Cheetahs director of rugby and Springbok attack coach Franco Smith says South Africans will be pleasantly surprised by the standard and style of rugby in Pro14. Smith believes structural‚ tactical and commercial improvements over the past decade in Europe have ensured that the gap between the north and south has closed. The Cheetahs and Kings will be on uncertain ground when they make their debuts in the European tournament this weekend against Ulster and the Scarlets, respectively. Just as the two SA teams will be strangers to the best clubs from Wales‚ Ireland‚ Scotland and Italy‚ so too are those teams alien to the Cheetahs and Kings. The Cheetahs top the Currie Cup standings after six rounds but will now prioritise the Pro14‚ while still competing locally. It will be a tough balancing act to do both tournaments justice‚ especially after coming out of a gruelling Super Rugby campaign as well. "This tournament will be tough on the South African teams because of those physiological...
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