Kwagga Smith back to square one? Fat chance!

There’s a certain cliche that sums up Kwagga Smith’s 2017: all’s well that ends well.

For every highlight this year, there’s been a setback too.

That’s why his return to the Blitzboks for the Dubai and Cape Town legs of the new World Sevens Series might seem like a step backward.

The format was the one in which the 24-year-old Lions flanker made his mark and wanted to use as a platform to become a star in the 15-man game too.

He doesn’t see it that way.

And nor should he.

“It’s great to be back in sevens because it’s a place where you can grow and where you become a better rugby player‚” Smith said ahead of this weekend’s Dubai tournament.

“The hunger to do well is definitely still there. I’m playing the first four tournaments and then I will return to Super Rugby where I will try to become a 15s Springbok.”

This year, Smith has established himself as the one local player who simply couldn’t be knocked down.

When he slotted in for Super Rugby this season, he dazzled with linebreaks, 8 tries, solid defence and turnovers galore.

A highlight.

Then came THAT red card in the final at Ellis Park against the Crusaders.

“I learned a lot from that experience,” said Smith.

“You find athletes preparing for the 100 meters final of the Olympics only to get false-started, and their race is over before it had begun. We are all human, we all make mistakes. It is how you recover from such misfortunes – that is what people will remember.”

The skillful flanker returned for the Currie Cup and lit up proceedings as calls for a Springbok place became increasingly vocal.

Another undoubted highlight.

When Bok coach Allister Coetzee named his squad for the current tour to Europe, Smith’s name was missing.

Those pesky setbacks had struck again.

Undaunted, Smith was selected to the Barbarians and delivered a Man-of-the-Match performance against the All Blacks at Twickenham.

Typically, he’s not dwelling on a showing that left the national selectors with egg on their faces.

“My mindset or goals did not change, despite success and misfortune,” said Smith.

“My focus is totally on the sevens for now.”

Square one then, some would say.

But given his history in 2017, Smith might just be unstoppable next year.

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