Size isn’t always everything on the rugby field
Dear Kwagga Smith and Marnus Schoeman
Where the hell did you guys come from? You are both loose forwards and I have known a few of those in my time. Most of those who were my acquaintances ate like there was no tomorrow. And most of those in my acquaintance were man-mountains, 190cm-plus in their stockinged soles and weighing as much as your average family.
You guys are exceptions. Kwagga, you stand 180cm and weigh a mere 94kg; Marcus, you are a couple of centimetres shorter than that but weigh a kilo more. By modern-day standards, you are both small for loose forwards.
But, boy, do you guys make a difference to the Lions Super Rugby side. If I were the coach, your names would be among the first on my team sheet every week.
Your games are more about sinew than subtlety, but it is so refreshing to see people willing to take on the opposition and very capable of outmuscling them, regardless of their size.
Many years back, there was another exception. We had a guy at school who was of a similar ilk. He was among the shortest pupils at Parktown Boys’ High and was built like a stringbean.
In Grade 10, or Standard 8 as
Guy Hawthorne
it was then known, he tried out for the first rugby team, as a No 8. I clearly remember the coach looking at him like he came from another planet and suggesting, somewhat cruelly, that he try out for the cheerleading team.
But stringbean was persistent and the coach gave him a go. He was very impressive at training and it was immediately apparent that he was someone who could punch well above his weight. He never made it as a No 8 but he was eventually picked at flank, much to the dismay of many of those who knew him.
It turned out he was brilliant there – mobile and deceptively strong, with fantastic hands and an impressive turn of speed. So impressive was he that he became vice-captain and I am convinced he would have been captain had he been a few centimetres taller and a good few kilograms heavier.
Visiting teams used to huddle together before kick-off and giggle among themselves as they identified him as the weak link in our side, but by the end of the match they were shaking their heads in bemused admiration.
He was incredibly strong for his size and I remember one match in particular where he ran through five of the opposition’s forwards – all of whom were virtually double his size – on his way to scoring a match-winning try.
You guys are cut from the same cloth and every match I’ve watched this season in which you have featured, you have both more than carried your weight (if you’ll excuse the pun). The Lions are very lucky to have you.
It just goes to show, the old adage is not always on point – a good big one doesn’t necessarily beat a good little one.