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Springboks vs Italy
Rugby World Cup holders, the Springboks, are in the Lowveld, having caused a stir in World Rugby yet again after their innovative performance in the second test against Italy. But both Kwagga Smith and Kurt-Lee Arendse have cautioned against underestimating their opponents this weekend, Georgia.
The pair maintain that the Boks’ creativity stems from a win-at-all-costs mentality, and not because they think less of the opposition. Look through the Bok ranks, and this week’s team sheet, and you’ll be able to spot a few hybrid players.
They are players who have been called up to national duty under the proviso they can play multiple positions if the Springboks need them to.
There are locks playing as loose forwards, and loose forwards, like Kwagga Smith who could potentially play three different positions. Smith says that while players can cut their teeth in new roles against the likes of Georgia, it is at the alignment camps where they plan how to cover all their bases.
“And I think for us as players that is focused on playing more than one role more than one position filling three positions in a game it is not almost in that week where you get the preparation it is almost in the camps when we have camps before we start going into test weeks where you get that preparation and that’s really important because when you go into test week you want to focus on your main position so if for me it is six and eight I want to focus on that but then I have done to work to maybe cover wing in the camps so,” says Smith.
The tricky thing about playing a team like Georgia is that there will be an expectation for the match to become a try-fest. That immediately puts pressure on the Boks’ free scoring backline. But one of the chief weapons in the arsenal, Kurt-Lee Arendse who has 19 tries in his 25 tests, says it’s important to remain focused, regardless of the opponent.
“The goal is to focus more on our standards but not underestimating Georgia, that’s the focus,” says Arendse.
The Boks know that Georgia will be physical, and their players will also be looking to impress. A good performance against the two-time defending world champions could be life changing for some of the players, according to Smith.
“They are one team that never steps back it doesn’t matter what the scoreboard is, they will keep on fighting, keep on playing because for them it is also important they want to measure themselves against us and against the Springboks because that might give them an opportunity to contract in France or wherever in the world so it is a huge opportunity for them also to prove themselves against the best and that might open their career forward,” Smith added.
The Springboks innovative nature will be under scrutiny this weekend. There were a few moves that had so-called purists of the game in an uproar last weekend, and many more will be interested to see what the Green and Gold is cooking up next.
