Highlights:
The fact that he played 197 minutes across six games – at an average of 32 minutes per match – must be taken into account. It’s also worth noting that, in spite of a lack of game time, he won 10 turnovers over the course of the campaign, twice as many as the next-best stealer (Deon Fourie).
Further analysis suggests that Smith took his battle-rating to the next level in the play-offs.
In the final, Smith made five tackles and three turnovers against New Zealand in the space of 22 minutes. Against England in the semifinal, he joined RG Snyman, Ox Nché and other Bomb Squad veterans in spearheading South Africa’s fightback, completing four tackles and one turnover.
Smith’s most significant cameo, however, was in the quarterfinal against France, where he was deployed from the bench in the 52nd minute.
In one period of 300 seconds, he made 18 metres with the ball in hand, completed six tackles and made two crucial turnovers. When Smith attacked an isolated Cameron Woki at the breakdown in the 68th minute, he gave Handré Pollard the opportunity to boot South Africa into the semifinals.