‘Emotional day for Smal’
24 Nov 2009
Eddie Jones believes the technical nous of Ireland’s assistant coaches, Gert Smal and Alan Gaffney, will be a major factor at Croke Park on Saturday.
Smal is no stranger to the Boks, having been their forwards mentor until the end of 2007. He now fulfills the same role with the Irish, and after enjoying World Cup success with his home country, he’s carried that through with Ireland, who won the Six Nations this year.
Smal will come up against the Boks for the first time and his knowledge of one of their greatest assets – the lineout – could be a potential stumbling block for the visitors.
‘Gert’s a meticulous planner,’ Jones told keo.co.za.’ His analysis of the lineout is first class, and he’ll teach that to the Irish players. The Irish pack have always been physical, but he’s given them some added detail.
‘I know he’ll be emotional coaching against the Boks – he’s 100% committed to Ireland, but is a very Bok-orientated guy. He’s also a true professional, so he won’t tell the Irish anything about the Bok players that’s unwarranted.’
The Bok lineout needs to fire if they are to utilise that attacking platform, while Jones believes they should dominate at the breakdown and scrum-time.
‘[Australian fetcher] David Pocock exposed Ireland at the breakdown as he had a free-go. David Wallace, Stephen Ferris and Jamie Heaslip are all ball-carriers, so that’s a potential advantage for Heinrich Brussow, as he won’t really have anyone against him.
‘BJ Botha is the Boks’ strongest tighthead scrummager, and Ireland have one of the weakest European scrums. But the Boks’ biggest Test will come around the paddock in terms of Ireland’s ball movement.’
The hosts rate their chances as they feel they hold sway in the backs. They have world class players in Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Tommy Bowe, and Jones believes Gaffney – who he worked with at Saracens – is a man who will know how to exploit any Bok weakness.
The limited Italian centres embarrassed Adi Jacobs for their only try, and O’Driscoll and co will relish going up against a player defending out of his favoured position.
‘They’re an extremely well-coached backline and are tactically sharp,’ said Jones. ‘If Adi plays, they’ll target his outside shoulder, and won’t go outside Jaque Fourie. They’ll be very pin-point in where they attack.
‘Against Australia, they picked out Quade Cooper and put two runners onto him, and O’Driscoll scored. In Ireland’s first-phase plays, the Boks mustn’t over-commit and rush up. They can allow them extra yardage off the first phase so they don’t make a clean break.
‘The whole team mustn’t over-commit to the breakdowns, which the Boks are usually good at. If O’Driscoll gets a sniff of a one on one, he’ll make you pay, so they must have numbers in the defensive line, and spacing must be even.
‘It’s going to be very tight, you can see the Boks are tired – that generally happens to sides after the mental and physical exertion of a Lions series. The Boks might sneak it by three or four points.’
By Grant Ball
334 Comments
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24 Nov 2009, 11:54 am
@rossoneri: Which Book
JW’s or Smit’s?
24 Nov 2009, 11:55 am
@grant10: Just thought he left about May last year. I was wrong sorry.
Biggest loss was Fransie. Saru or Sharks or any other union should have kept him here at all costs. Massive loss. Should still have been playing FB for Boks. Would have been awesome there by the time 2011 wc comes.
Those monster kicks against the ABs in NZ this year. Were brilliant. Just has no fear either will tackle anyone and takes about 4 to bring him down.
Would loved to have seen him on this eoyt tour.
24 Nov 2009, 11:55 am
@Big Hit: LOL….not guilty
24 Nov 2009, 11:56 am
@Puma: u finshed it already
got my copy on the wknd
24 Nov 2009, 11:56 am
@gunther: go Jason!!!LOL
24 Nov 2009, 11:56 am
@grant10:
No but it can climb……hehehe. Must have climed through the window. Massive bloody cat.
24 Nov 2009, 11:57 am
@Puma: F Steyn is the 1 st player i would have on my teamsheet….
24 Nov 2009, 11:57 am
@Papoose: Finished on Saturday. Got it in the morning. I read fast
24 Nov 2009, 11:58 am
@Big Hit: hahhaa
yeah
Grant def must’ve played a huge part in the voting
24 Nov 2009, 11:58 am
@Puma: YESSSSSSSSSSS
OKE
24 Nov 2009, 11:58 am
Even though you might be paranoid…..
it’s not to say they are not watching you!!!!!
24 Nov 2009, 11:58 am
@grant10: Will keep one ready just for you!!!
24 Nov 2009, 11:58 am
@Puma:
That’s very funny
24 Nov 2009, 11:59 am
got a lunch appointment….cheers chaps…nice debate….
Let the dices fall
Outta here
24 Nov 2009, 11:59 am
@grant10: Mine too Grant. Huge loss. Big strong with no fear. Carries the ball up well. Tackles well and that huge boot. Only 22 and gone from SA rugby. Crazy.
24 Nov 2009, 12:00 pm
So is the Heyneke Meyer story not true or old news?
Why is there nothing about it on KEO?
24 Nov 2009, 12:02 pm
@Staal:
lol, ek sien jy is ook maar vir n nuwe TH, maar jy het dit voorgestel in ‘n baie ordentlike manier, miskien is jy reg …
24 Nov 2009, 12:03 pm
@grant10: I think he will win IRB player of the year. The IRB always make the strangest sellections.
24 Nov 2009, 12:04 pm
@justrugby:
Huge fright seeing it in the study…hehe. Get ******* often in my home in Umhlanga. Naughty buggers but love them okes.
24 Nov 2009, 12:05 pm
Okay cheers all out of here now.
Hope FdP and Bakkies get over their injuries by Thursday.
24 Nov 2009, 12:06 pm
@cab: hehehehe – ja die mense raak kwaad hier – n ou moet maar versigtig wees…
24 Nov 2009, 12:10 pm
cheers Puma
24 Nov 2009, 12:10 pm
@Staal:
24 Nov 2009, 12:10 pm
@Puma:
LOl….I know all about the ******* in Durbs…..my mom in a retirement village in Toti, always complaining about the ******* causing havoc.
24 Nov 2009, 12:12 pm
By the way we haven’t heard much about Fransie’s exploits in France yet. Is he resting, injured or just not making an impression?
24 Nov 2009, 12:13 pm
@justrugby: At least someone in the family has brains, living in the susnhine coast.
24 Nov 2009, 12:21 pm
@bananaboy:
Lived there for 6 years, matriculated there ….but born and bred in CT……no comparision really
24 Nov 2009, 12:35 pm
Frans Steyn= Sa’s best Fullback. Also does a great job at wing or 12. We all know that. But PDv won’t pick him whilst he’s overseas unless forced to. So it’s a pity, but hey. Same for Jean.
John Smit= NOT Sa’s best no 3. We all know that too. But we all know he’s an amazing Captain, does some great work around the pitch and is very obviously the glue that holds everything together. I’d pick him at 2 personally, but the Bissie has done some amazing stuff this year. If we want to play Bissie then John’s your number 3.
None of this should really be up for debate should it??
24 Nov 2009, 12:41 pm
well i think we may have some luck and have adi injured as he has not lived up to the good form of last year and his tackling has been bad at the mo, i think that he has probally past his prime now
24 Nov 2009, 12:44 pm
what time is the game on sat?
24 Nov 2009, 12:45 pm
@rossoneri: why were you put off, are you also a luke watson worshipper?
24 Nov 2009, 12:45 pm
how many props have played for the boks this year? must be some sort of record….
24 Nov 2009, 12:47 pm
‘The nominees were selected by the IRB Awards independent panel of judges, comprising former internationals with over 500 Test caps between them. Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga, Paul Wallace and convenor John Eales watched over 60 hours of action from 46 matches, awarding points to the three players they thought stood out in each match’
do you think Tana voted for BOD?
24 Nov 2009, 12:48 pm
Does anyone know who is reffing this game??
Geez, Eddie Jones has become Mr “Rent a quote”
24 Nov 2009, 12:52 pm
@BuckT: Must be – especially in the last 3 weeks – so many different combinations – when is the team for Saturday going to be announced – expect a different front row again , hopefully Beast , Smit , Botha ?
24 Nov 2009, 13:01 pm
@Cheetha Champs:
thats what happen you don’t have a proper job… he is the julius malema of rugby…
24 Nov 2009, 13:01 pm
@stew: i would like to see them start, bismark not been himself, would do well to come off the bench, but Ireland isn’t a scrumming force themselves, so i think smit would be ok…
24 Nov 2009, 13:08 pm
PDivvy at his best:
“They are a good bunch of players. The Irish team were camouflaged in red jerseys in South Africa and we all know it. I think this Irish team can be, at times, much better than the Lions were because of the fact they play together so much more and they have the stuff that you have to build on a Lions tour.”
When the press conference ended, De Villiers was last seen huddled over a laptop enjoying what seemed his first viewing of the Lions DVD. A smile spread across his face as he listened to Shaun Edwards and Ian McGeechan give their team talk before the second Test..
anyone seen the dvd?
24 Nov 2009, 13:11 pm
are the boks playing in their away(white) jersey on sat?
wonder what the win/loss ratio is with that outfit?
24 Nov 2009, 13:11 pm
@BuckT: Where is it available ?
24 Nov 2009, 13:15 pm
@stew: maybe at sourgrapes.com
24 Nov 2009, 13:25 pm
@BuckT: so THAT’S why BoD forgave him recently
@BuckT: I’ve got it. I can just imagine PDV bouncing up and down with excitement watching
24 Nov 2009, 13:30 pm
@Staal:
this is too good
24 Nov 2009, 13:35 pm
Heineke Meyer appointed DOR of the BULLS….HIE HAAAAAAA !!!
24 Nov 2009, 13:36 pm
@Big Hit: one for the christmas stocking then! not sure my daughter will enjoy it yet, but i will keep it in a safe place…
what are jonny’s chances of making the next world cup? if he does I am giving up drinking the next day!
24 Nov 2009, 13:41 pm
@BuckT: which one? I reckon he’ll be there in 2011 and 2015
24 Nov 2009, 13:48 pm
@Pearl Rose: No. But I’m certainly not a John Smit, “stab your players in the back” whorshippper either.
24 Nov 2009, 13:50 pm
@BuckT: Are you superstitious?
24 Nov 2009, 14:09 pm
@rossoneri: so you are a jonh smit hater?
24 Nov 2009, 14:36 pm
@Pearl Rose:
just a hater…
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