Dark Storm clouds for SA

[Reformed]

Bok rugby in serious crisis
2010-09-05
 
Stephen Nell

Bloemfontein - Springbok rugby is in a serious crisis with the World Cup in New Zealand kicking off in just over a year from now.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) was measured in its response on Sunday after the Springboks had lost for the fifth time in six matches in this year’s Tri-Nations.

There will be a standard review with coach Peter de Villiers later this month. This will include all aspects of the Springboks’ performance.

“All rugby followers are extremely disappointed with results in the Tri-Nations, as are the Springbok team and management, of course,” said SARU president Oregan Hoskins.

“We take the situation very seriously, but there is a process in place and we will follow that through.”

Emotions ran high in Bloemfontein on Saturday, with the Bok coaching staff of De Villiers, Dick Muir and Gary Gold being jeered by spectators.

“Sort out the backline, you p**s,” was one of the insults apparently shouted at Muir.

Bryan Habana, who was named International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year in 2007, was jeered for his mistakes and sometimes the recipient of sarcastic applause when he did something right.

SARU are keeping the date of the review a secret and are only prepared to divulge that it will take place “by the end of the month”.

It is believed that national teams manager Andy Marinos is overseas on SANZAR business and his input is regarded as important.

SARU did say in a statement that there would be “formal discussions” with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers about some of his reported comments.

De Villiers caused a storm of controversy by saying that the team supported Blue Bulls prop Bees Roux, who is being accused of murdering a Tshwane Metro Police officer.

Hoskins had written to the policeman’s family to express SARU’s support and condolences.

There was speculation last week that the comments about Roux would be the end of De Villiers, but that was never SARU’s view.

While De Villiers did upset his employer with his comments, he could still count on the support last week of the majority of the country’s influential rugby bosses to keep his job until the 2011 World Cup.

Since winning the Tri-Nations last year, South Africa have won only six of their last 13 Tests.

The Bok team that lost to Australia at the weekend was also the most experienced in history in terms of Tests played.

However, it took Australia only 25 minutes to notch a bonus point try. The 22 tries that South Africa conceded in the tournament this year is also the most in the history of the tournament.

“It seemed too easy for them to attack and they cut us at will,” Springbok captain John Smit said after the game.

“I can make excuses, but it’s only because we’re coming second that we have to give excuses. We’re off our best and have work to do.”

Smit and several other senior Boks like Habana, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Jaque Fourie, Morné Steyn, Pierre Spies, Danie Rossouw and Gurthrö Steenkamp will now enter a conditioning phase.

One of the reasons that have been put forward for South Africa’s poor performances is that top players have played too much since last year and are fatigued.

South Africa start the defence of their world crown in New Zealand on September 11 next year against Wales in Wellington.

[ROAMER]

please please please.. let the boks keep de villy as coach!!

[Reformed]

Buzz this morning was that SARU has been approached by Jake White to step in as caretaker coach till after the 2011RWC... As a Bok supporter I hope that SARU takes a serious look at his offer.

JW also says that with the team as it is at the moment he can turn them around within 12 months and the Boks will be in good shape to defend their crown... He said that his replacement (as caretaker coach) should be Allister Coetzee who currently coaches Western Province (lying 2nd behind the Sharks on the Currie Cup log). AC was one of his assistants during his tenure as Bok coach...

  Please employ JW... Please employ JW... Please employ JW...

[Katatonic Kiwi]

Well if he's nothing else, he's optimistic is Jake.

Couldn't do any worse than P Divvy mind you.

[Strathen]

See JW put Coetzee forward as his replacement before the last RWC too.

I highly doubt they will replace PDV at this stage though.

[Reformed]

Spot on, Coetzee was nominated by JW to succeed him after the 2007RWC... SARU didn't listen... and they probably won't listen now.

I agree that P Div will most likely stay on as coach... he'll get some fine and a slap on the wrist... but he'll stay on... sadly. I saw on the news this morning that the minister of sport... something something Stofile was harsh in his criticism of the bok coach and 'suggested' that Div obtains the services of a 'spokesperson' to do his press briefings. Stofile also said that he expects SARU to explain their stance with regards to utterings that Div has made of late... He further said that rugby is the most controversial of all the sports in SA and also the most fanatical sport in SA... and that nobody likes to loose but that these happen from time to time... At no time did he say that he expects SARU to remove Div from his position.

That says to me that his job is relatively safe

Today (8Th of September, 2010) I'll utter some (non)sense for a change...

If De Villiers stays on to coach the Boks through to the 2011 RWC then the Boks won't get past the quarter finals... This will remove the AB's biggest hurdle in their quest for a second RWC title... the only serious contenders left are England, France and the Ozzmobs... SA has had it's moment in the sun for the time being.

 

[Reformed]

Here is that article in full

Stofile: Get Div a spokesperson
2010-09-07 

Anesca Smith

Cape Town – Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile is “furious” about the comment by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers that the Springboks support Blue Bulls prop and murder suspect Bees Roux.

“Goodness man! Get yourself a spokesperson!” was the advice offered by Stofile to the Bok coach.

Stofile was approached by Die Burger for comment on the statement made by the coach.

“Even I don’t always understand what he says,” he added.

Stofile also believes it will be better for De Villiers to speak in his mother tongue, Afrikaans, if he does not feel comfortable in English.

According to Stofile, who attended a meeting of the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport on Tuesday, he was in China when De Villiers made the comment.

“It’s disgraceful to say that you support someone 100% when he possibly took another person’s life in such a brutal manner. If this was the old South Africa, he would have been charged as an accomplice for that kind of statement.”

Stofile now wants an explanation from SARU over whether they support the statement by De Villiers.

If not, he wants to know how they will act against the coach.

“The entire organisation’s name is being dragged through the mud. It’s unacceptable.”

Stofile said that he had advised De Villiers at the time of his appointment to get a spokesperson.

“I repeat that request today. With the kind of questions the media asks, I said that he would be sorry about something he said one day. You need special skills when talking to the media. And Peter is a man who loves to talk.

“Today we are embarrassed and angry about what he said. You can’t be delighted when someone is killed. Peter, please don’t expose yourself to the media like that.

“I agree totally that he should speak Afrikaans if he’s not comfortable in English. English is also not my first language and I also struggle with it at times. We think in our mother tongue and then have to verbalise the thought in English. And Peter talks very quickly.”

As for the public reaction to the Springboks’ losses, Stofile said that rugby is the sport that “stirs emotion” more than any other in South Africa.

“We don’t like losing and are hard and unforgiving when it comes to rugby.”

He believes one of the reasons for the team’s poor performances is that they play “too much rugby”.

“It’s not good for the body. We should not be tempted by money to the point that we are not prepared to rest our bodies.

“But every dark cloud has a silver lining. My advice to the coach is to give the youngsters a chance now before next year’s World Cup in New Zealand. We have nothing to lose. The older men won’t be getting any younger or stronger.”

It doesn't sound like Stofile wants him fired does it???

[Gil]

should be great for SA. But as you saffas use to say...I don't see them firing de villiers.
clearly , de villiers lives on jake white's heritage.it worked untill last year because 2007 team and players were on high and stayed there 2 years.
now he is facing a declining team , we see what kind of coach he is ...pretty poor.
no tactical changes since 2007, no fundamental players changes also.
looking at SA dominance in super 14 rugby since 2007 with 2 100% saffa final it's hard to think SA rugby has no depth.
RE about contenders and strath know what I think about it.
Australia and france get same problem ..talented players but young. both teams get potential to win it but the players are not mature enough actually..maybe a long tournament will help them to create something strong enough to beat Abs ..wait and see
about england ..yes , you feel martin johnson is building something which could be strong but england is behind oz and fra for me.
you know what , the worst opponent to Abs next year will be.....themselves and the big pressure from Nz people to see them winning on their own soil 24 years after first win ....against france.

[ROAMER]

yup.. I agree with you there Gilly

[Katatonic Kiwi]

looking at SA dominance in super 14 rugby since 2007 with 2 100% saffa final it's hard to think SA rugby has no depth.

 The whole S14/12 excuse hasn't really been accurate since the competition began.

 Certainly this year paralells with 1998 where NZ had the 2 dominant teams, but that certainly didn't translate into success at international level.

 Two teams dominated the Boks this year (Bulls/Stormers?), while if I'm not mistaken, both the ABs and Wallaby players were fairly evenly dispersed amongst the provinces(although Waikato were under repped). This isnt obviously a problem, but I'm just saying just because your country dominates S14 doesn't necessarily mean you will dominate the 3N.

 I can't say how evenly the talent pool is spread across the SA S14 teams, but before the last year or 2, the Bulls were the most dominant SA team, with the Stormers flattering to decieve, to my lasting regret. (The amount of footy comps I coulda won if i stopped picking those bastards!! )

[Reformed]

Two teams dominated the Boks this year (Bulls/Stormers?),

Hmmm... good point... we need more Sharks in there...