John Smit on Super Rugby 2011

‘MORE Talent, More Tactics, More Action’ is the catchphrase of the new Super Rugby competition, to which John Smit candidly added: “More Strapping!”

The Springbok captain was speaking at yesterday’s official launch of the expanded version of the old Super 14 (and Super 12 and the Super 10 before that, for that matter), and cryptically, the organisers have dropped the number from the competition name, so you can bet your bottom New Zealand/Aussie dollar that this year’s tally of 15 teams will soon be 16 or more.

It is a case of “To infinity and beyond!’’ as Buzz Lightyear would say, as SANZAR continue their attempts to invigorate the Southern Hemisphere showpiece, which is widely accepted to be the reason New Zealand, Australia and South Africa once again lead the world into a Rugby World Cup.

“There are more games and, in particular, twice as many local derbies and that means a big jump in intensity,” Smit said at the Durban launch held yesterday at the freshly renamed Mr Price Kings Park.

“There is going to be a strong Currie Cup flavour about Super rugby and that means far more big hits and loads more strapping!”a slim and trim Smit said.

The Springbok skipper has been industriously employed in the off-season and was one of the Sharks’ star performers in the recent Neo Africa Tri Series in Cape Town.

The intimation from Smit is that the home and away games are going to bring the battling best out of the South African players but with the majority of the derbies happening in the second half of the tournament, the physiotherapists are going to be earning their keep.

And then comes the World Cup …

“As individuals we must not look too far ahead,”Smit warned. “It would be silly for any player to get caught with his eye on the future as opposed to the here and now. The player who takes his eye off the provincial ball is going to have an unhappy SuperRugby campaign

“However, as franchises, it is important that we all do well, especially overseas,” Smit said. “In 2007, a number of our teams had very good results overseas and that had a significant impact on the confidence of the Springboks as we prepared for France.”

Two weeks ago, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers met with the five Super coaches and the understanding from that brainstorming session is that it is up to the coaches’ discretion to rest the Springbok players when they see fit and within the framework of a set amount of game time decreed by De Villiers’ medical team.

It is believed the Springbok players will also attend three, three-day camps that will piggy back on various derby games.

For instance, when the Bulls play the Stormers in Cape Town, the Sharks, Lions and Cheetahs Springboks will fly in to Cape Town for a camp starting on the Sunday, with the players rejoining their franchises on the Wednesday before their next match.

by Mike Greenaway www.iol.co.za