A lot has been said in the last couple of days about the make-up of the new Springbok front row. Of note is the move of Bok Captain, John Smit to tighthead prop from hooker. I know some ex-Bok’s have already come out and said that they think this is a bad idea. According to PDV, this move is best for the Boks and it will prolong Smit’s test career until the World Cup in 2011.

Now Smit has come out and said that he is looking forward to playing in this new role for the Boks. Granted, Smit has played a lot of rugby in that position and even featured as a prop in his time in France with Clermont, so he is clearly no stranger to the role. But is he world class in this position or should the Boks have looked elsewhere to find a tighthead? What I am looking forward to is seeing what England’s Sheridan is going to do to Smit in the scrums come the Test against England. Then if Smit is still in that position come next year, what someone like Tony Woodcock will do.

There can be no argument that Bismark is the best hooker in South Africa at the moment and is fully deserving of taking up the number 2 jursey ahead of Smit. But is Smit’s move to tighthead because ‘there is no way Smit can not start for the Boks as he is captain’ or is it because they feel Smit is the best tighthead in the country? There is no doubting that John is a good leader and the Boks need him on the field if they are to be successful.

Okay, we can not complete a discussion about the front row without talking about the Beast. Class.. enough said!

Now what about Chiliboy Ralepele? For many years he has been built up to be the next big thing and the future Bok captain, but injuries have let him down. Now he gets another chance but is he fully deserving of this? I saw him come on in the Currie Cup final for the Bulls and he did not do much in the short time he was on the field, besides fail to find Victor in the lineout!

What is your take on the new front row of Beast, Bismark and Smit?



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