Smith to win Bok spot with his boot?
SPOTLIGHT: Flyhalf Chris Smith is the Bulls’ go-to guy at No.10 in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, and he’s done so steadily, and almost stealthily.
The likes of Stormers pivot Manie Libbok and Lions playmaker Gianni Lombard hog the spotlight in the URC courtesy of their all-round skill and precocious talent, yet Smith has flourished because he’s nailed down his primary responsibility: kicking his goals consistently.
Smith, a product of South Africa’s oldest school, SACS High, in Newlands, Cape Town, scored 123 points in 17 appearances. He kicked 50 from 64 shots at goal for a 78 perecnt conversion rate.
Picking up where he left off, the 28-year-old kicked four penalties to help the Bulls claim a hard-fought opening-round victory over the Lions.
A fit-again Johan Goosen and evergreen Morne Steyn have increased the competition for the Bulls No.10 jersey but Smith, who has just inked a two-year extension, is rising to the challenge at Loftus Versfeld.
“If I have to compare myself to Morne and Johan … I didn’t play Craven Week or Academy Week, so I didn’t get the same exposure that those players got,” he said.
“I’m learning a great amount from both of them, and having both of them as mentors has brought the best out of my game.”
Smith’s match-winning drop-goal heroics in last season’s URC quarterfinal against the Sharks was an example of his ability to zero in on the target in big games.
It was a clutch moment from Smith, but it was not one that surprised Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White, who has come to expect such consistency and big pressure plays from his No.10.
Speaking after the match, White said Smith had said he was in two minds about having a crack at goal.
“Chris said to me he was terrified, but the nice thing is that it’s not the first time we’ve seen a Northern Transvaal player drop a kick over” White said, alluding to iconic Bulls and Springbok flyhalf Naas Botha. Not to mention Steyn and another Loftus darling, Derick Hougaard.
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#ICYMI: WATCH AS Bulls backs coach Chris Rossouw speaks about last week’s loss to Glasgow and facing Munster in Limerick this week. #URC #Bulls #Glasgow #BULvGLA https://t.co/oKcmHs4r3U
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) October 12, 2022
Smith’s greatest strength is his ability to be consistent with a low error-rate, while he also embraces a Bulls attacking system that gives him options by not forcing him to implement too big a playbook.
Joel Stransky, who famously kicked the drop goal for the Springboks against the All Blacks to win the 1995 World Cup, believes Smith contributes to an environment where his teammates can flourish.
“What they do well is manage space well. Chris Smith is rock solid, defends well, frees up guys outside him,” Stransky said. “He kicks well and while he maybe doesn’t do the flashy things as often, he doesn’t make many mistakes.”
It has been a big last 12 months for the Smith sporting family, with younger brother Daniel picked to captain the South African u19 cricket team, just a few months after making his professional T20 debut for Western Province.
With the Springboks’ end-of-year tour coming up, Chris could be in line for a call-up as Jacques Nienaber will look to bolster his depth ahead of next year’s World Cup.
