Player watch: John Smit
Columnist Grant Ball looks at a video and stats of John Smit’s performance against the Wallabies.
Smit started the Test as one of only two senior players alongside Danie Rossouw, in a bid to give the Bok captain game time in his favoured hooking position as he only plays his best rugby when he’s had an extended run of starts.
Smit had limited opportunities in the Sharks’ No.2 jersey, with Bismarck du Plessis the best hooker in Super Rugby this year.
On last Saturday’s showing, Smit needs as much game-time as possible with Peter de Villiers already banking on Smit as his starting hooker come the World Cup.
Offensively, Smit didn’t have a bad game in terms of stats. He carried seven times, got over the advantage line four times and made 22 metres.
But compare that to opposite number Stephen Moore, and it’s indicative of the wider problems with the Boks’ unimaginative attack.
Moore had six runs, made 49 metres and importantly made one linebreak and broke one tackle – which Smit and the Bok runners could not do.
The Boks, as they did in Europe last year, had little imagination and simply bashed it up with the forwards.
Moore’s try tells a story and showed the difference between the sides. In 2007 the Boks had their forwards running off 9 with good motion on the ball, which is what Will Genia did for this try. Fast forward four years and it’s static, slow and predictable. Hence runners like Smit are easily contained, when in the past the Boks would have had various options to choose from off their running scrumhalf, forcing the defenders into making many decisions.
Smit was also turned over in possession three times – and the Aussies made them pay with their counter-attacking display. Again, it’s the limited attacking system that causes this – as the Aussie defenders know where the ball is going, one person can tackle the runner and others attack and turnover the ball.
Smit hit 13 rucks in attack, 12 of which were effective, which is a high number. However, it’s easy for the Bok forwards to hit those rucks when their attack is so limited and lacking width.
One of Smit’s strengths where he possibly holds an advantage over Du Plessis is his throwing, and on Saturday he missed his jumper just once out eight. Crucially for the Boks however, without a line-out jumper in their loose forwards, they had to use middle ball more often than tail ball.
Smit’s defensive stats are where the major concerns arise.
To see all Smit’s stats and a video, click here.
