Jhonty rhodes

South Africa's fielding coach Jonty Rhodes doesn't want to sound too harsh, but in simple terms the tragic death of the team's former mentor Bob Woolmer has to be put aside in order to get on with business at the World Cup.

Pakistan coach Woolmer, 58, died on Sunday after being found in his hotel room in what Jamaican police have described as "suspicious" circumstances.

South Africa have a crucial Group A clash with Australia on Saturday and not even the loss of his personal friend and former national coach Woolmer will sway the resolve of Rhodes.

"It's really hard. Bob and I really got on well," Rhodes said on Wednesday.

"Obviously some of the guys are still emotional. Not to sound too tough or anything, but we have an important match coming up and we have a job to do, and that is to play good cricket.

"The two most important people in my cricketing career were Hansie (Cronje) and Bob and they're both gone.

"I just hope they're not in heaven picking a team because I don't want to be next!"

Rhodes said Woolmer was the target of banter every week by the players.

"But Bob used to give as good as he got. I had an amazing relationship with him," Rhodes said.

"He had a way of giving of himself and it was something I could relate to. That made him more than a coach to me.

"My cover drive was beyond help, and Bob adjusted it. Technically, he was a good coach but he had passion and for me it was more the passion and his attitude towards coaching."

Rhodes said Woolmer made cricket fun.

He employed a similar philosophy at Pakistan, who were encouraged to play soccer as a warm-up game at training, which helped break down the barriers between senior players and less experienced lads.

"It was not about you have to do it this way. He actually gave us options," Rhodes said.

Rhodes said Woolmer was an all-rounder.

"Like Jacques Kallis, if you replace him with a batsman, the bowling side is weak, and if you replace him with a bowler, the batting side is weak," Rhodes said.

"Bob had that all-round ability as a coach, and that comes with the way I coach as well."