When Kwagga comes on for Kolisi we go from 14.5 players to 15.5 players.
When Kwagga comes on for Kolisi we go from 14.5 players to 15.5 players.
Not surprising at all for anyone who pays attention.
I think Kwagga is another Deon Fourie, he gets better with age…he will be 35 at the next WC…seeing these stats, why did he not start more games?
Kolisi is better than Kwagga, Kwagga is only effective as a sub when players are warn down
Kwagga has never been good or nearly as effective as a starter - while he definitely punches above his weight, it’s that lack of size that counts against him as a starter - same applies to Fourie
Kollisi is a good open field player but not a 6 like Kwagga that can effect turnovers and seriously disrupt the opponent’s ball possession …Kwagga has proved this time and time again…just like Mostert, they can be relied on to get the job done…not saying that Kollisi is totally useless, but not your typical 6.
Kwagga is class Mostert has only proved to be a physical liability
Kolisi is not required to effect turnovers that has been left to the likes of Kitshoff, Marx, Vermeulen and Kwagga
What does Kolisi do…he doesn’t turn over the ball, his tackle count is low, he is blown off the ball at rucks, he hardly features as a ball carrier, he is never used in the lineout.
The man basically loafs through games and occasionally something falls into his lap.
In the WC final all he effectively did was bungle a try and get a yellow that should have been a red.
His best move is always when he gets subbed.
Kolisi does better in open games. He is a linking number 8, playing at 6.
He played well in the final against the All Blacks, and also in the warm up match against the All Blacks- but was piss poor the other games.
It is likely that the Boks will appoint a new black captain, given Kolisi must now be phased out
Some of us have for years been saying what a beast Kwagga is.
When Deus said he was our best forward people laughed.
The final refuge is to say he's only good as a sub.
No. Kwagga gives you the same performance whether starts or comes on for 5 minutes.
Saffex...Kolisi is better than Kwagga!!!???
Seriously, what games are you watching?
The stats posted above were achieved coming on for 20-30 minutes of games...and he beat out ALL the starting players for ALL other sides with that limited time.
lol Kolisi is better. How on can you say that?
Kolisi is an average 6. Has good days and quiet days.
Kwagga brings an X factor. Ditto Deon Fourie perhaps the most wasted player in Springboks history. Thankfully Rassie saw his worth.
Rassie took all the heat off the team by playing Kolisi as captain. Given the circumstances it was a wise move. Very unfortunate that merit is not the only factor. That said most black players are there today on merit. Orie being a notable exception.
I hope Kwagga considers trying to play Sevens in the Olympics.
Kolisi is average.
But because he's now the Mandela of rugby, he will be there until he decides to retire.
Any talk of dropping him = racist.
Best stats…..Mostert 49 tackles in the playoffs/none missed…..Pollard 9 straight kicks to win the the three 1 point games.
Kolisi could have been more of a Skinstad style carrying loosie, if somebody taught him how to offload. As it is he is a liability.
Those stats are bullshit Mostert missed one obvious tackle I recall and that’s just off the top of my head
Kolisi is a class act he is better than Kwagga
Kwagga has never produced the goods as a starter - name one test where he made an impact starting
Kolisi is one of the best 6’s the Boks have ever had, better than Schalk for instance and easily the best leader we have ever had
Khaleesi better than Schalk….save that one for April Fool’s Day.
Dave you keep seeing tackles Mostert missed that nobody else, nor that stats system sees. Mostert was imperious on defense.
Well I’ve pointed out the missed tackle on the goal line defence against England in the 2019 final and during my break over Xmas I watched the quarter against France and the semi against England and it’s a fact that Mostert missed a tackle in one of those - no doubt there were more misses but I recall one. I remember swearing at him as I do - as you can imagine I can’t stand him as a player
Lightweight locks don’t fit into my idea of a Bok pack - never have never will - especially in this modern age where the gym plays a big part of a players life.
Have been enjoying watching our domestic rugby and I could not help but notice how one of their young locks - Ludwig has muscled up nicely in the off season - something useless lazy Mostert has never done
Mostert definitely missed a tackle - the stats shock schock are pretty piss poor
I’d take Kolisi over Schalk all day long - better with ball in hand, as good defensively.
Schalk played most of his test rugby running straight into players, predictable and boring as hell. He used his skill set playing for Sarries but never the Boks
Schalk was not a 6 but had to play there because of Juan
Yet Dud who runs into players doesn’t bore you.
I must check how often Kolisi was subbed in 83 tests
No because PSDT is a big lock type of flanker who’s role it is, is to run into players - that is not the job of an openside flanker
He is a lock…and not a very good one.
He is a far far better lock than useless Mostert
Dave all I can say is thank goodness you are not a Springbok selector.
With your bias against players you could never ever select a winning combo.
Your new hero Gelant goes from one poor game to the next yet you keep mentioning him for the #15 slot.
He was a failute overseas and he has been this season so far as well just ask the Stormers supporters.
Stop speaking utter shit AJ the only player I have an issue with is the physically inferior Mostert
Where have you seen me select a side with Gelant starting huh? Stop speaking shit
Gelant is a real talent, he has the Willie gift - he creates for those around him. He has that ability to scan, sum up, pause and execute
Admittedly his form has not been the greatest but that does not define him. He is a class act. I trust you are one of those that are anti Willie - you only see the dropped balls or missed tackles - you ignore all those try set ups and assists?
A superficial supporter - you just don’t get it
I have said for a very long time, just how good Kwagga is, and and I have mentioned it on here many times... I cannot get how some poeple just don't see it.
Now to also say that Kolisi is better than Schalk is just crazy talk.
Kwagga is great but only really effective off the bench. Has always disappointed as a starter
Schalk was very good but give me Kolisi anyday. Kolisi has the best stats for dominant tackles and is better than Schalk with ball in hand. Schalk was better over the ball but in those days effecting turnovers was not nearly as prevalent as today
Please provide your source on dominant tackles, I’m interested in the context. All I can remember from Kolisi is second man in and being brushed aside on the goal line. He is your best argument for saying the Boks actually didn’t have a 15 to 14 man advantage. They had 14 men and Khaleesi
Moz your bias has you missing most of the good out there
Instead you see so much positive in the physical liability that is Mostert - it’s a joke really
Opta is the stat source - the article was on Twitter (X)
Do a Google and you’ll find it
All I found was some reference to 2022 dominant tackles
All I know is, Kwagga is right up there with Eben.
And everybody that mocked Deus owes him an apology.
Deus gets mocked for his juvenile stand on PSDT...and DdA....I don't mind that he doesn't like DdA, but calling DdA useless and weak???
...as for Kwagga...great player and I won't mind seeing him play 12 in an emergency...great team player but I don't see him making team of the year or as a regular Bok starter...I see him in the same vein as Deon Fourie...and I rate him highly, just not a regular starter.
"Deus get's mocked for his juvenile stand on PSDT...and DdA"
Fair point ...
I myself have not mocked him, in fact I defended him quite staunchly on here at one point because I thoroughly enjoyed his detailed analysis on certain aspects of the game..... but then I also got extremely tired of his constant very negative posts about certain players and coaches, when clearly it wasn't merited... so I just stopped reading his posts.
Each to their own ...
Fucking useless Doos can fuck right off
No one said Kwagga was crap - he is a class act
No Moz the stats relate to 2023 as the article says
2.3 - Siya Kolisi made the most dominant tackles per 80 mins of any player in men's Test rugby in 2023; teammate Damian de Allende made the most of any back (400+ mins played): ???? S Kolisi 2.3 ???? L Tagitagivalu 2.1 ???? N Martins 2.0 ???? D de Allende 2.0 ???? D Fischetti 2.0 Boom.5 days ago https://twitter.com › status OptaJonny on X: "2.3 - X.com
Nothing to see here....
You blind?
....really?..you know mos where I stand...
I think Deus was correct more than he was wrong.
And even if he was incorrect, at least he delivered his points intelligently and fully.
Fuck me Plum have you had took much Xmas pudding
Doos gets absolutely zero right
The only thing he half got right was rating one of the du Preez twins but even there he fucked up given there is absolutely nothing to choose between the twins
7,877 posts
https://www.planetrugby.com/news/the-surprising-springboks-star-who-dominates-worldwide-stat
Springboks back-rower Kwagga Smith is officially the Breakdown King of 2023, according to the statistics.
The 30-year-old back-rower enjoyed immense success in 2023, playing a pivotal role for the Springboks off the bench as they secured back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles.
The ex-sevens star is renowned for his work at the breakdown, and stats provider Opta have revealed just how effective he was in that area of the game in 2023.
Best at the breakdown
According to Opta, no player won more breakdown or jackal turnovers than the Springbok star in 2023 when tallying up the players’ totals for both their club and country.
Smith won 27 jackals in total for the Springboks and Japan Rugby League One side, Shizuoka Blue Revs, and claimed an impressive 40 turnovers
.
For clarity, a turnover could be a rip from a ball carrier or dislodging a ball from a player’s hands in a tackle while a jackal is at the breakdown.
Smith tops both the turnovers won and most jackals statistics across all major club & international competitions.
He also boasts the best average per 80 minutes in both categories, averaging 2.8 turnovers won and 1.9 jackals.
What makes Smith’s achievements even more impressive is the fact that he started just two Test matches for the Springboks this year, coming off the bench on seven occasions.
Hitting form at the Rugby World Cup
The livewire back-rower was crucial to the Springboks’ bench strategy in 2023 and produced some of his best performances off the year during the Rugby World Cup knockout stages.
During the quarter-final against France, he won two turnovers during his 30-minute cameo as he won a vital penalty that put South Africa into a lead that would win them the match.
He would win another turnover off the bench in the 15-16 victory over England in the semi-finals a week later and produced arguably his best performance in the final against New Zealand.
Smith managed to claim three turnovers against the All Blacks in the final, including a magnificent rip on Will Jordan as the Springboks claimed their fourth Rugby World Cup title.
According to Opta, Smith was also the most effective defensive ruck operator at the tournament. Of the 31 defensive rucks he hit, he managed to disrupt the opposition or win a turnover on 13 occasions for a defensive ruck efficiency percentage of 41.
He won a total of 10 turnovers, three more than any other player was capable of.
All in all, it was another memorable year for Smith, who added the tag of Breakdown King after claiming rugby’s biggest prize in France.
READ MORE: The remarkable stat that shows how ruthless the 2023 Springboks were