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.

“I was deeply honoured to be linked to the position of head coach for the Springbok team and having being involved with the team before, it was obviously something that I would have thought about very carefully,” Smal’s statement read. “A big part of that consideration would be my connection to the Ireland team as well as my desire to see out my contract as I am very happy here.”

“Declan and the IRFU showed great faith in bringing me here and it has been a wonderful experience from a professional point of view, as well as for my family. There is still such great potential and opportunities for the Ireland team and I have great faith in the players that we can achieve things together with the coaching staff.

“I have not given up on the possibility of coaching my country in the future, but my focus now is on Ireland and on our first game in The RBS 6 Nations Championship.”

Like Smal’s decision to stay with Ireland, Meyer’s appointment had been flagged but it needed a Special General Meeting of the SARU in Cape Town yesterday to be ratified.

The 44-year-old replaces Peter de Villiers, who had also applied to retain the post he had occupied since 2008. Meyer’s first game will be the Test against England in Durban on June 9 and in the interim he is set to appoint a new coaching staff.