 After South Africa was knocked out at the quarter finals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup by Australia, losing 11–9, head coach Peter de Villiers immediately resigned in the post-match press conference.His coaching staff soon followed after the South African Rugby Union announced there would be a complete new coaching set-up named ahead of the 2012 international season.In January 2012, with Newcastle Falcons nine points adrift in the relegation zone of the Aviva Premiership, they announced that Gold and Mike Ford would join the club on an interim contract until the end of the season.