There is something reassuringly restful about Mpho Mbiyozo.
Since hanging up his boots the celebrated former national Sevens captain has immersed himself in coaching. At every possible turn he has attempted to put himself on the best possible path to coaching excellence.
His decision to go to New Zealand, where the game's top coaches are bred, is only in part linked to the scant opportunity afforded black coaches in SA.
Mbiyozo is on a personal crusade, not one in which he will allow himself to become a victim.
He got a taste of what coaching might be like in New Zealand when he shadowed the Crusaders in SA last year.
"Brad Moaar is a good friend of mine," Mbiyozo took up the story.
"He coached me at the Kings and we struck up a friendship," he said of the Crusaders assistant coach.
"That first game was against the Lions up in Joburg and I was exposed to things I wasn't used to.
"They do things very differently. Flying back to Cape Town, I thought I need to see more. I had to go see how they do things at home on a daily basis."
With a whetted appetite Mbiyozo set upon a path that took him to Christchurch. "It also so happens that they have a high performance course for international coaches.
"I came last year on a personal development trip. I spent five weeks. I got close to the team. You sit in their meetings. You become part of their plan. It was an eye-opener for me. When we were flying home I said to my wife, we need to go back. I didn't know how but I had to find a way of going back."
His time spent with the Crusaders, in particular coach Scott Robertson, left a mark. "He's unique. I find him very engaging. He said to me 'our job at the Crusaders is quite simple. We prepare people to succeed in life'. That just stuck with me. That winning is a by-product."
Mbiyozo was clearly hooked but he also had made enough of an impression to be offered the job of director of rugby at Belfast Rugby Club in Christchurch.
"I signed a two-year deal at Belfast as director of rugby. I'm responsible for the coaches and I coach defence as well. It is good fun and I'm enjoying it. The more you enjoy it the better.
"Yeah, I now see things differently. The best advice I got here was from one of the coach's coaches. He said, 'I can give you our entire playbook. I can guarantee you it will never work in a different environment. The best thing you can do is to copy, edit and paste. You use what will work for you as part of your coaching philosophy'."
Mbiyozo, his wife and three kids have been in New Zealand since February and soon he will have more on his plate. "I was also asked to coach the Canterbury under-16s. I was surprised but I'm never gonna say 'no'. They have their own version of Grant Khomo week and that will come later in the year," he said excitedly.
He is clear about what sets the Kiwis apart. "There are two things they are anal about. You have to be able to catch and pass," he said about their devotion to the basics.
He chuckles heartily when asked about his prospects of going higher up the ladder at Canterbury and the Crusaders. "That would be nice but it is not something I am looking at. There are a lot of really good coaches here. I came here with no expectations. I'm here to find out who I am as a coach and to learn as much as I can. In saying that, if it were to happen, I'd never say 'no'. The worst that can happen is I'll come home having learnt something different."
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