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De Villiers: Will he stay or go?
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers will come face-to-face with his employers in exactly two weeks for a review of the performances of his embattled team.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) have confirmed an evaluation of the national team and its head coach will take place on September 28.
The Springbok boss is facing mounting criticism in the wake of a mediocre 2010 campaign in which the world champions lost five out of 10 Test matches - all of which came in the recently concluded Tri-Nations where the team turned in their worst display in the competition's 15-year history.
James Stoffberg, head of SARU's technical committee and vice-president of the union, confirmed they will meet with De Villiers in Johannesburg at the end of the month.
"For anyone that has anything to do with South African rugby, high performance is very important," he said.
"Sport is about winning. The Springboks are now third on the world rankings.
"We are very serious about putting in place a support base to enable South Africa to win next year's World Cup tournament."
The evaluation, which is in place after every tournament or tour, is also likely to look into De Villers' off-field behaviour.
He recently showed support for Bees Roux - the Bulls rugby player arrested and charged with the alleged killing of a Pretoria policeman - while comments regarding referees early in the Tri-Nations landed him in hot water.
But Stoffberg did not divulge whether the two issues would be on the agenda.
"It's easier to become champions than to stay champion," he continued.
"South Africa did not have a good Tri-Nations. If you aren't evaluated, you won't be able to identify where you are going wrong.
"Rugby is a team game and you can't blame one person for a defeat."
He said that SARU will go into the meeting with an open mind, but hoped they would emerge with a direct plan on how to tackle the year-end Grand Slam tour to Europe.
"It's not just about criticising," he added in Rapport. "The mistakes that have been made need to be rectified. We also have to build on our strengths.
"We need a pro-active plan in place for what we want on the tour at the end of the year and next year's World Cup.
"It does not help if we only start thinking about these issues in January next year."
Comments
spliffed says...
PDV is going nowhere. He is a political appointment and would need politicians to admit they were wrong.. Aint gonna happen
Posted 17:43 20th September 2010
babybok says...
@5lock4ward,yes you do have a point,but what I was trying to say was that the Boks have a way of digging in when they have a decent team on the field,I just thought the Lions tour was a good example of that,but recently I think they have lost confidence in each other and that team "in the foxhole together" spirit has gone.
Posted 08:17 15th September 2010
tribeg says...
Sooner or later Hoskins and his gang will realise the selection of the Bok coach and their performance is a reflection themselves. So far that reflection is not pretty!
Posted 03:41 15th September 2010
5Lock4ward says...
@Babybok, not to question the reigning RWC champions heart or work ethic but they pulled off the Lions tour b/c Ugo Monye fumbled on the try line and because Ronan O'Gara (how I despise that man) took a player out in the air and unfortunately it was against the team with the best goal kicker currently in the business. Also if Euan Murray hadn't been injured that tour has a different look to it, even Matfield said so.
Posted 20:46 14th September 2010
robo says...
If Peter de Villiers doesn't go, South Africa hasn't a snowball's hope in hell of retaining the World Cup. As to this coach bring in new young blood, we can bet that purely merit will not determine who he selects. He's already publicly stated his commitment to ANC 'transformation', quota, affirmative action, racially discriminatory, selection practices. So far that seems to be a big reason he has managed to stay on, but as a measure to ensure keeping the WC it is a pure loser.
Posted 20:40 14th September 2010
heathy says...
From my point of view as a non South African I really really hope PDV stays. Clearly all can see that the laughing stock of a coach and one that has er, how do we say it politely...er, 'weird' points of view is being found out. As the token black man coach (as we all know he was politically appointed) was not the best man for the job. However, he inherited a fantastic squad and a first class team. It can be argued that he has still got that in some degree although I do agree that youngsters now need to be brought in to form the next generation. It seems that the only way to get any respect or liking from the players is to back them up in what ever they have done (Schalk Burger eye gauge /Bakkies Botha's numerous discretions etc) as that is all he has got. Let's face it his handling of the media is farcical and he hasn't really done it as a coach. So, what is there left? Politics? Oh, let's not go down that road when talking about South Africa as it just gets messier and messier. Come on South Africa - keep him, pleeeease!
Posted 16:37 14th September 2010
rugga68 says...
5lock4ward, well said....
Posted 15:25 14th September 2010
babybok says...
well,i firmly believe the boks will retain the world cup next year,they have a remarkable way of digging deep when needed,I was watching them against the Lions last year and that battered old squad pulled one from the hat and somehow scraped by.I think they really need some young new blood to come through the ranks,just look how well its worked for the Ausies.
Posted 14:38 14th September 2010
5Lock4ward says...
PDV isn't going anywhere. The main thing they'll tell him once they have him hostage is that the time for sentimental selections is done. They have an autumn tour, next year's 3N and a handful of other test matches to bring in the young bucks and allow them to gel. If they do this they're a legit threat to repeat at RWC 2011, if they don't they'll be in trouble. Jake White isn't coming back, the only reason he wants to come back is b/c he's been out in the proverbial wilderness too long after his expectation of the red carpet being rolled out by "The" RFU failed to materialize. So in summary PDV stays if he promises to select youth and my future prediction is Jake White taking over Wales when Warren Gatland returns to NZ to take the AB job when Graham and Co. move on after a victorious home RWC 2011.
Posted 14:27 14th September 2010