Bismarck in battle to be No 1
SYMPATHY is not an emotion easily given to Bismarck du Plessis, who is, after all, one of the great enforcers of the Springbok and Sharks packs.
He has won a World Cup, a Tri-Nations, a Currie Cup, played in a victorious British & Irish Lions series and earned 50 test caps. Yet you have to feel some sympathy for arguably the greatest modern hooker SA has produced.
He could have had 80-odd caps and cemented his place as the greatest hooker to have played the game. Instead, every expert acknowledges his great skills and assets, but no one really knows where to peg him among the world’s greats.
For the first four years of his test career, between 2007-2011 Du Plessis played in the shadow, of Springbok captain John Smit, even when it was clear that by 2009 he was the better, more destructive player.
That year he started at hooker in the first two Lions tests, which the Boks won, and during the entire Tri-Nations, with the Boks winning five out of six. But by 2010 he was playing behind Smit again.
And then, just when Smit finally moved on and Du Plessis took the field as the undisputed first-choice hooker in 2012, a knee injury kept him out of the game for more than a year.
In that time, his former Grey College schoolmate, Adriaan Strauss, took over the Bok No 2 jersey, was elevated to squad vice-captain and produced some stellar performances.
Though Bismarck is back, he has no guarantee that the next few years won’t be as frustrating as the years playing understudy to Smit were.
But he isn’t feeling sorry for himself. He might privately be seething, but he won’t veer from the official line publicly.
“It doesn’t bother me that I’m on the bench and if I can play my role two percent, 40% or 100% for the Springboks, I’m grateful for that,” Du Plessis says.
“I’m fortunate to be able to wear the Bok jersey again after such a long-term injury and there were times that I felt ‘is this ever going to get better’ after a few bad rehab sessions.
“Adriaan played great rugby last year but competition brings out the best in me. I hope my best rugby is still ahead. That’s easy to say, it’s harder to prove on the field and my job is to go out and prove it.”
Bok coach Heyneke Meyer understands how difficult the situation is for Du Plessis, and also knows the giant hooker is a vital cog. And that’s why he’s mapped out a direction for Du Plessis and Strauss to have a fair fight to be the first-choice hooker during this year’s Rugby Championship.
Strauss has started the first two games against Argentina. He should also start against Australia in Brisbane next week while Du Plessis will start both tests against the All Blacks. After the tournament ends Meyer will have seen enough to decide who is first choice.
“It’s great to have two superb players but you have to manage how you use them,” Meyer says. “I’ve already told them which of them is going to play certain games. It’s all planned and they understand their roles.
“By being up front with them it brings the best out of each player because they know they’re not under pressure to prove themselves every week.
“Bismarck has a big role to play in this team and he is a leader and a perfectionist. I also see him as a future Springbok captain,” said Meyer.