Sevens star JC Pretorius, unveiled as the Lions' latest signing on Tuesday, says he has been in contact with Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith as he moves to the 15-man game.Pretorius, like Smith did back in 2015, joins the Johannesburg franchise having built a reputation for himself as one of the most destructive Sevens players in the country.READ | The resurgence of Curwin BoschPretorius will be competing for the No 6 jersey with the likes of Jaco Kriel and Emmanuel Thsituka. "It's a massive honour and privilege to be associated with the Lions," Pretorius told media at his unveiling press conference. "I said to myself I wouldn't rush anything coming into the system, and I'm learning quite a lot from the guys already, especially a guy like Jaco, who was a role model for me and still is."Another role model for the 24-year-old Pretorius is the 29-year-old Smith, and he confirmed that he had been in contact with the man who currently plays his club rugby in Japan with Shizuoka.?????????? ? ?????????? ?? ???????? ??Welcome to the Lions Family JC.#LionsPride??
https://t.co/cEHhNnVkun"I chat with Kwagga often," said Pretorius. "He's also a role model to me, and he was also at the Lions, and he knows the ins and outs here and the system.
He can help me a lot, especially with my role as a No 6 flank."There will be challenges with learning the systems and adapting to the defensive structure, and I know that in attacking, too, the loose forwards have a different role than they do in Sevens."I've slotted in at training, and because of the awareness you need to have in Sevens, everything feels a bit slow.