Smal keen to win more big things with Ireland

Ireland forwards coach Gert Smal last night spoke of his decision to continue his role in Declan Kidney’s management set-up rather than pursue the head coaching role of his native South Africa.

Smal’s statement, issued yesterday through the IRFU, came on the day the South African Rugby Union officially appointed former Blue Bulls head coach Heyneke Meyer as the new Springbok coach.

Smal, part of Jake White’s 2007 World Cup-winning Springboks’ staff, had, like Meyer, been pinpointed as a potential candidate for the job by an SARU head-hunting panel but decided to remain in a post he has occupied since 2008.