Defending champions Western Province lock horns with the unbeaten Golden Lions in the Currie Cup final at Ellis Park this afternoon.
Rugby writers Jacques van der Westhuyzen and Zelim Nel take a look at two potential gamebreakers ...
Kwagga Smith
His parents named him Albertus Stephanus. To his friends and Lions teammates, he’s simply Kwagga.
The 22-year-old flank was surprisingly included in the starting line-up after spending most of the season on the bench and is now set to play a crucial role as the Lions chase a Currie Cup title many believe has been coming for some time.
Yes, flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff will be key, especially after his goal-kicking deserted him in last year’s final at Newlands and after knocking over 68 of 72 kicks this season.
And yes, Julian Redelinghuys has a big role to play in the scrums, while Franco Mostert will be crucial in the lineouts and as the team’s designated ball-carrier.
But Smith’s performance will determine whether the Lions are able to breach the usually solid defence of the WP team.
He’s not a big man at 1.8m and 80kg, but the Springbok Sevens star is all muscle, heart and determination. He’ll make a nuisance of himself at the rucks, he’ll run hard at – and past – defenders and into gaps and he’ll link with his backs.
He’ll also put in some big tackles, never shying away from the physical stuff.
Smith is the perfect man for the Lions’ style of rugby – quick, fast and expansive – and he’s sure to form a dynamic and dangerous loose-trio combination with captain Jaco Kriel, himself a grenade that’s ready to explode, and No 8 Warren Whiteley.
“He’s got so much energy. He’s so tenacious, he just doesn’t stop,” said Whiteley of Smith. “You can just watch him and be inspired. He’s one of those truly inspirational players.
“He might be small in stature, but he’s got the biggest heart. He puts his body on the line for 80 minutes and I know he’s so excited about this opportunity.”
If Smith delivers, as he seemingly always does, the Lions will have a real chance of lifting the Currie Cup.
Rynhardt Elstadt
You were expecting someone more dynamic, right? Perhaps Cheslin Kolbe, the fleet-footed fullback who is more slippery than a watersnake?
Or the supersonic Seabelo Senatla? Or what about master-opportunist, Dillyn Leyds, WP’s leading try-scorer?
Make no mistake, all three of those outside backs have the skill and instincts to create space and the legs to convert it into tries, but there is no player more central to Province’s mission than No 6 Elstadt.
“In a final, if we look after a few of the Lions’ talismans... we’ve got a chance,” WP coach John Dobson said.
“The guys who are getting momentum for them are Jaco Kriel... Howard Mnisi... and Malcolm Marx. If we can deprive them of momentum, we’ll be in the game; if they get momentum with the fantastic style of rugby they play, they’ll be very hard to stop. It’s all about our breakdown.”
Indeed, momentum comes from crossing the gain-line and that access is usually provided by a quick recycle.
The WP pack is well-stocked with linking players, as flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe, No 8 Nizaam Carr, lineout lock Ruan Botha and replacement forward Jurie van Vuuren boast impressive athleticism in their respective positions and the ball skills to support an attacking movement.
The downside is that none of these players are considered heavyweights in the tackle fight. That’s where Elstadt comes in.
The 25-year-old, who stands 1.96m tall and weighs in at 116kg, packs a serious punch at the point of contact.
His immense appetite for the rough stuff arms WP’s attacking breakdown with a bruiser-missile that has a radar lock on first arrivals, such as Kriel or fellow ruck-rogue Smith.
And on the other side of the ball, Elstadt’s smashmouth approach to defence is sure to boost the Province tackle-count with a few jarring, positive hits. Kriel, Mnisi and Marx... beware! - Weekend Argus