Kwagga: ‘There is a really great culture at HTS Middelburg. It was a special time for me’
Kwagga Smith spoke with the Middelburg Observer about his 50th cap and how his time as a Rooie helped shaped his career.
Fresh off his 50th appearance for the men in green and gold, HTS Middelburg legend Kwagga Smith is back in action this weekend, as the Lydenburg-born star has been selected as a replacement for this weekend’s test against England.
Kwagga reflected on his landmark game against the Scots on Sunday, telling the Middelburg Observer, ”If you said to me 10 years ago I would have 50 caps for the Boks and two World Cups, I probably would have laughed at you!”
He also emphasised the key role HTS Middelburg played in his development as a player and as a person, stating that as a border at the school, the experience helped teach him work ethic.
“There is a really great culture at HTS Middelburg, with a lot of fantastic coaches. It was a special time for me,” Kwagga said.
The England Test
With Jasper Wiese coming in at the eight, Kwagga makes a return to the ‘Bomb Squad’, although this iteration of the lineup might offer a different sort of explosivity.
Always one to keep the opposition guessing, Rassie Erasmus has opted for a 5–3 split for the Twickenham encounter, with backline veterans Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am taking up arms among the substitution bench.
If Australia’s after the siren winner proves any indication, the Springboks may be looking to take advantage of the English’s defensive fragility through the pace and running opportunities that the returning backline of Manie Libbok, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe and co. provide.
Kwagga spoke with the Middelburg Observer about the pressure of remaining consistent, “As the number one ranked team in the world [South Africa], everyone wants to come for your head and say they were the team that beat you.”
The Full Lineup
15 – Aphelele Fassi
14 – Cheslin Kolbe
13 – Jesse Kriel
12 – Damian de Allende
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse
10 – Manie Libbok
9 – Grant Williams
Forwards
8 – Jasper Wiese
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 – Siya Kolisi
5 – RG Snyman
4 – Eben Etzebeth
3 – Wilco Louw
2 – Bongi Mbonambi
1 – Ox Nche
Replacements
16 – Malcolm Marx
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp
18 – Vincent Koch
19 – Elrigh Louw
20 – Kwagga Smith
21 – Cobus Reinach
22 – Handre Pollard
23 – Lukhanyo Am
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