Smith to captain Brumbies

[Burgs]

With Captaincy issues all the rage up the road, the Brumbies just pull another leader out of their arsenal


Smith to captain Brumbies


February 20, 2007

AUSTRALIA flanker George Smith will captain the Brumbies for the first time this weekend after Stirling Mortlock was ruled out through injury.

Mortlock will miss Friday's Super 14 match against the Hurricanes in Wellington with the centre still suffering neck soreness and a bruised jaw after a high tackle from the Queensland Reds' Lloyd Johansson in the Brumbies 6-3 win last weekend.

Vice-captain Alister Campbell has also been ruled out with a foot injury, leaving 84-cap veteran Smith to lead the side.

"It's a great honour to captain a side that has such a tradition of producing excellent leaders,'' said Smith, who captained Australia A on the recent Wallabies European Tour and will become the seventh player to lead the Brumbies.

"I'm fortunate to have a lot of very experienced players alongside me like George (Gregan), Bernie (Stephen Larkham) and JP (Jeremy Paul), so I'm really looking forward to it.''

Brumbies head coach Laurie Fisher said: "It's a tremendous opportunity for George. He's been a part of our leadership group this year and he's captained Australia A, so he's a player that we know has excellent leadership qualities.

"He's very much a lead-by-example style player and we've got every confidence that he'll do a good job of leading the side on Friday.''

AAP

[The Lone Hydrangea]

My favourite Wallaby.Great choice, he is quality.

[jazza93]

yeaaa go smith my favorite waliby to.

he shows good leadership already in the forwards he is a good choice but they have a big loss stirling mortlock geesse they are gonna struggle without him. o well im sure they can still win.

[Jess]

lets just hope he manages to not get sent off this week then.
yellow cards in 2 out of 3 games is not the best track record for leadership.

But I'm still a huge fan and I hope he has a ripper

[Sagerian]

He's not the same since he cut his hair...

Lose the Dreds, suck like the Reds....

[jazza93]

lol i notice that to once he got rid of the dreds he has got worse but hes still good. both his yellow cards were for bull**** repeated offences and crap. stupid refs. anyway he will have to cut down on his fustration and focus on rugby. hope he has a good game

[Jess]

yeah i do agree with you there Jazza... the yellow cards weren't really warrented.

Lose the dreds, suck like the reds.... I like it!

[Sagerian]

Agreed, they were both very light yellows.. Sadly that's how it'll be written down. 3 games, 2 cards.

[Darren]

I get the same impression sage - is it because we don't notice as much, or is it because he looks like Lister now and we assume he doesn't any harder than Lister?

[Jess]

it's because him and Jeremy Paul have become identical twins... oh why did they have to be on the same team.

[Vanilla Ice]

Surprised he's considered leadsership material. Word is he's quieter than even Larkham.

[shasta]

Surprised he's considered leadsership material. Word is he's quieter than even Larkham.

Not surprised at all. Like his coach said he's a leader by example.