Henco Venter believed it was only a matter of time before Glasgow Warriors got their hands on silverware under Franco Smith, but knows they will need to go to dark places if they are to emulate the achievement this season.
Having reached the Challenge Cup final – where Glasgow failed to perform and were soundly beaten by Toulon - in Smith’s first year in charge, the Warriors scaled the proverbial mountain by beating the Bulls in Pretoria to win the United Rugby Championship title last season.
Venter is more qualified than most to speak about Smith’s coaching talents. Their paths crossed about a decade ago when Smith returned to his homeland to coach the Shimlas, representing the University of Free State, where Venter was a theology student.
Their relationship carried on with the Cheetahs for the next four years, before Venter moved to Japan with Toshiba Brave Lupus.
Reunited once more at Scotstoun last summer, Venter said he was confident Glasgow would get their hands on a trophy under Smith’s guidance.
He said: “Knowing Franco and winning with him beforehand, everywhere I played with him we won. I knew it was in the pipeline, just a matter of time.”
Venter said the pain of defeat to Toulon in the Challenge Cup final in 2023 fuelled the Warriors.
“The guys, they felt that,” he said of the 43-19 drubbing.
“I think losing primed everyone and everyone knew the feeling and what to expect. So I think [they wanted to] follow up on it.”
Venter said winning the URC title in his native South Africa was particularly special.
He added: “Winning against the Bulls at Loftus, it's like one of the best things for a South African player.
“For me it was especially very emotional and just such a great experience. I grew up as a Bulls supporter. Beating the team that was my team was definitely the best highlight of my career.”
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Venter's career high was followed by an enjoyable summer, before returning to Scotstoun three weeks ago with a renewed determination to be celebrating more silverware come the end of this season.
"It's the best off-season I've had. It was next level. I stayed in South Africa and it was fun. training there and then [came] back for pre-season."
Glasgow might be URC champions, but their European campaign ended in disappointment with a last-16 defeat to Harlequins. Venter wants the Warriors to make their mark in the Champions Cup this season.
He believes they have what it takes to win the tournament.
The 32-year-old said: “There are two trophies [to play for] and we only won one. So I think that whole dream - guys start believing more in it. And you believe you can achieve anything.
"If you want to be the best, you want to win both competitions. And it has been done so many times before. That’s the big goal and what we work for.”
Having been to Thomond Park and won in their URC semi-final before beating the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, Venter believes Glasgow have shown they have the credentials to go deep into the Champions Cup.
"You have to win away from home in the European Cup.
“Jack Dempsey said it, we went to hell and back - I think he summed it up.
“We must be able and prepared to go there again. I think that's what Leinster, in their prime years of winning everything, that's what they could have, year after year after year, could have done it.
“As we go forward in this year, there's some games, especially with how the games are structured and there's no breaks in between, we must just be prepared to go there [to hell] every week.”
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