Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith believes centre Andre Esterhuizen can thrive in a hybrid role, but says there’s one part of his game at flank to sharpen.
Esterhuizen was first used on the side of the scrum against the Barbarians in Cape Town and then against Italy in Port Elizabeth after Jasper Wiese’s red card.
With the Boks preparing to face Argentina at Kings Park on Saturday, he could again be called on to fill that role.
Smith says he is impressed with how the 114kg midfielder has embraced the challenge.
“I’ve known Andre for a long time. We actually played sevens together – he was a tighthead prop and I was a hooker – so we packed down next to each other in the forwards. He’s got the size and physicality, and he is massive.”
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Smith believes the transition is straightforward in most areas of the game, with only the set-pieces requiring adjustment.
“The only area he could get a little better at is the technical stuff in the lineouts and scrums. In attack and defence, we [loose forwards] often operate with width or out in the channels, so that’s not much different from playing centre,” he explained.
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The Bok flank added that Esterhuizen’s willingness to learn has already stood out in training.
“He’s been quite good in the set-piece work and he uses every chance at unit sessions to do lineout lifts and other drills when he’s training at No 6.
“If he’s needed there, he will definitely be comfortable. It’ll be exciting to see.”
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
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