Cape Town - John Smit says Scarra Ntubeni has established himself as “one of the top hookers in the Currie Cup” and that his busy style of play will stand him in good stead on the upcoming Springbok tour.
Western Province hooker Ntubeni was a surprise inclusion ahead of the likes of Chiliboy Ralepelle and Schalk Brits as a back-up to Bismarck du Plessis and Adriaan Strauss in the Bok squad named by coach Heyneke Meyer on Monday.
But former Bok captain and hooker Smit said that Ntubeni has impressed him as a No 2. “(It’s) Nice to see new blood. I think Scarra has certainly established himself as one of the top hookers in the Currie Cup. He’s played consistently well every weekend and he has got a huge energy about him,” Smit told the Cape Times on the sidelines of the Rugby World Cup trophy tour at Alexander Sinton High School in Athlone, where other World Cup winners such as Joel Stransky and All Black Grant Fox were also present.
“So he’ll go on and learn from probably the two best hookers in the world at the moment who are in his own squad. He’s going to carry bags I suppose, but it’s going to be a great experience for him.
“I like the fact that he’s pretty good at the set-piece - he had an off-day at the weekend, but he’s had a good campaign from a set-piece point of view. He’s an unbelievable ball-carrier and he has got a great work-rate.”
Former Bok and WP hooker Dale Santon, who was also present at the Webb Ellis Cup tour, told the Cape Times the 22-year-old Ntubeni must be ready if he gets an opportunity to play due to injury. “He mustn’t be caught off-guard. When the gap comes, you must be ready. He must tell himself that he has put his hand up all year, so he must use this tour as a stepping stone and get the experience and understand the Bok culture. I mean, look what happened with Trevor Nyakane - Scarra must learn about everything and just fly WP’s flag high,” Santon said.
“I don’t think that he will drop any team. Look what he has done at WP and the Stormers, and I don’t think he will drop the country. He is the only one who really played in the forwards for Province in the Currie Cup final. His tackle count for a hooker is one of the highest - it’s like a loose forward’s tackle count.
“In the lineouts, I think Province made it difficult for themselves. They should’ve kept it simple by taking ball in front because when they threw in front, they won their ball.”
Meyer also recalled some of Smit’s former teammates such as Bakkies Botha and Jaque Fourie, and the ex-Bok skipper felt that they would add much-needed experience to the team, while it was also wonderful to hold the Webb Ellis Cup again. “It’s good to see the boys back. They’ve got class - we’ve seen Bakkies throwing his body around in France and playing unbelievable rugby. I haven’t seen much of Jaque Fourie, but we all know his class, so I just hope it bodes well for a great end-of-year tour,” Smit said.
Smit is of course also the Sharks chief executive, and while he was delighted with his team’s Currie Cup triumph over WP at Newlands, he says new Sharks director of rugby Jake White has already met with the players ahead of next year’s Super Rugby campaign.
“The people in Durban are still very happy! It’s one of those things that we can celebrate for a few days, but then all of a sudden you realise it’s now back to the next tournament and the hard work starts all over again. But they can enjoy a nice holiday for three weeks or so and then it’s back to the grindstone.
“Jake was in yesterday for the first time to meet the players after their victory, and he was rather pleased, so it’s exciting times.”
Cape Times