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Kwagga Smith shares his feelings on the infamous 7-1 split

Kwagga Smith of South Africa is tackled by Finlay Bealham of Ireland during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France on September 23, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Following South Africa’s tense 13-8 Pool B loss to Ireland this past weekend in Paris, flanker Smith has reflected on the match and spoken about the next challenge.

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The match has been described as one of the greatest Rugby World Cup pool games to date, but it was ultimately a frustrating loss for the Springboks, whose strategy and selection gambles didn’t pay off.

“All supporters of the Springboks might feel disappointed, but we are also disappointed in losing that game,” said flanker Smith.

“We had a lot of opportunities and we didn’t use those opportunities, which cost us the game. We take the learnings from that and we make sure that it doesn’t happen again because from here on there’s no opportunity to slip up.”

Smith says that the Ireland forwards and breakdown dominance was a huge factor, and the intensity of the match was incredible.

“The breakdown was definitely one of the places where they slowed the ball down. Not necessarily made turnovers, but that ball’s one or two seconds slower than what it should be and that takes away the opportunity to score a try or get momentum.

“When number one and two play each other the intensity is really going to be high and the crowd were amazing.

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“It was great playing there, but for us it’s to keep that standard and to have that intensity in every game we play. We’ll need that intensity this weekend against Tonga. Tonga is a physical side and they’re really hard players to play against so we’ve got to be ready.”

On the somewhat controversial and much spoken about 7-1 bench split, questions have been asked as to whether the Springboks will persist with it again in the tournament.

“Rassie [Erasmus, South Africa director of rugby] has his plans and management have their plans and we buy into that.

“The 7-1 split, it’s great going on and the guys playing know that they can empty their tanks and there’s a few guys coming on and they can play. We don’t know if we might see it again but it was an opportunity that I had to get another test match and I enjoyed it.”

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On whether the Springboks will be chasing the bonus point against Tonga, in their final pool game of the tournament, Smith was emphatic.

“We know we need to get those five points, so we will go into that game with the mindset of getting a bonus point. For us also, they’re a physical team so to play against them will be great for us to know that our physicality is also at the highest level.”

South Africa play Tonga at Stade de Marseille on Sunday, 1 October.

Fixture
Rugby World Cup
South Africa
49 - 18
Full-time
Tonga
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Comments

30 Comments
A
Allan 593 days ago

7 - 1 should be banned. This allows a country to drive the opposing pack with total energy knowing that they can replace them when their opponents tire! Twisting the rules to their strengths! PLUS the traffic lights from the coaching staff dictating what happens on field - another cheat!

O
Orrin 593 days ago

It's not in the rule book how to run the bench so its not cheating. There is high risk for it too. Perhaps some might argue that the 7-1bench lost them the game cos they didn't have a kicker. That has always been a strength of SA teams in the past too. I'm an AB supporter too

S
SteveD 593 days ago

Erm, the other team could do the same. it's just that they're all too stupid to take advantage of the rules! Then their supporters whinge like stuck pigs because they didn't think of doing it themselves.

R
Ron 593 days ago

Missed opportunities by the Boks

D
Dermot 593 days ago

Or perhaps Ireland are just player better ATM.

S
SteveD 593 days ago

Or rather on that particular day.

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NE 594 days ago

Smith was (is) a great Sevens player. He's not a competitive union flanker by any stretch of the imagination.

N
Neil 593 days ago

Absolute nonsense.

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Chris 594 days ago

Yet he scores a try almost every game lol

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CO 594 days ago

Couldn't agree more. He's a short guy as is the hooker who's replaced Marx. The so called bomb and nuke squads are being hugely hyped but a lot of those guys are not X factor they're just stocky.


Imagine if Ireland simply weren't good enough to capitalise on an SA devoid of Marx and a goal kicker and were left scrambling around their line at the end of the game to keep a weak SA team out?


The maul collapsed but not before several Irish players had grabbed hold of legs, flopped over the top and literally fell to ground whilst trying to collapse it.


Imagine if both sides have peaked early and won't win RWC? Far too much excited chatter that these two sides are inevitable finalists.


Ireland's lineout was a shambles and they made nothing from a lot of 22 zone entries. They are far from flawless.


Meanwhile the Boks had two little guys on the wings that produced nothing and no decent goal kicker.

L
Louwrens 594 days ago

Trolley Trolley Trolley. Troll! Troll!

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