Franco Smith’s record at the Glasgow Warriors has boosted his credentials amid rumours he could be in line for the Scotland head coach job.
On Saturday, the former Springbok flyhalf will lead Glasgow in the Investec Champions Cup last 16 against his former outfit the Bulls.
Smith arrived at the Scottish club in 2022 and has led them to a Vodacom URC crown, an EPCR Challenge Cup final and now the continental top tier’s knockout stage.
The 53-year-old’s ability to bring success to Scotstoun Stadium has catapulted him to the frontrunner to replace Gregor Townsend after the 2027 World Cup, with the former Glasgow boss linked with the job at Newcastle Red Bulls.
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“He’s a guy that has got Glasgow absolutely flying, but has found a way to get physical performances out of a Glasgow Warriors side as well, which is maybe the thing people would argue is lacking at international level with Scotland,” former Glasgow and Scotland back-rower Johnnie Beattie told AFP.
“As a Scottish rugby fan or as a former Glasgow Warriors player or a Glasgow Warriors supporter now, this is probably the best rugby that the city of Glasgow has produced in the professional era.
“If Gregor is to go off to Newcastle Red Bulls come the end of the World Cup in 2027, Franco Smith would be the clear favourite for the job from everyone in Scotland,” Beattie added.
MORE: Franco keeps high-flying Glasgow grounded
Smith’s journey to western Scotland included six years coaching at Benetton in Italy, sandwiched between spells at the Cheetahs after a playing career in South Africa, Wales and Italy, as well as nine Springboks Tests.
He returned to Italy in 2019 as the Azzurri’s head coach, helping to set the foundations for their recent upturn in fortune under Gonzalo Quesada.
“Franco’s a world-class coach,” former Italy and Treviso lock Dean Budd told AFP. “I’ve always held him in very high regard in that manner, his technical aptitude is second to none, he understands the game so incredibly well.
“My reservations early on were how his style matched the Italian style of a little bit more relaxed approach to things.
“I would say he took some really good learnings away from having to leave Italy.
“He’s very to the point in his approach and was received well by some and not always by others,” New Zealand-born Budd added.
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Smith headed to Glasgow to a team low on confidence after they finished eighth in the league the previous season — their lowest league position since 2010–11.
Beattie, who spent eight seasons at the club before spells at French sides Montpellier, Castres and Bayonne, was an unofficial part of the recruitment process.
“Glasgow had asked me to ask a few people that I was playing with what he’d been like as a coach,” he said.
“I played with quite a few of the Cheetahs players so I picked their brains and they all came back with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
“It’s pretty rare nowadays with coaches, to be honest.
“Somebody’s always had a negative experience or has something bad to say in passing, but with Franco, the feedback was overwhelmingly good.”
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This season, Smith’s Warriors top the URC table and are the league’s joint-leading try-scorers, alongside the Bulls.
They reached the Champions Cup last 16 as second seeds with a perfect run in the pool stage, which included a statement victory over record six-time winners Toulouse.
“There’s an attractive brand of rugby that is fun to watch and follow, but it’s also winning rugby,” Beattie said.
“That would be down to his coaching style, his influence on the players, the structures and the templates that he’s put on that squad.
“All those things point in the direction of an incredibly, incredibly smart coach who is doing a wonderful job.”
Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
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