John Smit aka “Barney” will start for the first time in this year’s Super Rugby Tournament as he leads the side out in their second tour match against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday.
The Sharks are unbeaten after three rounds and face Super rugby’s newcomers the Melbourne Rebels.
Smit starts at tighthead to give Jannie du Plessis a well-deserved break where he will play off the bench.
The second row remains intact for the fourth successive week while the return of eighthman Ryan Kankowski necessitates a juggled solution to the back row, Keegan Daniel starting at flank alongside the dangerous Willem Alberts.
Charl McLeod and Patrick Lambie continue their partnership at halfback while Lwazi Mvovo comes into the starting line-up for the injured JP Pietersen with the remainder of the backline staying intact.
The good news is the full fitness of Odwa Ndungane who was injured in the Force match but has recovered in time to take him place in the Starting XV.
The final change has Adrian Jacobs adding depth off the bench.
The Sharks
1. Tendai Mtawarira , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 3. John Smit ( Captain ) , 4. Steven Sykes , 5. Alistair Hargreaves , 6. Keegan Daniel , 7. Willem Alberts , 8. Ryan Kankowski , 9. Charl McLeod , 10. Patrick Lambie , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 12. Meyer Bosman , 13. Stefan Terblanche , 14. Odwa Ndungane , 15. Louis Ludik
Replacements , 16. Craig Burden , 17. Jannie du Plessis , 18. Anton Bresler , 19. Jacques Botes , 20. Conrad Hoffmann , 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter , 22. Adrian Jacobs
Really clever selections from Plum… if there is ONE team you can play your mix-‘n-match front row, it is against the Rebels.
At the same time you’re giving John Smit the chance to shake off the rustiness a bit and to show us whether he is match fit or not and worth a spot for the World Cup.
The World Cup is still a worry for me, how does one justify leaving Bismarck du Plessis out as a starter… or for that matter Gurthro or Beast or Jannie in favour of John Smit.
The captaincy only goes so far…