New man Gert is Smal by name, not by reputation

IT WAS quite a coup for Declan Kidney during his summer recruitment drive to land the services of 2007 World Cup-winning forwards coach and former Springbok, Gert Smal.

Clearly Kidney sees in the 46-year-old someone with the necessary experience and expertise in his specialist coaching area, someone who can add more bite to the Ireland pack.

But the Corkman — himself a reluctant sports psychologist — will be keen to tap into the Capetonian’s winning mentality especially when faced with southern hemisphere opposition.