Kolisi-smith axis has pace, agility and graft
Siya Kolisi and Kwagga Smith, the Springbok flankers, pose different challenges for England today. We speak so much about Kolisi’s leadership but not often about him as a player. He is a real grafter. There is never a point where he is taking a breather. He might wear six (and play as a seven), but he is not going to make the massive tackles or huge carries. He is an all-rounder who does everything to a high level. And, as a captain, he is unflappable.
When you watch him play, you notice Kolisi out in those wider channels, to either provide offloads or support Makazole Mapimpi and Jesse Kriel on the wings, which fits with South Africa’s style, wanting to overload. Kolisi’s knowledge when it comes to his positioning on the field is excellent. But he goes about his work quietly, at least compared to some of South Africa’s other back rows. It is consistent excellence that you get from Kolisi, the unseen graft, rather than a few flash moments.
The Springboks have not missed Pieter-steph du Toit as much on this European tour compared to the Rugby Championship, which is a credit to them. Du Toit offers brilliant contributions at the line-out and breakdown, but South Africa have adapted without him, doing enough against Wales before taking Scotland apart. There have been enough options at the line-out to cope.
As for Smith, he is such a unique prospect, winning Olympic bronze with South Africa’s sevens side in 2016 and the World Cup with the Springboks three years later. He has the full box of tricks – you would not be shocked to see him attempt a chip ahead before racing after it to score.
There is real pace and agility there, unsurprisingly given his time in sevens, but he has done so well back in XVS. People underestimate how difficult it is to transition. In sevens, you are trying to expose space – it is about pace and stamina, and no player can have weaknesses. Transitioning between the short, sharp bursts of sevens to the game plans and strategies and 80-minute shifts in XVS is not easy, so Smith’s progress has been impressive.
You can argue that playing him at No8 during the Test series against the British and Irish Lions in the summer was not the best fit, and that his role as the openside flanker (wearing six) suits his skill-set more.
We have seen in the past couple of weeks what a threat Smith is at the breakdown. If there is an opportunity where an attacker is isolated, he is straight over the ball. He just seems more comfortable in that role, and given he is not the biggest back row, that lack of height actually helps Smith in terms of his low body position at the ruck.
Overall, there is a good balance to the South African back row today, with Kolisi’s graft, Smith’s pace and the power that Duane Vermeulen brings at No8 even in his mid-thirties.
There is a lot of focus on the front-row battle, given Bevan Rodd and Jamie Blamire’s lack of experience up against not just one, but two world-class Springbok front-row units, and also the battle in the second row, where Maro Itoje faces Eben Etzebeth, who has been one of the Springboks’ best performers in 2021.
But, as so often happens in these Tests between elite attacks and defences, it could be the backrow battle that decides the outcome.
And with Kolisi’s ability to inspire his side through actions as much as words, and the turnover threat Smith poses, England will be kept busy. It is a fascinating contest.