Currie Cup just a stepping stone to Super Rugby test, says Cheetahs coach

THE tears of joy had not even dried when Free State Cheetahs coach Franco Smith told his side not to dwell too much on their perfect Currie Cup triumph.

Smith said winning the Currie Cup was just a step in the right direction, and that the true test of how good his team was would come in next year’s Super Rugby campaign when they come up against New Zealand sides.

But there was nothing to be downplayed about how the Cheetahs achieved their perfect 10, blowing away all their opposition. The Blue Bulls only conceded defeat in the latter stages of the final, which the Cheetahs won 36-16 in front of a capacity crowd at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

It was the Cheetahs’ fifth domestic title, but for Smith it should serve as a springboard for greater things to come in Super Rugby.

“There is still a lot of work to be done and the players can be glad there is no review on Monday (today),” quipped Smith. “I think we were nervous and we made a lot of the mistakes we made in Super Rugby.

“That means that you should be comfortable in the pressure situations with the new way of doing things, and not revert to the old ways.

“There is still a lot of work to be done, but obviously belief is the first ingredient in success, and I believe we have been able to keep the belief during this year’s tough Super Rugby season and in these 10 games. That is the thing that we want to take forward from here.”

The Cheetahs have followed in the footsteps of last year’s champions, the Golden Lions, in accomplishing a flawless season, and Smith gave praise to his group of youngsters for the hard work they put in.

“Obviously it is nice to have a team that is unbeaten. It never counted for us to be unbeaten until the final, and to win it was important. We came with a plan 16 months ago and we said this is what we are going to do, and we let a lot of the senior players go to start with a bunch of new guys.

“It is important to know that if you work hard at something you can achieve it, and that is what the Cheetahs stood for this whole season. You don’t have to have a name or be the best, you just have to work hard, and that was the story of the final,” Smith said.

Smith joins a rare club of individuals who have won the Currie Cup as a player and as a coach, even though his win as a player came during his time with the Pretoria-based Bulls union.

“It was just as special winning it as a player with the Bulls as it is now coaching the Cheetahs. This win was very special because here in Bloemfontein we have been in need of two things – the rain and winning the Currie Cup,” said Smith.