Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith says the world champions are relishing the challenge of a gruelling five-Test end-of-year tour.
The Boks kick off their northern-hemisphere campaign against Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, before taking on France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
Smith, who plies his trade in Japan with the Shizuoka Blue Revs, says the packed schedule is exactly the kind of test the Boks needs as they look to close out the 2025 season on a high.
“Five matches are a lot, but it’s a great challenge for the squad because we need to be on form every weekend,” said Smith. “All the Test matches will also be tough, not just France and Ireland. But that’s where we want to be – we want to measure ourselves and perform well as a team.”
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Smith was part of a group of Japan-based Boks who arrived in London early last week and used the time to familiarise themselves with the Wembley atmosphere, attending a rugby league international at the iconic venue.
The 32-year-old Bok No 8 says he’s excited to experience the hybrid surface at Wembley – a feature several of his teammates are already familiar with from their URC experience.
“A whole lot of URC teams have played on hybrid pitches and also in the Premiership, so it may be different for us this week, but that will certainly help going into the match,” Smith explained.
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Smith added that the team’s early preparation had gone well, with several players getting valuable training time under their belts before the rest of the squad arrived in London.
“After the Rugby Championship, the Japan-based players had time off and then we flew to London last Tuesday, so we’ve had a few days of training already,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to the match and playing against Japan.”
Photo: Johan Orton/Gallo Images
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