VIDEO: Can Kwagga be the Brüssow of 2021?
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok loose forward Albertus Smith has been trying to raise his game to try and emulate one of his role models.
Going back to 2009, openside flank Heinrich Brüssow was a key player in South Africa’s 2-1 series success over the British and Irish Lions.
Brussow, who was 22 at the time, started in the Boks’ 26-21 victory in the first Test and then he made a huge impact off the bench in the second Test, which the Boks won 28-25 to clinch the series.
In the third Test, Brüssow started in the No.6 jersey again in Bok team featuring a number of changes from the first two Tests. The Boks went down 9-28.
“I watched those games when I was still in high school,” said Smith.
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“I really looked up to him [Brüssow] and he performed really well in that Lions series. He is one of my role models.
“I’m trying to get up to his standards and play well, but also I am a player in my own right and a bit different.
“I’m a combination of everything, so I will definitely try to be an asset to the team.
“If I get the opportunity to play, I will do my best to contribute to the team, so we can be successful together.”
Smith plays in the No.8 jersey for Japanese club side Yamaha Júbilo, but he says he is more than happy to play anywhere in the back row for the Springboks.
“I played No.8 the whole season in Japan, so that helped me a lot with my game in that position.
“I’ve also played at six and seven in the World Cup and I played six against New Zealand in a Rugby Championship game, so I played all those positions.”
He added: “I will just be fortunate if I get an opportunity to play in any one of those positions and I will do my best to fill those shoes
“I’m really working hard on all the basics to make sure that when an opportunity comes, I will be ready.”
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