Gold relishes the Sharks’ challenges
CHALLENGES are a way of life for Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold, and his new job will certainly provide him with enough of those.
Domestically, the Sharks have proved to be a cut above the rest, with three Currie Cup titles in six years, but the conversion to claim Super Rugby dominance has been less than easy.
Gold is aware of the task that lies ahead.
He did similar jobs at English side Bath and Western Province, leaving them in a better space for Mike Ford and Allister Coetzee, who built on his foundations.
Gold replaced former Springbok coach Jake White at the Sharks last month.
“I enjoy taking on challenges and I do believe that part of our job is to embrace challenges and see how they test your character. That is the part that I really do enjoy very much. I also enjoy watching young rugby players put their talents to good use in a team environment. Watching that flourish is hugely rewarding,” Gold said.
“I haven’t actually noticed that I have been involved in such jobs over the course of my career, but those are challenges I have really enjoyed.
“When I went to the UK people asked me why am I going to a team that is struggling because it could affect my reputation, but I did not see it that way. I saw it as an opportunity to add value and see if there was any improvement.”
The soft-spoken Gold, a product of Wynberg Boys High, will be working with Brendan Venter, who was an omnipresent figure during the Sharks’ successful 2013 Currie Cup conquest.
With the failures of previous Super Rugby campaigns — including this year’s, which died a quick death in Christchurch that is still fresh in the minds of Sharks supporters — Gold knows that the Durban crowd, which was subjected to some of the most boring rugby in the tournament, will want results as well as entertainment.
He knows that expectations often lead to massive disappointment, but he has been bred in a culture of knowing what fans want in terms of success so that will not be much of a problem.
“I’m sure I’ll be able to deliver the trophy that is missing from the cabinet. I know that there is massive expectation, especially with the team having come so close. Teams that often come close are the ones who are often under the most pressure to be successful. The Sharks are an aspirational brand and they have been so close on so many occasions,” Gold said.
“I hope they will become like the Chiefs or Leinster, who were perennial also-rans until they cracked the big time and were able to do it repeatedly.
“There is a lot more pressure externally than internally to try to make the trophy rush work.
“The pressure that I put on myself does not outweigh the pressure that will be put on me by the public,” he said.