Franco Smith: The other SA coach seeking URC glory

John Dobson has tasted United Rugby Championship glory with the Stormers. And he is in with a shout of going all the way again this season.

The other two local franchise coaches seeking victory in the final are the Bulls’ Jake White and the Sharks’ Neil Powell. They are the three men at the helm of the three SA teams involved in the URC playoffs that get underway this weekend.

But, there is another South African coach on the cusp of glory — Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith.

The former Springbok centre and Cheetahs coach has made a big impression since joining the Scottish outfit.

Challenge Cup final

Smith has already led the Warriors to the European Challenge Cup final where they will face French side Toulon for a shot at the title and this weekend the former Bok’s side are up against Munster at home at Scotstoun in the URC quarter-finals.

If all goes well for the Warriors over the next few weeks, Smith and his team could contest the Challenge Cup final as well as the URC final.

Warriors loose forward Jack Dempsey has been impressed by what Smith has brought to the Warriors set-up in his first season.

“Since day one when Franco came in, there has been something kind of growing,” said Dempsey in a URCSA press release.

“And whether you are an amateur player or a professional player or whatever it is, that is something which hits you.

“Franco has got plaudits for various things, but the biggest thing was building that depth.”

Learnings

Smith, while no doubt excited about the next few weeks, knows the job is not done yet. But he has acknowledged that the Warriors’ turn-around has been big for Glasgow.

The Warriors finished fourth on the points table after winning 13 of their 18 games. In the season before Smith’s arrival, they finished eighth, with 10 wins.

“It means a lot to them,” said Smith. “Everyone is very excited around that.

“But we know there are still a lot of learnings to take from this, a lot of improvement to be made.

“We have the ability, we have the skill-set … we just need to now use the lessons learnt from this week better.”

Having beaten Scarlets in the Challenge Cup semi-finals away from home last weekend, Munster await now in the URC quarters on Saturday.

This weekend’s URC fixtures:

Friday, May 5:

Ulster (2) v Connacht (7): Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, 8.35pm

Saturday, May 6

Stormers (3) v Bulls (6): Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, 3.30pm

Leinster (1) v Sharks (8): Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 6pm

Glasgow Warriors (4) v Munster (5): Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow, 8.35pm