The Springboks will unleash Kwagga Smith against the All Blacks on Saturday when the two great Southern Hemisphere rivals meet in a Rugby Championship Test in Wellington.
The likeable loose forward will make only his second appearance in the Green and Gold following his Test debut last year against Wales in Washington.
A series of consistently good performances for the Emirates Lions in Vodacom Super Rugby has earned Smith a recall to the Springbok squad.
And with inspirational captain Siya Kolisi currently out with a knee injury, the tenacious flank has been entrusted with the vacant No 6 jersey against the All Blacks.
Although Saturday’s much-anticipated and crunch fixture in the Westpac Stadium will not be the first time that the popular Johannesburg-based loose forward will be facing Kiwis, it will, however, be the first time he will face the might of the All Blacks in an official Test match.
The Springbok team that will play against the All Blacks on Saturday in Wellington. #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/WuH28qPkEr
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 25, 2019
“I don’t think I can describe my excitement for the weekend’s Test here in Wellington,” Smith told local media at the Springbok hotel earlier in the week.
“I’ve played against the All Blacks in the colours of the Barbarians but that was a different game and a very different week leading up to that math.
EXPECTING GREAT THINGS: Rassie Erasmus is looking forward. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix.
"For the Barbarians, you would have a fun week and really just one training session on the Thursday or so.
“That is very different compared to the build-up to a Test match between South Africa and New Zealand, especially for this match in Wellington.”
Smith and his Springbok colleagues are all too aware of New Zealand’s desire to rectify matters in front of their own demanding fans after last year’s epic South African victory.
On Saturday he will be part of a new-look loose trio which consists of new Springbok captain Duane Vermeulen (No 8) and the current SA Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit (flank).
“Duane is an awesome player and I have looked up to him since I was a schoolboy player,” explained Smith.
“It is a real honour for me to play with him, while Pieter-Steph is also a really good and hard-working player. However, I have an important job to do and I will give it my best shot on Saturday against the world’s best team.”
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus is expecting great things from the flanker and described him as “energetic, optimistic and a ball-player”.
African News Agency