From bench to brilliance: Kwagga Smith seizes Springbok starting role

Kwagga Smith doesn’t mind whether he starts or comes off the bench, as long as he plays for the Springboks, he’s content.

The utility loose forward was thrust into the starting XV this past weekend against Australia in the Rugby Championship and played a defining role in the 30–22 victory. He scored a crucial try in the first half, giving the Boks a healthy lead at halftime.

While he’s often made an impact off the bench for the world champions, injuries to Siya Kolisi, the suspension of Jasper Wiese, and Jean-Luc du Preez falling ill, saw Smith step up to wear the No 8 jersey in the second Test against the Wallabies. He put in a strong performance, and it will make him a contender to face the All Blacks next month as the starting eighth man.

However, for Smith, it’s not about where he plays, but about being involved.

“That Auckland game at Eden Park is a massive one,” Smith said of the Boks’ upcoming clash.

“A few years ago, the match we played in Auckland was also disappointing. We didn’t play well. For us, it’s about learning from the first game against Australia, which we lost, and this one, and taking those lessons into the next match.

“It’s going to be tough. New Zealand is obviously a great opponent, but for us, it’s about improving every game and learning as we go.”

After replacing Du Preez, who had to withdraw hours before kick-off on Saturday, Smith was outstanding at eighth man, having originally been set to come off the bench as a flank. Once Du Preez began feeling unwell, plans changed, and Smith focused on preparing to anchor the back of the scrum.

Du Preez was given until Saturday to recover, but when he failed to do so, Smith stepped into the starting role.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and that we got the win in the end,” Smith said.

“To be honest, I don’t care if I start or come off the bench. Getting the chance to play for the Boks is always special. There’s such strong competition in the loose forward department, and every opportunity — whether starting or from the bench — must be used to prove yourself and stay in the team.

“This was a massive victory for us, it was important. We learned a lot from last weekend. We knew what we did wrong, and it helps when you know what to fix. If you don’t, then you're at a disadvantage.

“This is our pride, and we wanted to show people. The fans standing behind the Springboks were really special.”

Join us over at THE CLUTCH

For the latest breaking sporting news and insights from our veteran sports journalists visit our YouTube channel @theclutchza