It seems Kwagga Smith and the Springboks left a bit of their magic in the locker room during their latest outing at Loftus Versfeld. After a win that felt more like a scramble than a victory, Smith is all fired up to redeem the team’s world champion reputation as they prepare in the Eastern Cape.
Smith, who stormed in as part of the much-vaunted 'bomb squad' in the second half, was notably commended by coach Rassie Erasmus for bringing a spark to the game.
“Kwagga Smith did make a difference when he came on, but we struggled to generate any intensity. I’m also not satisfied with the tries we conceded,”
Erasmus remarked post-game, clearly expecting more from his squad.The Boks, despite a hefty 28-3 halftime lead, couldn’t quite shut the door on the Italians, who managed to sneak in a maul try—a rarity against the South African defense. Smith voiced his frustration over this lapse.
“We are very disappointed with that. Over the past three seasons, we didn’t concede many tries from rolling mauls so it’s something we definitely need to take a look at,”
Smith told Netwerk24. He also noted the Italian's fierce competition at the breakdown, which threw the Boks off their rhythm.However, it's not all doom and gloom for the Springboks. Smith sees the upcoming week as a crucial chance to get back on track. “That frustration will motivate us for the second Test. Luckily we have this week to train well and rectify what went wrong,” he stated optimistically.
As the team moves to Gqeberha, the support from fans remains unwavering. The Springboks' social media echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude: “Dankie Pretoria! The support was yet again amazing, thank you! Next stop: Gqeberha!” With renewed vigor and the backing of their fans, the Boks are set to tackle their next challenge head-on. Here’s hoping they find their championship stride again.