Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith has disagreed with former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald’s assertion that the standard of the United Rugby Championship (URC) is a lot lower than that of Super Rugby.
Earlier this week, Donald appeared on The Breakdown where he said Jordie Barrett, who is currently plying his trade on a sabbatical at Leinster, will have to prove himself again before he can return to the All Blacks’ starting line-up for their upcoming three-Test series against France during the mid-year internationals in July.
Barrett has been in red hot form for Leinster in various positions in the URC and Champions Cup but Donald feels it does not justify him being an automatic selection for All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson’s starting line-up for the first Test against Les Bleus in Dunedin on July 5.
‘URC a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby’
“The URC competition is probably a low, a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby, the Champions Cup stuff certainly would be [of the same level],” he remarked.
“Would I pick him in the squad? Yes, of course, he’s the vice-captain remember. Would I start him? Not necessarily, and nothing to do with his form, but more of a reward for the boys who have been in Super Rugby and played well all year.
“So Jordie yes, select him straight away, would I start him straight away in Test one against France? Possibly not.”
However, Smith disagrees and said it’s impossible for Donald to give his verdict on the standard of the URC as he as not played or coached in the competition yet.
“Look, I’ve been involved with this competition since it was Magners League back in the day, you know, and you must coach or have played in this competition to have any comment around that,” he said in the build-up to the Warriors’ URC clash with the Bulls at Scotstoun on Friday.
“This is a quality competition. I’ve coached Super Rugby before. I’ve played Super Rugby and it is a quality competition over there, but you can’t compare it to it.
“It’s completely different challenges.
‘It a completely different challenge than what it’s used to’
“The fact that we play in three different, four different countries with the Champions Cup in the middle of it, it makes it a completely different challenge than what it’s used to.
“But the quality of the game is (of a) high standard and we see that year after year in the Six Nations.”
Glasgow went down 26-19 the Bulls on Friday, a result which was their first home defeat to a South African side and, in doing so, the men from Pretoria avenged their home loss to the Warriors in last year’s URC final.
The Bulls were worthy winners at Scotstoun as they held the upper hand for long periods but the Warriors secured a crucial bonus point courtesy of two late tries from Kyle Steyn and Stafford McDowall.
“The Bulls players were really determined to revenge what was an important (game) for them last year, so I am obviously disappointed with the loss but it doesn’t effect us at all in terms of what is going to happen next,” said Smith after the match.
“It was a good fight and determination from all of them, but its the back end of a long season, and to play the Bulls now in the mood they were in, we’ll take the bonus point and move on.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/franco-smiths-blunt-response-to-stephen-donalds-criticism-of-the-united-rugby-championship
