Can Kwagga be the next Brussow for Springboks?

WHEN Kwagga Smith was at Technical High School in Middelburg in 2009, his rugby hero was Heinrich Brussow, the pocket rocket flank who exploded into life against the British & Irish Lions that year.

Brussow came from nowhere to play an influential role in the

Boks winning that series. He was a little known player until he had a stunning match for the Cheetahs against the Lions in a midweek fixture and then Bok coach Peter de Villiers had the gumption to elevate him straight into the Boks.

Smith is of similar physical proportions to Brussow, and they play the same position. In fact, Smith can play all three positions in the loose trio, but it is difficult to see him playing quite the same role as Brussow did, as much as he would love to.

The ideal Bok loose trio would be the one that started the 2019 World Cup final – Duane Vermeulen, Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit – and even if Vermeulen doesn’t make it back from injury, Dan du Preez is a like-for-like replacement.

Smith’s versatility, though, makes him the perfect bench man, and he says he has worked hard on the basics of No 8, openside and blindside flank over the last 18 months he has been in Japan.

“I watched that Lions tour as a high school kid and Heinrich was a role model,” he remembers.

“I worked hard to get up to his standards but I am a player in my own right, and a combination of a number of influences.”

One of those unique influences is his 158 matches for the Blitzboks between 2013 and 2017, and after four seasons of Super Rugby with the Lions, he has played in Japan for Yamaha Jubilo, where he had the chance to hone his skills.

“We were lucky in Japan in that we actually played a lot of rugby while other countries were heavily affected by Covid,” the 28-year-old says.

“I have played a whole season at No 8 in Japan which has really helped me develop in that position.

“In the World Cup, I played openside and I have also played a Test against the All Blacks at seven, so I am very fortunate in that I can play all three positions.

“I have been working hard on the basics in all these positions so that wherever the opportunity crops up, I will be ready.”

Smith says that since the World Cup he has concentrated on improving his defence more than anything.

“I worked on a lot of stuff on and off the ball to get better, especially defence.

“It is crucial in the Springbok system to have your defence 100%. I have worked very hard on that.

“Now it is about waiting for an opportunity.

“I don’t have a preference in the loose trio, I just want the opportunity to get on the field with my best mates and serve them as best I can.”