the Sharks’ best performance of the season came when Smit had the least time on it was not a coincidence, and that would’ve hurt Smit. Plumtree set himself up however, telling the media from the season’s onset that he had full faith in Smit, but that hasn’t been evidence as the campaign wore on.
Against the Crusaders, Smit was used after 62 minutes with the score at 26-8. He only came on when the result was decided.
Peter de Villiers has put himself into a similar situation as Plumtree, but he won’t be as brave as Plumtree was in the final league fixture and has basically made the decision that Smit’s leadership and ‘having been there’ is more valuable than Du Plessis’s playing ability (although he has also won a World Cup).
The latest headlines are that Smit is ‘Not done yet’ – but those same articles were being written three years ago when he came back from France. Smit says he feels committed to the team to follow through, but on the pitch that ‘I’m not done yet’ slogan hasn’t been apparent.
Those writing those statements have adopted a strategic media plan to be close to the captain heading into the World Cup, but any neutral observer will note what Smit’s impact is. Rassie Erasmus’s inclusion on the coaching staff as a technical adviser will mean that the players have less of a say in tactics, as has been the case since 2008, and further diminishes Smit’s influence.
It’s clear Smit will start the big matches for the Boks at the World Cup, and the only solution is he must play as much rugby as possible before that. The more he plays and the fitter he is, the better he’ll play. Although most of the senior players will be rested for the away leg of the Tri-Nations (as in 2007), Smit should tour as the captain – simply from a game-time perspective.
However, that seems unlikely with Johann Muller and BJ Botha called into the Boks’ 49-man squad. The pair are very close with Smit (emphasising how powerful Smit is off the field and in terms of selection), and although they might not go to New Zealand for the World Cup, their likely impact will come when they go to the country for the Tri-Nations a month earlier.
With Muller seen as a possible option to lead the team in the build-up, that would rob Smit of time on the field – something he dearly needs. Other senior players such as Victor Matfield also delivered sub-standard showings last year and the in the beginning of 2011, but have since found some form. Smit needs to do the same – and soon.
Until he does, he can’t expect to head to the World Cup with many backing his playing value.
Grant Ball writes for RugbyXV
