Gary Gold

Izimvo has the distinct pleasure of introducing the Springbok assistant coach: Gary Gold.

Gary, one of the finest technical minds and strategists in the game, is renowned for his academic and precise approach to coaching. Before joining the Springboks as assistant coach in May 2009, Gary was the head coach of Western Province and London Irish.

Website: http://www.rugbyiq.com
Blog: http://coaching.blog.rugbyiq.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GaryGoldrugbyiq
Location: Cape Town

Gary was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Gary Gold, 40 something, current Springbok assistant coach. They might also mention that I was the former WP and London Irish Head coach. Friends have an amazing ability of keeping your feet firmly on the ground so there would be a lot said that you couldn’t print!  But if they were being generous I hope they would say that I have a real passion for what I do, and am lucky to be one of a small group of people whose job is also his passion. I have two other business interests with a rugby website rugbyiq.com and a sports video analysis software product called Sportscode that keep me on my toes.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I suppose a few things that people may not know is that I am an absolute gadget freak – a nerd in that way I suppose. I particularly love Apple products, and cant move without my Mac. Also with the website, I now write a blog every week and perhaps people who know me may be surprised to hear that. I love doing it because it keeps me abreast of current issues in the game, and it often then leads to me researching them and finding out some really interesting info about that week’s topic. A form of forced learning, I suppose you could call it.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Well obviously as I have 2 Kids, I enjoy spending time with them. They are Jamie 6 and Jemma 9. They’re becoming real little people now and I find it keeps a perspective in a life that can get quite tough at times. I am also a bit of a social guy and I really love spending time with close friends, either having a meal, a game of golf or just a great catch up – generally having fun and getting out and about in Cape Town. I really don’t read nearly as much as I should, but I do really enjoy reading and collecting autobiographies.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?

A: I enjoy space, so I would like the house on a medium size plot. Then it would be great if we could have a great view, not necessarily sea views – we currently have gorgeous mountain views. Then I’d like the house to have the necessary rooms – plus a guest room for mates to come stay and then my pride and joy: a study where I could have all the video analysis equipment I need and also all my nutcase gadgets.

Seriously though, perhaps also a cool garden for the kids, and we have a pool at the moment which is used all day by them, and me if I’m home! If we were on the beach that would be a huge bonus – there’s nothing better than to spend a sunny day on the beach in South Africa.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property

Rugby in South Africa

Q: Can you describe the moment when you first heard that you had landed the coveted position of Springbok Assistant Coach?

A: Amazing really, it was something like 4 O’ Clock in the morning!! It was in 2008 and I was with the Stormers in New Zealand, Auckland to be precise. I was told I needed to have the interview for the job and so it was arranged with some studio in Auckland. I had to be there at 11.30 at night (about midday in SA) and we did the interview, via video conference, with the panel who were in the board room at SA Rugby offices in Cape Town.

The interview, I thought, was a mess. I could hardly see the faces of the guys asking me the questions and then they wanted to show video footage of specific issues in a game, to quiz me on. The clips were totally fuzzy and I could barely make out the teams playing let alone any specific details within the ruck etc.

The interview took about 2 hours and I caught a cab back to the hotel where I lay in bed mulling it all over. I thought a lot about the interview and decided that I hadn’t done myself any good and really wasn’t confident that the interview did me any justice. But I left my phone on, just in case. At 4am Prof. Jannie Ferreria rang and broke the news to me that I had got the job. It really was the first time in my life that I can honestly say my dream came true – and it was on such a huge scale! Needless to say I didn’t sleep a wink after that. I called home and and one other very close friend, to share the news. Then I quickly realized there was still a tour to deal with. I put it to the back of my mind until we returned and focused on the rest of our Super 14 campaign.

Q: Congratulations on a very successful 2009 season. What are some of your favorite moments from the season and which tests are you most looking forward to in 2010?

A: Thank you, it was a truly special year. However, 2010 is a completely different prospect. Where 2009’s focus really was all about the B&I Lions, 2010 marks the true start of our planning and preparation for the 2011 World Cup. So many things need to be considered and done this year in order for the squad to be optimally prepared and up for it. For example, a few positions that may not have enough strength in depth, need to be identified. Then we need to focus on the potential replacements who can fill that position, should they be needed. Then we need to give the player an opportunity to play so we can see how he fares as a test player. I know Peter has thought of all these things and he is very well organized and prepared. If we do need to go this route, it may mean we have to play certain tests this year without our strongest possible team. And yet we are faced with the glaring reality that winning is non-compromisable in South African rugby – or certainly is for a large majority of the media and public! So I suppose it is all a balance – one that also throws other curve balls at us, such as injuries.

I honestly look forward to every single test with the same excitement, nerves and anticipation. But I suppose the first test of 2010 which is against France, will be a massive one for us to be able to get redemption. Then of course, as current Tri Nations Champs, it is always going to be huge when we play either Australia or NZ and with a tougher draw this year, we travel away first, it will pose us a real challenge to retain the trophy. These are all important challenges leading into 2011 because world-class teams need to form and maintain the ability to win when expectations are highest.

The two main highlights of 2009 were definitely the 2nd Test against the B&I Lions in Pretoria and the tri nations test in Hamilton. We were lucky to win the Pretoria test, but we did show an amazing amount of courage and tenacity to come back from a disastrous start. The series win, I believe, will only be fully appreciated in time to come. This B&I Lions team were really that good. After a poor week in Brisbane the week before, the guys knew they had to dig deep once again and needed to win the Tri Nations that day. They knew they could not leave the outcome to be determined the next week when NZ played Aus. It was special to win the Tri Nations in NZ, but also to beat the All Blacks 3 times in a row was also incredibly unique. It is a pity we had a poor run at the end of the year.  It seems that it is those memories that remain fresh in people’s minds. Yet the fact that we had one of the most successful years in the history of Springbok rugby remains.

Q: If you were to select a South African all-star team with players from any era, who would pick as captain?

A: As good as some of our captains have been in past eras, my pick would really have to be John Smit. That choice isn’t because I have the pleasure of working with him now, but because I believe he has what it takes to lead men with varying talents and from all walks of life.

I also doubt there can be any other professional sport in the world that has more off-field complicated issues to deal with such as the Springboks. John has an incredible knack of dealing with them all, without compromising his ability to earn his place in the team or his playing ability. He is also is our most experienced captain of all time.

So as I said, as much as I truly believe we have produced some other great captains, in my eyes, John’s appointment is a no brainer.

Q: What advice would you offer school-boy coaches in terms of preparing talented players for the off-field demands of a professional career?

A: I definitely believe that schoolboy coaches have a much greater role to play in the “Life skills” elements of talented rugby boys’ lives. Plainly speaking, one of the biggest problems that young pro rugby players experience is the radical change to their profile and bank balance. This may, and has in certain cases, led to the young men getting ahead of themselves and losing focus on their primary job of playing and training, to be the best they can be.

Also, through a disciplined environment, schoolboy coaches have the opportunity to really enforce how vitally important it will be for the boys to keep a perspective about his achievements. Coaches allow him to see that he will have a role to play in the community and that his life will one day be viewed through a microscope by his young fans. They will look to emulate his every move and may believe that if high profile rugby players can act in a specific way, then so can they.

In short, they can play a massive role in teaching them humility.

Q: What do you think the impact commercialization has had on the school boy game?

A: It has had a profound impact. The game of rugby has now become a full time, multi-million rand business, and players, being the most valuable commodity in this empire, are being sought after at a much younger age.

Rugby, like any sport , is generally won by the team with the best players. So the drive and focus on signing the best players as soon as their talent has been identified, has meant that scouts, certain unions and clubs now look to sign the best school boys as soon as they show any sign of being able to make it in the big league.

Consequently, schools have realized that commercial opportunities can also be found by having their teams play in big games and get more TV airtime, so they too are now looking to offer bursaries and opportunities to young boys who are talented. This may not necessarily be a problem situation, but perhaps there may be a case for schools, or boys under a certain age, to be governed by a salary cap.

In the UK they do have some tight controls on how much the young academy guys can earn until they get a full pro contract. I don’t see it as a problem at present but it should be monitored.

Q: What are your predictions, in terms of technological advances, for the next generation of players?

A: I think because of what big business sport has become, it has also now become more important that decisions made on the field of play by officials need to be accurate. The result of a game should not be affected by officials making errors and they need not be if we use technology correctly.

In rugby league the referee may look to the TV adjudicator to assist him on almost all his calls. In fact the 4th official may actually notify the ref of an incident he has missed without being called upon for an opinion. Similarly, American Football has full video reviews and the NFL believe that it adds to the occasion.

Certainly in the recent cricket series between SA and England, the teams were allowed to call on video reviews. I believe the crowd actually enjoyed the tension of waiting for the outcome, and ultimately everyone is happier if the correct decision is made.

So in rugby I see it as a matter of time before more decisions are allowed to be reviewed by video officials, so that they are given more latitude to overrule a decision made by the match ref if it is blatantly incorrect or may affect a score. There will be some people who won’t want change, but rugby is in danger of being left behind as other sports embrace technology to assist in the correct decisions affecting outcomes. I am sure we will see more technology being introduced in the near future.

Life in South Africa

Q: South Africa’s greatest export is?

A: In sport, I think Gary Kirsten taking India to the No 1 position in World cricket has to be our greatest export presently. In stores around the world though, I think Oumas rusks, Biltong and some of our wines. These were always sought after and deemed our finest exports by South Africans during my time in London.

Q: What about life in South Africa did you miss the most while coaching London Irish?

A: The list could be endless, but I definitely think our lifestyle here in SA cannot be beaten by any country in the world – matched perhaps, but never beaten. Sadly we only realize how beautiful SA is when we are away from it long enough. We truly have a privileged lifestyle here in Cape Town, not only with its beauty, but also with the great weather and the amazing places to spend time at – right here on our doorstep.

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: We have, but thankfully not seriously. It certainly did however give us a wake up call that we need to be more vigilant.

It didn’t change my perception of the country, it just made me realize that we need to adapt certain habits to ensure we are safe as possible, but not let it affect every minute of our day.

Interestingly, spending time in the UK has also taught me that the grass is certainly not greener on the other side. There are so many great things about SA and our people, and those positives and prospects far outweigh the hangover we are still experiencing from our unfortunate past.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?

A: Far be it for me to be giving him any advice, but I would dearly love to see him administer a government that is sincerely focused on health, education and of course security. How amazing it would be if every SA citizen could receive health care if they needed it, an education through to tertiary level and a safe and secure environment to live in. It would be great to see the people who work in these sectors i.e. teachers, nurses, doctors and police, be rewarded with substantial benefits and incentives. It might make their so often thankless tasks so much more appreciated, and it could in turn encourage more people to want to seek a career in these fields. I think it should be the priority of the government to subsidize these professions so that they thrive instead of being compromised due to lack of funding.

Sadly though, if I did that I fear he may start asking me why we falter in the scrums, or didn’t manage to beat France and Ireland, and then I suspect he may tell me to leave him alone and focus on my own job, whilst he focuses on his! Then I think I may just obey him and slip away quietly.

Life in Cape Town

Q: What do you most enjoy about living in Cape Town?

A: Everything except the traffic! Cape Town is an amazing city, possibly one of the most diverse and beautiful in the world. It really can be 4 seasons in one day and we have one of the most loyal and supportive sports crowds in the country. As a guy involved in a professional sport, I couldn’t have asked to do my job in a better city.

Q: Favorite restaurant in or around Cape Town for dinner with a group of friends?

A: So many great restaurants but the New Grand in the Waterfront is special.

General

Q: Which non-rugby coach do you most admire and why?

A: Alex Ferguson. He has successfully broken the mould of so many incorrect theories that surround coaching and the role of coaches. Phil Jackson – NBA coach for the LA Lakers and previously Chicago Bulls. An amazing man manager who really seems to understand the essence of getting the very best out of his players consistently. Also, mainly due to his spiritual outlook on life, he seems to have mastered the art of keeping perspective. He is a man who has achieved incredible success and great disappointment, yet he is able to stay consistent in his philosophy and behavior. I believe this is ultimately why the successes have far outweighed the disappointments.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all school-boy rugby players?

A: As I shamefully admitted, I do not read nearly enough. But if I was to choose a book that had a profound affect on me, it is the best selling “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle. He discusses the dangers of an out of control ego and has so many lessons that are needed by an individual embarking on the challenges of pro rugby – and of life. If that is too heavy, and you were to ask specifically for a rugby book, then John Smits – Captain in the Cauldron tells a great story of his journey, yet shows his ability to stay normal and humble through all of his success.

Q: Where would you like to wake up tomorrow?

A: Right here in Cape Town. I’ve been away too much lately so home feels like a holiday! But the sound of the sea and to wake up breathing the sea air, would be a great bonus.

Q: How many Voyager miles did you clock up during the 2009 season?

Q: About 150 000 miles.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo?

A: Tiger Woods. Would ask him if we could play golf together now that he has a bit of time on his hands.

We’d like to thank Gary for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him and the Springboks every success for the 2010 season.