Loose forward Kwagga Smith is expecting a fiery forward battle with Argentina in their crunch Rugby Championship clash in Durban on Saturday.
The Kings Park Test is pivotal for the Boks, who know only a win will keep their title defence alive. Smith, who has built his reputation on high work rate and breakdown impact, said Argentina’s loose forwards demanded special attention.
“They have very mobile loose forwards who get around the park, and they are also good at winning turnovers, so we are expecting a big challenge in that department,” Smith explained.
“Over and above that, their pack is physical in general, and they play hard rugby, so they’ll challenge us there this weekend.”
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The Boks appeared to have ironed out some of the breakdown issues they experienced against Italy, the Wallabies and the All Blacks and struck a much better balance in the back row in their record win over the All Blacks in Wellington, with the return of Jasper Wiese at No 8 and captain Siya Kolisi moving back to the side of the scrum.
But regardless of that, Smith insists that the Pumas’ evolution in recent years had made them a far more balanced and dangerous side.
“They’ve grown a lot over the last few years, and they have a good balance between senior and younger players, which is a combination that makes them very strong,” he said.
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Smith will again be called upon to provide some punch off the bench on Saturday – a role that he now relishes.
“For me, it’s to serve the team whether it’s starting or coming off the bench,” he explained.
“To make every opportunity count, that’s important to me because you never know when it’s the last time you’re pulling on that green jersey. Every opportunity I get, I try to do my best and also try to enjoy it because we’re not getting any younger.”
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Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
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