Future bright for Cheetahs coach
Proud history fuels All Black passion to succeed Smith star continues to rise
IF YOU want to know why the All Blacks seek greatness you need to look at their history, according to coach Steve Hansen, who pays homage to the pacesetting team of the 19651969 era.
With the All Blacks aiming for a world-record 18th consecutive victory when they tackle Australia in Auckland today, Hansen talked of the lessons learned from the side that set the benchmark of 17 wins nearly 50 years ago.
“They were probably the team that said to New Zealand rugby ‘this is not a bad way to play’,” Hansen said Thursday, singling out the free-running game of the 1967 All Blacks in particular.
FREE State Cheetahs coach Franco Smith is only 44 but he has been coaching for 14 years‚ so it’s little surprise that his side have shown promising growth in such a short space of time.
The Cheetahs are no longer a side of flair undermined by tactical naivety and are rather a team of hard workers with ever-improving skills and structure. That’s testament to Smith’s attention to “I always thought that 1967 side was the greatest team to play for the All Blacks and there have been some great ones.”
It was a team stacked with legends of the game, including Colin Meads, Brian Lochore, Syd Going, Earle Kirton and Fergie McCormick, who established a sweeping, ball-inhand brand on an unbeaten tour of Britain, France and Canada.
The record was equalled by South Africa in 19971998 and in 2013-2014 by the All Blacks, who now stand on the verge of an unprecedented 18th straight win.
McCormick, a fearless fullback who played in 12 Tests of the 17-match winning streak, has no doubt the record will fall today.
“In modern day sport they are great,” he said of the 2016 team, adding that records were made to be broken.
After the All Blacks won the World Cup last year, becoming the first team to successfully defend the title, Hansen drew a line in the sand and said it was time to start again.
Six of his most senior players, including Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, retired and he set about rebuilding the side under new leader Kieran Read.
But while their running game drew plaudits, former Springbok coach detail and belief that through hard work results will come.
Smith was a player-coach in Italy in 2002.
A lot of his philosophy was shaped in those formative years in the heartland of Italian rugby.
A return to Bloemfontein in 2014 led to his position at the Cheetahs and today’s Currie Cup final.
Smith has also been seconded to the Springbok camp Heyneke Meyer singled out the All Blacks’ kicking game and defence as being crucial.
“Their attacking kicks are meant to put you under pressure. They kick on you until you kick badly, then they punish you,” said Meyer.
Hansen said one important element that has not changed is that the great All Blacks teams have all had forwards who can carry the ball constructively, pass and catch.
“We do have a rich history and the responsibility of the people who are passing through at the moment is to make sure they leave it in better shape than they found it,” he said. — AFP for their November tour to Britain and Italy.
Smith won major titles with Teviso in Italy and guided Shimlas to the Varsity Cup title in 2015. — TMG Sport