Ireland forwards' coach Gert Smal tells Gerry Thornleythat his countrymen will come here with everything they have got
AT THIS juncture, akin to game plans left in Limerick taxis, it’s probably become something of an urban myth. But whether or not Gert Smal gave Paul O’Connell and co a crash course in Afrikaans when Ireland seemingly decoded South Africa’s lineout in the 15-10 win at Croke Park last season, few have such insider knowledge of the famed Boks lineout as their ex-World Cup-winning forwards’ coach.
“Because I worked with the (Springboks) team for a lot of years I know how the lineout works, and I organize the lineout-contesting sessions as such, so that we’ve got good speed to look for certain triggers and just no grey areas. We want to go full out and contest and see how many balls we can win,” said Smal.
That said, he intimated that his former charges may be more mindful of his presence this year. “No, I don’t sit them down at 6 o’clock in the morning and give them Afrikaans’ lessons. I think a lot’s been made of it but it was more our preparation in terms of contesting during the game,” admitted Smal.
“Obviously if they think we know the calls then they will most probably change it for this game, and come with different variations. I think Victor mentioned it already to the press in South Africa, so we expect something new. So we’ll just have to see and prepare as well as we can and contest as well as we can in the game.”
As he also acknowledged, the Bakkies Botha-Victor Matfield combination gives the Springboks one of the best lineouts in the game. “They are one of the most difficult teams to contest and have lineouts against, but that’s the challenge. I know, obviously, a fair amount about South African lineouts, and it’s a challenge for the team and for our subs as well to see how many possessions we can get and how many of their possessions we can spoil.”
Smal’s respect for Jphn Smit, the hooker and captain who guided them to the 2007 World Cup was palpable, but the same applied to Matfield, who he said brings a calmness and composure to the captaincy, as well as leading from the front.
“Obviously they did not have a good Tri-Nations and they will want to start this Grand Slam campaign with a big bang. Even with the injuries they have at the moment, you don’t get a weak Boks side. They will come here with everything they have got.
“Our preparation has gone very well (but) if you look at last weekend, a lot of their top players weren’t playing in the final of the Currie Cup so they would have had time to work in terms of lineouts, specifically, so they will also be very well prepared.”
For Tony Buckley, and by extension to a degree for Smal as well given the faith and time he has put into the Munster tighthead, the degree to which he can survive against The Beast could be something of a watershed in his career.
“One of my biggest worries at the beginning, when I was appointed, was the frontrow positions, where there was only John (Hayes, at tighthead). We worked very hard over the past two years to develop the squad, particularly in the frontrow. We’ve worked with different players and he (Buckley) is one of the players who is putting up his hand, particularly in the summer tour; in the game against the All Blacks he played very well.”
Nor did he think Buckley would feel excessively nervous. “Through his personality, he’s very calm and collected. He’s got a good personality, and he’s got a little bit of a trip-switch as well; when he needs it he will bring it out. The main thing is he has to concentrate on making the team; his emergence is important but in the lineouts and the scrum it is about team work.”
Nor was defensive coach Less Kiss going along with the view that the Springboks had fallen way behind New Zealand and Australia in their attacking play. “Well, they scored seven tries against the Aussies in two games – I think it was the last two. They can score points. Their points scoring is well above the Aussies in their Tests to date. I’m always nervous about any team we play in Test rugby, but with Gert’s experience we’ve talked about what they like to throw at you, where they like to play the game and how they like to launch from those positions in the game, and they have a wonderful way of putting pressure on you with aerial assaults as well. There’s less kicking in the game but if you do it at the right time it can be dangerous.
“So I’m sure they would have talked about that,” added Kiss. “They’ve had their review, they would have had a lot of time to think about those things. You look at the Currie Cup final the other day, it was a good open affair, there was some good rugby played and they’ve got some good rugby players.
“They’ll be up for it, and we have to make sure we don’t build them up that they’re dead and buried. Our challenge is to stay on top of this.”
Ears on bench
AS EXPECTED, Keith Earls has been confirmed as the player to wear the number 22 jersey ahead of Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace, and thereby cover the outside back positions. Despite his fledgling Test career twice being interrupted by injuries since his try-scoring debut against Canada, Earls has started in seven of his 10 Tests, and has scored six tries, with the last eight appearances on the left wing.
