Kwagga Smith vows to take ‘no risks’ on comeback from major knee injury

Kwagga Smith says he will only return to the Springboks once he is completely ready, as the flanker continues his recovery from the serious knee injury that has ruled him out of all South Africa’s Tests this year.

Smith, a pivotal member of the world champion Springbok squad, damaged his knee playing for Japanese club Shizuoka BlueRevs in May and has been sidelined ever since. The 31-year-old confirmed he will not feature in any of South Africa’s 2024 internationals as he targets a measured, long-term comeback.

Speaking at the launch of the Greatest Rivalry Series earlier this month, Smith stressed that he and the medical staff are taking a conservative approach to his rehabilitation and that he is prepared to be patient.

“Obviously everything’s new to me [being injured]. I haven’t had an injury this big in my whole career. I’m just taking it step by step, following obviously the medical staff and what they’re telling me to do,” he said.

“[I’m] taking it easy. We’re not rushing because we want to make sure when I’m back, I’m back for the last bit of my career.”

Versatile forward central to Erasmus’ bench plans

Smith’s absence is a significant blow for Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, who has regularly relied on the forward’s unique skill-set to shape his matchday 23.

With a background in Sevens, Smith has been deployed at flank and No 8 and has even filled in across the backline when required. That versatility has allowed Erasmus to select an unconventional replacements bench, frequently opting for a 6-2 split between forwards and backs and, on occasion, a 7-1 mix heavily weighted towards the pack.

Since breaking into the Springbok setup in 2018, Smith has been involved in the majority of South Africa’s Test matches, becoming one of the trusted figures in a squad that has twice lifted the Rugby World Cup under Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber. His injury-enforced absence this year has therefore left a noticeable gap in the champions’ depth chart.

Watching from sidelines brings new perspective

Smith admitted that being forced to watch the Springboks from afar has challenged him mentally, but said the experience has also reshaped how he views both the team environment and the supporters.

“Mentally it’s obviously tough. I think you also see the whole Springbok setup from a different perspective,” he explained.

“I think for me, getting involved in 2018, I’ve actually played in most of the Test matches, and now being able to see it from a different perspective, you get a lot of respect for them.

“You get a lot of respect for the fans because you actually see how much it means to them, and I think that’s also good for me to experience it in a different way.”

The flanker, who built his reputation as a relentless breakdown presence and high-energy ball-carrier, is now focusing on turning his lay-off into a positive, using the enforced break to reflect on his career and the closing stages that lie ahead.

While no specific return date has been set, Smith’s insistence on not rushing back underlines his determination to extend his Test career as far as possible once he has fully recovered. For now, he remains on the outside looking in, offering his support from distance as the Springboks navigate the international season without one of their most adaptable forwards.