The vastly-experienced Gert Smal will join Western Province Rugby as the new Director of Rugby, with effect from April 1, 2014.
WP Media Release
Smal, a former two-times Absa Currie Cup-winning coach with DHL Western Province, will return to the Cape after some time away, having served as the Springbok assistant coach between 2003 and 2007 and holding down the same role with the Ireland national team from 2008 to 2013.
During his time with the Springboks, Smal helped the Men in Green & Gold to a Tri-Nations title in 2004 and a World Cup triumph in 2007. As part of the Ireland coaching set-up, Smal played an integral part in their 2009 Six Nations, Grand Slam and Triple Crown triumphs, whilst he also helped mastermind a 15-10 win over the Boks in Dublin later that year.
Smal’s role at WP Rugby will see him head up rugby matters across the union, with the senior professional coaches, junior professional coaches and WP Rugby Institute management team all reporting in to him.
He will be based at the WP Rugby High Performance Centre in Bellville, helping with the ethos and strategy of WP Rugby’s teams and being responsible for the contracting and recruitment throughout the union – from the junior ranks right through to the senior ranks.
A crucial part of Smal’s job will also see him manage the process of the junior players taking the step up into fully-fledged senior professionals – all of which is geared towards ensuring that WP Rugby remains a leading brand with its teams continuing to push for trophies and players continuing to earn national colours.
Smal is well known to everyone at WP Rugby, as a player and a coach. His role is not a hands-on coaching one, but a position that will encompass the strategic rugby role from the junior teams straight through to the senior professional outfits.
@BB
You can watch the first game with a clear conscience……Pakistan is only playing in the second game
@ BrumbiesBoy:
aagh at least they act like they are serious.
BrumbiesBoy wrote:
My thoughts exactly during yesterday’s games.
Where’s the Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi (and to an extent), Sri Lankan bookmaker?
Just too many instances at ALL levels of cricket for everything to be clean and above board IMHO.
@Scrumdown 63
“Where’s the Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi (and to an extent), Sri Lankan bookmaker?
I believe they are still celebrating some unprepared windfalls with a certain Mr. Berry somewhere in South Africa
@Scrumdown 63
“Where’s the Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi (and to an extent), Sri Lankan bookmaker?
I believe they are still celebrating some unexpected windfalls with a certain Mr. Berry somewhere in South Africa
@ nortierd:
@ 48
I lost small fortune when taking wagers on the Stormers’ 3 out of their last 4 matches (the away ones)
Had thought they got a reasonable chance for upsets.
🙁
The two major factors affected the Stormers this season both got nothing to do with AC:
1. Abnormal amount of injuries tthat included 5-6 key players!
2. Playing again under neutral referees, previous 3 seasons 91% of the combined Stormers’ victories obtained under SARU Appointed home town referees, the Neutral referees’ appointments is like someone pulled the rag under the Stormers feet?
😉
@ MacroBull:
@ 49
Not sure where that one came from?
Neutral referees used this season can make costly mistakes but they aren’t following any SARU decree to bend games in favour of the Stormers and the Bulls,
Like Joubert, Peiper, Jonker Jaftha did from 2011 to 2013,
@ BrumbiesBoy:
No doubts, it’s a certainty 😉
So why bother?
I’ve never considered Joubert pro Stormer Hondo
I recall the Chiefs game at Newlands last year ( think it was Craig blowing? )where that last minute contentious penalty won the Stormers the game, but otherwise nothing stands out as clear bias in their favor.
Bangladesh 83/2 after 12 odd overs
@ nortierd:
@68
He was cheating more often than not depends on circumstances, but as a rule he follows SARU decrees, being under the microscope now he is more careful though
That since he was suspended in 2012 when collaborated with Pro Legota for sending off a Warathas forward against the Bulls at the final minutes for no reason, make no mistake; SARU are still his employers despite him having good test credentials.
nortierd wrote:
On May 31 I expect to see both of these things happen at the same time, at which point I will be as happy as AC when it’s Proudfoot’s shout on a 2 for 1 burger night 😉
Honestly, Nortie, any enjoyment that I get from the Stormers losing is due entirely to the windgat attitude of Stormers fans on keo.co.za. If the Stormers lose to an Aussie or Kiwi side it pisses me off more than anything else … I’m just able to console myself with the satisfaction that it’s pissing Skoppie scooby-doo and Nama (“by my calculations, the Stormers can still win the comp”)off even more.
71 @ kaksioek:
There are no windgat Stormers supporters here on Rugby-Talk….
@ grootblousmile:
It’s getting harder and harder for them to be windgat 😉
@ kaksioek:
There’s no need to be windgat now.
It’s not a good look.
@ IAAS:
@Kaki
31 May, so then I’m guessing you expect the Stormers to win on the 12th of July?
Just for the record, HG wasn’t exactly a bed of roses either, lol.
Ou Skoppie, I was wondering what his reaction was to Du Preez pulling a mercenary and signing at WP
nortierd wrote:
Judging on past performance, he’ll either liken Du Preez to the antichrist or claim that he is equally suited to openside flank or hooker.
77 @ kaksioek:
Old Skoppie has always been a waste of skin… ‘n “Suurstofdief”, as we would say in Afrikaans.
The only function he performs is to let us know that we are rather normal, compared to him.
Sy ma moes hom doodgelê het toe hy ‘n baba was, dit sou die wêreld gespaar het van ‘n moepel soos hy!
There are pills for EVERYTHING, except for stupidity… and stupid people irritate the heck out of me… I do not know what the facination is about his opinions / ramblings / alliteration kak, to be honest.
He’s like an itch you cannot scratch… irritating as all hell!
@ grootblousmile:
I still kind of miss him 😆
79 @ kaksioek:
Farkit, I have been relieved of his ramblings for more than 4 and a half years and count my blessings about it each day.
The midget is not normal, neither sane, nor knows any-bloody-thing about rugby!
Kindly excuse me if and when I talk unkindly of him, he was not my most favourite blogger and I realize you recent Voldites might have harboured a perverse liking of the dweeb… almost like for a friend or brother in prison, I suppose… hahaha
@ kaksioek:
Well, “by my calculations the Stormers are still in it this year. 😉
81 @ Clovis:
Hi,
I was wondering why you do not blog with your original Voldy nickname (having seen your conversations here and gathered as much from the conversations with the other Ex-Voldy (Keo) folk).
By the way, how do you find things here on R-T.. do you like it here?
@ Clovis:
Agreed, I haven’t heard AC sing yet.
The US has qualified for the RWC, joining Scotland, Samoa and South Africa in Pool B.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/mar/29/usa-uruguay-rugby-world-cup-2015-suniula
@ grootblousmile:
I did mention my old nic when I posted here for the 1st time. No particular reason why I changed my nic.
So far so good. No “heated” debates so far but I’m sure it will be coming especially when the Sharks wheels start to come off. 😆
@ kaksioek:
The Bulls made it to 2nd place on the log last year despite having lost 6 games.
85 @ Clovis:
Well, you are welcome to use your Old Nick, should you wish to do so.. no problems there from my side.
@ Clovis:
Apparently the Crusaders need to win all of their remaining games and pick up some bonus points to finish 6th. They have played one less game and have one more win than the Stormers
@ grootblousmile:
Ahh, thanks.
@ kaksioek:
Stormers played 5/6 games AWAY from home.
Have only lost to the Saders in the league phase the last few years at home.
7/9 games at HOME.
It doesn’t look good but I have to stay positive here. Can’t throw in the towel already. 😆
Sorry, 7/10 game at HOME.
A win against any 1/2 of the Sharks, Bulls and the Cheetahs AWAY is not impossible. 😉
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