NOD FOR VENTER’S SPRINGBOK CALL-UP
Free State coach says Currie Cup-winning captain will boost SA team
FREE State Cheetahs coach Franco Smith believes that centre Francois Venter‚ who was included in the Springboks’ touring squad on Saturday‚ will add great value to the national team.
Venter‚ 25‚ captained Free State to the Currie Cup title on Saturday when they beat the Blue Bulls 36-16 in Bloemfontein‚ and capped a fine day with a Bok call-up for tests against England‚ Italy and Wales.
Venter was one of 12 uncapped players named in two squads – one to face the Barbarians and the other for the three tests.
But only four uncapped players were included in both squads – Venter‚ Cheetahs wing Sergeal Petersen‚ Blue Bulls flank Roelof Smit and Sharks flank Jean-Luc du Preez.
“Francois has been knocking on the door for quite a while‚” Smith said.
“He’s a solid guy who works really hard at what he does.
“I moved him from 12 to 13 a couple of years ago and he asked me: ‘Do you really believe I can become a Springbok at 13?’
“I told him: ‘If you believe your junior coach who put you at 12 then it will be difficult, but if you are willing to work hard then you can become a Bok’.
“We’ve worked really hard on his decision-making in the No 13 channel and it would be tough to move him back to 12‚ but he does have the ability to play both positions.
“I’m also happy for the rest of the guys in the Bok squad too‚ such as Sergeal and Uzair Cassiem [in the Barbarians squad] because the Free State has been without Boks for a long time.
“It will give the rest of the players here belief and confidence that the path we are on in Bloemfontein is the right one.”
Smith has been seconded to the Springbok management for the tour as a backline consultant, where he will bring 12 years of coaching experience‚ especially in European conditions‚ to the squad.
Bok coach Allister Coetzee made the announcement during the SA National Coaches Indaba in Cape Town this week‚ but Smith said his role had not been formalised yet.
“I haven’t had time to have a proper chat with Allister yet, but we will do that in the week.
“Obviously, there is a lot of belief about what we have done in the Currie Cup and what the Lions have done in Super Rugby [runners-up].
“I believe that we [the Boks] must be the best team out there and not necessarily the best individuals. There are 12 new players who will leave their hearts on the field playing for South Africa for the first time.
“We really have to consider picking only SA-based players. Johan Ackermann [Lions coach] has also said it.
“Let’s get 45 players and work with them so we can redevelop new heroes for South Africa,” Smith said.