Boks on Tour
Ireland coach hails Smal
2009-11-28 21:08
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Dublin - Ireland coach Declan Kidney hailed the contribution of former Bok assistant coach Gert Smal in plotting the Springboks’ downfall at Croke Park on Saturday.
Ireland won the match 15-10 and their lineout in particular, caused the Boks serious trouble in the first half. Smal is the Irish forwards coach and no doubt referred to his old Bok playbook to upset their lineouts.
The visitors by contrast dominated the scrums, but with so few in the match it was the lineout that had the biggest impact.
“I feel so lucky to be working with Gert because he is a world class coach and his contribution to this victory shouldn’t go unrecorded,” Kidney said afterwards.
“He is certainly getting our lineout in good order and I think the lads from both sides will have a laugh tonight about some similarities between them.
“Gert’s efforts were great because he wasn’t feeling in the best health and he still managed to put in the analysis in the early part of the week when he should have been resting up.
“He has a great work ethic.”
Bok skipper John Smit admitted that Smal might have played a role in the Springbok’s unusual struggle at the lineout.
“It was ironic today because the two departments that usually win us Test matches (the lineout and kicking) were the ones that cost us.
“We know Gert well and Ireland would have been well prepared for our lineouts. We lost a big advantage today.” But on the plus side South Africa’ scrums, with the return of BJ Botha to tighthead, were dominant and destroyed the Irish pack in the first hour.
Botha made a mess of Irish loosehead Cian Healy, but when he was withdrawn 10 minutes into the second half and from then on the Irish managed to regain some parity in the set piece.
“It was nice to have BJ back and we did some serious damage there,” Smit said. “BJ’s presence created an impetus and we managed to get some penalties out of the game which was nice to see.”