determined to stake a claim on being the only captain to retain the World Cup.
John Plumtree, the Sharks coach has mentioned that “John Smit is looking really good, he’s got about two kilograms to go before being back to his best condition.”
His harshest critics have often pointed to Smit’s weight as a reason why he cannot be considered a serious contender but Plumtree was quick to point out that the hard yards John Smit has put in during the offseason will see a meaner and leaner player taking the field.
“By the time the tri-series starts, he would have lost about seven or eight kilograms and that’s after having had a neck op last year,” explained Plumtree.
2011 promises to be The Sharks big opportunity to win an elusive Super rugby title especially concidering how the tore apart the competition during the Currie Cup. Three new players into the squad in Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Meyer Bosman and Conrad Hoffman has boosted the squad which now has 17 Springboks in their ranks.
"There is a lot of expectation on us after what we achieved in the Currie Cup last year...it's about assembling a squad that we think is capable," said Plumtree.
“ There are also some players who did a massive conditioning block before Christmas - Stefan Terblanche has put on about six kilograms of muscle and added like 0.1 percent body fat, so that gives an idea of where he is at.
The season approaches quickly and if the Sharks are going to pose a challenge to the other 14 teams they will have to start well. In 2010 they stumbled in the opening encounters and never recovered to mount a serious threat. But some early victories just might set them up to claim the biggest title in franchise rugby.
