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Cape Town - When it comes to knockout matches and South African sport, Allan Donald is a name that often comes to mind - that fateful run out in 1999 evoking horrible memories.
Donald was also a part of the coaching staff that guided the Proteas to a semi-final exit at the hands of New Zealand at this year’s World Cup.
But over the past couple of weeks Donald has witnessed a playoff campaign of a different kind - spending time with the Stormers during the business end of their Super Rugby campaign.
WATCH: What was Allan Donald doing at Stormers training?
"I spoke to Allister Coetzee during the IPL and I decided that I wanted to up-skill myself. I want to look into becoming a head coach in the cricketing environment. He was very generous in letting me in, sitting in on most of their meetings and just understanding what their culture is like," Donald told News24 Live.
"Especially what Allister Coetzee’s coaching philosophy is about. I spent two hours or so in his office talking about it and I must say I’m very impressed.
"I’ve always been passionate about my rugby and it’s very nice to spend some time with a quality team in a quality coaching environment.
"I’ve also spent some time with the Cheetahs when I was in Bloemfontein when Rassie Erasmus was there and a little bit under Naka Drotske, continuously learning about coaching. As a coach … you can’t stop learning and learning from other codes is interesting."
But White Lightning is not ready to orange for blue just yet.
"I will always support the boys from Bloem," he said.
Donald said he was intrigued in finding the differences in coaching technique between cricket and rugby.
"80 minutes versus a ODI or five-day Test match … that’s a lot different. The structure and culture within the Stormers is very special. It’s very similar to cricket and what we built over the last four years with the Proteas," he said.
"The planning (in rugby) is so much more precise, very detailed. Here you haven’t got much time to think about it, things happen in split seconds.
"I want to tap into Demetri Catrakilis and ask him what the process is that he goes through."
Donald’s contract with Cricket South Africa runs out at the end of the month, and he is looking to continue his work in the IPL as well a getting involved in Australia’s Big Bash.
On his departure from the national setup, Donald had no hard feelings.
"No sour grapes. For me the time has come to reflect. I always set myself the goal to get to World Cup 2015 and reflect after that. When you come from such a hype and you think about your career, I just decided that I had a great time in four years, and I want to leave it there."
