Springboks John Smit dismisses speculation of second string team for 2011 Tri Nations
South Africa’s national rugby union team’s captain John Smit has denounced the popular belief that the South African Rugby Union (SARU) has willfully selected their second string side for the away leg matches of the 2011 Tri Nations tournament.
Othe unions called foul play when the Springboks announced a diminished squad for the Tri Nations earlier this month. Australia Rugby Union even asked SANZAR to look into to the matter because they believe that South Africa was willfully sheltering it’s first string player to give them a rest before the RWC.
However, Smit reiterated SARU’s management and supporting staff’s point of view that the players are not included in the squad because of injuries they had carried over from the relatively longer format of the 2011 Super Rugby Championship.
In a reply to questions related to whether SARU is utilising their 2007 RWC strategy, Smit replied, “We are going over there to play some rugby and not just to make up the numbers and that is what happened four years ago.”
In 2007, SARU sent their second string team for the Tri Nations tournament to rest their senior squad for the mega event. The strategy worked perfectly for Springboks as they ended their 2007 RWC as champions.
Smit will be leading a relatively a younger and inexperienced side for the away leg matches against the All Blacks and Wallabies. However, he expressed his concerns regarding the injuries to 23 of best rugby players in the country.
Smit added, “I don't think the big man intended for us to run into each other at 60k's per hour so I guess it is tough times for some guys, but the guys who are fit and have been training have shown some real good energy over the last two weeks and it has actually been good fun."
Additionally, Springboks head coach Peter de Villiers has confirmed that the injured duo of Heinrich Brussow and Johan Muller will fly with the team for their away leg matches of the tournament. Peter de Villiers added, “They both came through although we need two or three more days with them and they will be on the plane.”
Springboks’ 28-man squad will depart for the Australia on Friday, July 15, to play first of their two away leg matches of the 2011 Tri Nations tournament against the Wallabies.
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