Boks go big on the bench for Ireland clash with 7/1 split

Is it risky? Yes, but Erasmus and Nienaber will have war-gamed every eventuality and the choice of Kwagga Smith attests to the method within any apparent madness.

The Springboks matchday 23.

Kwagga Smith couldn’t have known how on-the-money his words would prove to be when he put forward his case to play some part for the Springboks as the world champions prepared to welcome the British and Irish Lions to their shores.

A versatile back row, Smith had just completed a full season playing No.8 for the Shizuoka Blue Revs in Japan. He featured on the blindside for the Boks during their successful 2019 World Cup campaign and at openside against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship.