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Smith: Possible to juggle Cheetahs and Boks

Johannesburg - Springbok backline coach Franco Smith has no worries over his workload this season and he believes his involvement with the Cheetahs will ultimately benefit the national side. 

While he has been tasked with turning the Boks into a dangerous attacking unit, Smith must also turn the Cheetahs into a competitive Super Rugby franchise. 

Having guided the Cheetahs to an impressive 34-28 win over the Bulls in Bloemfontein on Saturday, Smith was then off to Johannesburg for a three-day Bok camp where work began on turning around South Africa's fortunes in 2017. 

"I think I'm serving rugby," Smith said when asked about the challenges of ultimately having two jobs at once. 

"It's going to be a tough ask, but I've worked out my plan and worked out how we're going to do it and I think it's possible. I must emphasise that I don't want to neglect one of the two roles. I'm going to try and burn the candle at both ends.

"It has been done before. Stephen Larkham is doing it with the Aussies so it's not like an impossible task. I'm looking forward to it ... it's a great honour and privilege."

"For me being on the frontline of coaching the whole year is going to really improive my coaching and skills so I think the Boks will benfit if I'm involved in Super Rugby the whole year."

The Boks play their first Test of the year against France at Loftus on June 10 while the Cheetahs are next in action when they host the Sunwolves on Saturday.

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