Smal has big job on hands to stop Kiwis
The All Blacks forward unit, which gelled impressively in the first Test in Auckland, will be representing the stricken community of Christchurch for the first time in almost two years — there has been no international rugby in the area since a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the south island city in February of last year, with 185 lives claimed on a dark day.
The home side’s front eight contains proud Canterbury Crusaders such as Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock and Owen Franks and will not be lacking for motivation come kick-off time on Saturday.
The debacle at Eden Park was the fourth time that Smal has faced the All Blacks as part of the Irish coaching set-up and Ireland have never got near their opponents under his watch — Declan Kidney’s side have lost by an average of 30 points in the last three Tests.
In his previous position as forwards coach with Jake White’s Springbok side, Smal was on the winning side on three occasions against the Kiwis, including a 40-26 thrashing at Ellis Park in Johannesburg in 2004.
The straight-talking South African knows how to beat these giants of the game, so is it just a case of Ireland lacking the bulk and power to compete with their illustrious foes? “One thing I like about the Irish is that they’ve got a lot grunt and they won’t stand back from big guys,” said Smal on the Irish approach to their larger southern hemisphere opposition. “As a small team… you have to be better technically and tactically to see how you can outwit your opposition in some way and the Irish are very good at that.”
Smal alluded to a 2009 game when a young, inexperienced Irish team demolished a bigger English side to prove his theory.
Admittedly, Smal was thinking about a Churchill Cup final that was not a Test match, but his point is valid — Kidney’s young troops were irresistible that day and tore a much fancied English side to shreds in a comprehensive 49-22 defeat.
“They were big guys as well and we had quite a small, inexperienced Irish side,” said Smal on that Irish victory in Denver three seasons ago.
“It was for me, a coaching experience to see how small guys take big guys apart. But that was the England B side and we’re taking on the best side in the world now.”
Despite the potentially traumatic fallout from such a demanding and morale-sapping tour, Smal believes that the experience will inspire the younger brigade to demand more of themselves as international players.
“The young guys must aspire to be at the level where you just don’t want to be the best in Europe, you want to be the best in the world,” he said.
“That takes a little bit more than just being in an academy set-up in a provincial set-up and then you just play Heineken Cup games. This game is much more than that.”
Dan Carter and his comrades are scaling the summit of world rugby at present and by the looks of things, they are set to occupy that top spot for the foreseeable future.
When it comes to fast and furious rugby, New Zealand are the pace setters and Smal insisted this current Irish team must adapt to pace or face drowning in a sea of black over the next two weekends.
“I think last Saturday showed the massive difference between provincial rugby and international rugby. It’s 15 to 20% higher,” he explained.
“Your kicking must be spot on, your possession must be spot on and how you play the game tactically in their half has to be spot on.”
This Irish team look ripe for another hammering this weekend with pundits and public alike predicting a 60-point rout for the Christchurch homecoming.
Last Saturday’s defeat did nothing to boost confidence in an Irish camp shorn of key players, tired and far from home.
But Smal said: “The beauty about this game is the strength in your character and what you’re all about, and the players spoke about that during the course of the week..
“Even if [Test match] is in Christchurch… we’re not going to go and see if we can hold them, we’re going to attack them.”
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