SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP:GERT SMAL is already beginning to cast a hugely influential shadow over Ireland's forwards in this year's RBS Six Nations. Praised for bringing a streetwise quality to their efforts so far, the results of Smal's work have been clear to see: suddenly there's an edge to the scrums, a fluidity in the lineout, qualities he inculcated in the Springboks' pack during his tenure as forwards coach in South Africa between 2004 and 2007.
Largely responsible also for moulding Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield into the world’s most fearsome secondrow partnership during the Springboks’ march to World Cup glory in ’07, Smal yesterday moved to equate the South African locks with their Irish counterparts, Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan.
There is also a possibility the four locks will take the same field in the first Test between South Africa and the Lions on June 20th, but Smal was effusive in his praise of O’Connell.
O’Connell has been instrumental in Ireland’s victories over France and Italy and though O’Callaghan may live in the shadow of his secondrow partner, Smal recognises what the Cork man brings to the Irish pack. In Smal’s world, O’Callaghan is the “Irish Botha”.
“Paul O’Connell is a machine,” said Smal at the team’s hotel in Cork yesterday. “I rate him very highly, and definitely one of the best locks in world rugby. Donncha, then, is very much like Bakkies – he’s the grafter, he does the dirty work. Not a lot of people see the amount of work that he puts in when cleaning rucks and making turnovers. Now and then he does get the opportunity to carry ball, and give us a little bit of forward momentum.
“So it’s very much the same kind of combination that we had with the Boks but I have to rate them both very highly.”
Smal may be from the Southern Hemisphere where the ELVs are embraced more affectionately than those north of the equator, but admits he’s a strong advocate for the return of the maul, an attacking weapon blunted under the new experimental laws.
His recognition of Ireland’s strengths has seen him get his team to implement the maul minimally yet effectively in the Six Nations. And though defences are allowed to pull down a maul legally, Ireland have used it successfully off lineouts, with players staying on their feet long enough to draw in defenders and create space out wide.
“We try continuously to see how we can improve the maul,” said Smal. “Obviously the ELVs benefit the defence a huge amount. I’m not particularly fond of it in terms of lineouts because it gives defences a huge advantage. We try to see if we can get it going depending on what game we play.
“ It’s not always that easy but we try to keep together for as long as we can and see how much forward momentum we can gain. And see how many of their forwards we can suck in to create the space on the outside.”
“I don’t think it’ll be just the Northern Hemisphere (will call for its return),” he added, “but also the Southern Hemisphere as well. The Springboks have lost part of a big attacking weapon as well.”
Smal is afforded another opportunity to test his coaching expertise against England in Croke Part tomorrow week. Having plotted their downfall twice during the last World Cup, he warns Martin Johnson’s men are a different side now though no less dangerous.
“Obviously they don’t have Jonny Wilkinson at the moment, but the flyhalf they have is a pretty good kicker. They’ve a very strong pack, so you have to neutralise the pack and see that you play the game in their half. At the same time also you must develop your game fully. There’s a huge amount of criticism in the way the game is played with a lot of kicking, but you just have to be clever, see exactly where they come from.
“They play a little more differently than what they played in France. They’ve got a big pack, and a not too shabby backline. And they will take a huge amount of encouragement from the Wales game. We expect quite a tough game next Saturday.”
Meanwhile, head coach Declan Kidney took a full squad session on the grounds of his alma mater, Presentation Brothers College, yesterday and no injury worries were reported. Paddy Wallace is recovering quickly from the eye injury sustained against Italy and will be available for selection.
