In the first of an exclusive two-part Q&A, Howard Kahn spoke to Springbok assistant coach Gary Gold about the Boks' mid-year success, their end-of-season tour goals and coaching - and also learning from - the likes of John Smit and Victor Matfield.

Howard Kahn (HK): Gary, congratulations on the initial part of the 2009 season. You, as a member of the Bok coaching staff, must obviously be happy with what has been achieved thus far?

Gary Gold (GG): "Thanks Howie. In terms of results, we're obviously extremely happy... especially when you think that a lot of people probably didn't have a lot of confidence in our ability and didn't hold out a lot of hope for the success that we've enjoyed this year. From that point of view it's always a fun challenge; it's always fun proving your sceptics wrong!

"And then obviously, on more of a rugby point of view, it's been a massive honour to have been involved with a really, really special group of guys who produced - at times - some amazing moments of rugby in nine Test matches. Maybe I'm being a bit greedy, but it would have been even better to have won that third Lions Test and also to have avoided that slip-up in Brisbane, but maybe those two losses were necessary in the bigger picture - and we certainly played well after those two losses."

HK: All those achievements aside, where to next for this Springbok team?

GG: "It's a good question that because it's very relevant. A lot of people now wonder where to next? But, in fact, we really believe there is a massive room for improvement... In the ten Test matches we won this year, not once did we actually play for 80 minutes. Now, I'm not saying it's easy to just go out there and play to your potential for the full 80 minutes, but if you look at some of the first half performances we put in, imagine if we had kicked on from there?

"Games that come to mind are 28-6 up against the Lions in Durban (in the first Test); a very similar score against the Aussies in Perth and against the All Blacks in Bloem and Durban. When you get yourself into a position like that, and in terms of truly wanting to become 'invincible', you need to put those games away because it makes a massive psychological dent in your opponents' minds when you have to play them the next time.

"In micro aspects of the game we also have some improving to do. Our defence was good this year, for instance, but I think it could still get better."

  • This article continues on page two...

  • Former rugby365 and iafrica.com editor Howard Kahn is the MD of Sports Network. Email howard@sportsnetwork.co.za for all your media management and sports marketing needs.


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