Smal’s ‘rollercoaster’

AS HEYNEKE Meyer’s Springboks depart for the World Cup today, for Gert Smal the euphoria of winning the 2007 World Cup is not something he can easily put into words.

It’s maybe because he was also part of the 2003 Springbok group that experienced such bitter disappointment four years earlier.

As an assistant coach at three successive World Cup tournaments, Smal went through a rollercoaster of emotions with the Springboks in 2003 and 2007, and with Ireland in 2011.

This is the first time in 12 years that the former Springbok loose forward will not be packing his bags for rugby’s global showpiece. He is now focused on his duties as Western Province’s Director of Rugby, and passing his knowledge on to the coaches of the union. “It’s the first (time) since 2003 that I’m not going to be involved in a World Cup. It feels sort of funny not being involved, but saying that it’s still exciting at WP Rugby and I have other challenges,” Smal.

The highlight for Smal was certainly the 2007 edition, when he was part of Jake White’s coaching staff as the forwards coach. The Springboks won the World Cup by beating England in France.

For years before that, though, Smal was part of Rudolph Straeuli’s turbulent tenure, which ended in a quarter-final defeat against the All Blacks in Australia.

As Meyer’s team departs for this year’s World Cup in England, Smal reminisced about their four-year journey from that ill-fated tournament to winning the sport’s holy grail in 2007.

“It’s difficult to explain that feeling when that final whistle blows and you realise that you have just won the World Cup, because it was a four-year investment and everybody’s effort and energy paid off,” Smal said.

“Our planning was spot on and we had a game plan that gave the players lots of confidence.

“The team also grew mentally and physically. We also had nice continuity, and you need a bit of luck. We also went to fetch Os out of retirement and he managed to see out the World Cup!”

Smal says the World Cup isn’t just won on the field and in the meeting rooms. Spending time away from rugby over the next seven weeks is going to be as important for the Boks as a line-out drill or an assault on the scrum machine.

“In 2007 we flew in their wives and girlfriends ahead of the game against England – our biggest match in the group stage – because you want to keep it as calm as possible,” the former WP flank said.

“The guys like to be close to the family to blow off some steam… it becomes a pressure cooker environment.

“It’s important that the guys concentrate on what’s important, and with the families there it does take a bit of their attention off the job at hand. But they are definitely a bit more relaxed.

“It’s also nice to do things as a team, because it is a special time. I think Heyneke would have planned around these things. England is nice because you can do a lot of stuff, like a musical or a show.”