JOHANNESBURG - It is said too many cooks spoil the broth, but new Springbok attack coach Franco Smith has rubbished the well-known saying, suggesting the more people involved in coaching the Boks the better.
Smith, who was recently appointed the national team’s backs and attack coach, takes over from Johan van Graan, who has been involved with the Boks since 2012 when Heyneke Meyer took charge.
He also filled the role of attack coach for most of last season when Smith wasn’t part of the picture, but it is now uncertain exactly what his role will be going forward, other than that of assistant coach, alongside Matt Proudfoot, who deals mainly with the scrums.
Smith though feels there will be no clashing between him and Van Graan. “I believe we need everybody to coach. Those who know my style, know that I involve everybody in every aspect of coaching.
“Johan has gained a lot of experience, and we worked well together last year already on the November tour, and we know each other well.
“Coaching is never a one-man act, even though I am going to be responsible for the attack, I’m going to involve Johan in the breakdown coaching, the running lines, transfers, and skills upgrading. We’re comfortable... there will be a well-organised and planned approach.”
Smith also dispelled talk he will not be able to juggle both the job as Cheetahs Super Rugby coach and as Springbok assistant. “I’m serving rugby,” he said about wearing two hats.
“It’s going to be a tough ask, but I’ve worked on my plan, and think it is very possible. I certainly don’t want to neglect one role, but it’s been done before ... just look at Stephen Larkham at the Aussies (he’s national backs coach and also head coach of the Brumbies).
“It’s not an impossible task. It’s about time management, and I am looking forward to what lies ahead. It is a great honour and me being on the front line of coaching for the whole year, will surely improve my coaching ability and skill, and that will benefit the Boks.”
Smith was talking on the second day of the first national training camp in Johannesburg ahead of the Test season, which gets underway in June with a three-Test series against France. He said it was important that everyone who attended the camp knows what’s required of them should they be picked for the Boks in future.
“We want to get a basic playing style across to the players, a basic shape in general play,” he said of the aims of the camp.
“It’s important everyone understands his role, what everyone can bring to the game. Also we want to make everyone understand what we (the coaches) think.”
Smith added the Boks wouldn’t simply adopt one style going forward. “There are three different Test styles coming up; first in June it’s north against south, then there’s the Rugby Championship where a Super Rugby-style approach is adopted and where try-scoring is important; and thirdly there’s the end of year tour where weather conditions play a big part.
“We have to adapt from one series to the next and that’s why we’ll plan from week to week, depending on the opposition, the availability of players, the skills sets needed... there’s got to be a Plan B too. What this camp is about is up-skilling the players to have a certain skills set.”
The camp concludes today with the second and third camps scheduled for next month and May.