Goosen: Franco right man for Wales job
02/19/2025 02:25 AM
Franco Smith's previous experience coaching at Test level positions him as an ideal candidate to lead Wales out of their current misery, according to former Italy attack coach Marius Goosen.
The Wales job opened up after Warren Gatland stepped down earlier this onth following a defeat to Italy in Rome that marked a record 14th consecutive reverse for the Dragons. Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt was appointed as the interim head coach with Wales languishing in 12th place on the world rankings, one spot below Georgia.
Smith, head coach of the reigning URC champion Glasgow Warriors, expressed interest in returning to coaching in the Test arena following a 45-20 victory in Newport on Sunday. His current contract expires at the conclusion of next season.
READ: Franco fired up to coach Test footy again
Marius Goosen, who served on Italy’s coaching staff between 2019 and 2021, endorsed Smith to replace Gatland.
"I think he learned a lot of lessons when he coached Italy, which will now help him a lot if he works again at Test level," Goosen, the former Bulls and Stormers playmaker, told Netwerk24. "Wales is in a transition phase, which is exactly what Franco had to go through with Italy.
“Italy basically had a change of generation when he was there and he had to invest in a bunch of young players playing at Test level against the best teams in the world. It wasn’t easy and he would have learned a lot from it," said Goosen, lauding Smith's ability to salvage teams in a slump.
"He has repeatedly proven to build a team from nothing to one that wins constantly."
Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
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