AUDIO: Bok star feels Ackers is right man for the job
AUDIO: Kwagga Smith knows a thing or two about the Bulls’ new coach Johan Ackermann and says he is excited to see him win some titles with his new franchise.
The Springboks’ Pocket Rocket spent the bulk of his early days playing at the Lions (2012-2018) when Ackermann was the coach.
In that time, Smith featured in their three Super Rugby Finals (2016, 2017 & 2018). In the 2016 Final, the Lions lost 3-20 to the Hurricanes in Wellington.
Johan Ackermann and his assistant coach, Swys de Bruin, had built a formidable team as they approached the 2017 Final, and it seemed that fortune had finally smiled on them as they hosted the Crusaders at Ellis Park.
But the Lions started badly, and were 3-12 behind when Smith ran awkwardly and collided with David Havili, who had gone up for the ball.
The Crusaders’ fullback landed badly, and it was a clear red card. When the referee Jaco Peyper, now the Springboks’ Law Advisor, flashed the colour the Lions didn’t want to see, Smith left the field, and their hopes of the Super Rugby title left with him.
The Lions went on to contest another Super Rugby Final the following year, once again in New Zealand, and lost, but the 2017 game was their best chance of grabbing a title. And it all ended in one moment of madness.
Smith received a four-week ban for his dangerous tackle. After the Super Rugby season ended in 2018, he signed with Japanese club Jubilo (now the BlueRev’s) for a short-term deal and has been there ever since.
On Wednesday, Smith was asked what he thought of Ackermann’s appointment as the new Bulls head coach.
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“He is a brilliant coach.
“I enjoyed working with him. I was a youngster and played under him for a long time.
“We were unlucky not to get a Super Rugby title, but he’s a really good coach,” Smith told reporters at the team hotel in Mbombela.
“He is a coach who has that ability to get a group of people together, all aligned for the same goal. And that is important.
“And I think he will make a success of his career at the Bulls.
“The players that are there are brilliant, and he will be able to get them aligned and hopefully win a few trophies.
“I am excited to see him there and how he does.”
Smith has been included in the Springbok team to face Georgia in Mbombela, his hometown, on Saturday.
