Smith named Hurricanes Super Rugby captain

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The All Black centre is preferred to his fellow Rugby World Cup winning No.8 Victor Vito who filled the role late in the 2011 season.

http://superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=32919​

 

[nickdnz]

I'm both very pleased with this move, and a little annoyed.

Smith should make a brilliant captain while he's here. He's a very clever person and player and you have to respect the guy. Should have been made captain over Hore IMHO. The bad side of this is, he goes off contract next year. Victor Vito is the other candidate and he's younger and less likely to move. Both of them are the brightest guys in the All Blacks, and I think they'd both be very good captains, but I can't help but feel Vito would have been a slightly longer term option.

Either way, I'm pleased for him. Great player, will have a hell of a time trying to get the Hurricanes winning.

 

[Darwin]

Slightly surprised to see Smith get the nod over Vito. I'm sure Smith will do a great job, but I've always preferred to have a captain a bit closer to the action (in the forwards).

 

[ranger]

I wouldn't be suprised if Vito didn't want it. This team is a sinking ship, its probably best that Smith hold down the fort while things are rocky, then once he goes overseas and things are starting to improve Vito can step in.

 

[Dizzy]

Vito already said if he was offered it he wouldn't take it. Around the time of Hore's axing.

 

[smartcooky]

Is this a case of last man standing?

Not that I don't think Conrad will make an excellent captain, after all, he was a key member of the All Blacks' leadership group under Ted, but other than Vito, who else would have been in the running?

 

[nickdnz]

Is this a case of last man standing?

Not that I don't think Conrad will make an excellent captain, after all, he was a key member of the All Blacks' leadership group under Ted, but other than Vito, who else would have been in the running?

I have a feelling if both Smith and Vito didn't want it, it would probably go to Jeremy Thrush...

 

[Icemn]

This team is a sinking ship

:'(

I couldn't have said it any better...

i'm hoping the Hurricanes prove us wrong though... they are the underdogs... lot less pressure on them... I think

 

[Larksea]

going to be interesting to see how smith goes without Nonu or Tana inside him, he's been pretty lucky to have one or t'other of those guys running 12 inside him for most of his carrier.

 

[Darwin]

going to be interesting to see how smith goes without Nonu or Tana inside him, he's been pretty lucky to have one or t'other of those guys running 12 inside him for most of his carrier.

I think it will be interesting to see who they pair with him in the midfield. I rate Tim Bateman very highly, but he is a very similar player to Smith: he has got a phenomenal passing game (the only midfield back in the country with as good a passing game as Smith in my opinion) but isn't a very physical player (on either attack or defense). I personally think Smith would be better off paired with a more direct runner in the midfield, and hence Charlie Ngatai might be the best option at 12. Ngatai was very highly regarded at age grade level, but for a number of reasons (injuries being one) he hasn't really stepped up at ITM Cup/Super Rugby level yet. He's a powerful ball runner and hits hard on defense, so could be the ideal person to complement Smith in the midfield. Another option is Jayden Hayward. Hayward has a great step and is a good distributer but I still think there are question marks over his physicality and especially his defense at this level.

 

[Larksea]

yeah it's going to be good to see Tim Bateman back, very good player but as you say like Hayward he isn't physically very big or importantly neither he smith or hayward are the type of players defences will be thinking they need to comit numbers to Charlie Ngatai looked impressive last season before he was injured. Looked to be the canes best back at times. And he's a bit bigger, more of a threat with the ball.

 

[Dizzy]

I can't wait to see how the Canes go in their first match!