The withdrawal of Jaco Kriel because of injury and veteran prop Jannie du Plessis because of personal matters from the Springboks end-of-year tour will leave Springbok coach Allister Coetzee no choice but to look to the future.
With the Springboks stocks running thin, especially at openside flank with injuries to Francois Louw and now Kriel, Coetzee will be forced to turn to the little known Roelof Smit and it could prove to be a blessing in disguise with Smit’s abilities in playing towards the ball.
While Western Province flank Nizaam Carr and prop Sharks Lourens Adriaanse will stay on with the Test squad after next week’s match against the Barbarians as replacements for Kriel and Du Plessis, it seems as though the young brigade of Smit and Jean-Luc du Preez could get an opportunity to stake their claim.
Even though Carr has had a taste of Test rugby, the spotlight will now turn to the 23-year-old Smit.
Smit played a vital role for the Blue Bulls in their march to the Currie Cup final and kept up to speed with some of the best opensiders in the game during this year’s Super Rugby campaign, even with limited game time.
As wet behind the ears as Smit is when it comes to international rugby, the Queenstown-born fetcher doesn’t seem fazed by the enormity of the task that lies ahead and instead oozes the confidence that he will need to take control of the breakdowns.
“I am privileged to be here and the week has been very exciting. I am really excited about the week to come and the tour,” said Smit who has been wearing a smile on his face since his surprise inclusion in the Springbok squad over the weekend.
“My nickname (McCaw after former All Black captain Ritchie McCaw) came from the Bulls with my coaches at junior level. I like to play to the ball and McCaw is one of my heroes, as is Francois Louw.”
The reality is that there is still daylight between Smit and his ideals but this tour will give him an opportunity to not only close that gap but to convince Coetzee and his management that he is one for the future.
It is apparent that Smit long caught the eye of the Springbok management and really made an impression in the Currie Cup, however assistant coach Johann van Graan believes that Smit still has a lot to learn, even though he will bring a lot of value to the national team.
“Roelof has had a fantastic year and we have been looking and studying him for a long time. I thought he was very good in the semi-final and final. He’s got strong points that he will bring to the team and it will be about improving his skill level and decision making when to attack a breakdown and when not to,” Van Graan said.
The Star