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Communication gap: Peter de Villiers and Frans Steyn
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- Frans Steyn slams PDV for 'lack of respect' in French press
The South African Rugby Union have clarified the circumstances surrounding Springbok coach Peter de Villiers' cancelled visit to European clubs.
On Friday, a French newspaper published an interview with Springbok full-back Francois Steyn in which the Racing-Métro player slammed De Villiers for canceling a meeting in Paris, labelling it was proof that the coach "does not respect" him or his club.
According to a statement released by SARU on Saturday, De Villiers and national teams manager Andy Marinos were scheduled to visit three European-based rugby clubs during September as part of trip coinciding an IRB Rugby Conference, which both De Villiers and Marinos were due to attend.
"Visits were planned to Bath (England), Ulster (Northern Ireland) and Racing-Métro (France). The visit to Paris was planned for Wednesday and Thursday, 29-30 September," read the statement.
"Following the cancellation of the IRB Conference, all three clubs were advised that the visits would be postponed. Ulster and Bath acknowledged the advice, Racing-Métro did not. Several Racing personnel - including coach Pierre Berbizier - were included in the advisory email."
"SARU did not contact any of the three players directly as the appropriate protocol is to communicate through a player's club."
Comments
abrad says...
@pyes
Agreed...as a Saffa I am no fan of SARU boss and the coaching setup, BUT the kid (Steyn) has a lot to learn from life.
Posted 13:31 26th September 2010
pyes says...
Steyn really needs to learn his place - he's just a player and PDV is the coach...forget all the rubbish swirling around him, it's a pretty big privilege for one player to get the special treatment of an international coach flying to another country just to meet with him...Sonny Bill Williams was taken on a tour around Auckland by Graham Henry and people were astounded that he went to that level - Steyn is not bigger than the game of rugby.
Posted 06:18 26th September 2010
indy says...
Wow talk about self incrimination! This just validates everything that Steyn is saying. What's important to SARU - our players (who in case we forget do the actual rugby playing - isn't this what it's all about?) or some ultimately meaningless conference. Crazy stuff. No wonder our rugby's a mess.
Posted 03:02 26th September 2010
cannonball01 says...
what a load rubbish ''who cares about players playing abroad '' thats why its not good policy to select outside of home. And if this clown really thinks he would die ''to play for his country ,he would never have left if that were the case ''where do guys like this get off thinking they should even be in the team. when theres so much talant coming through in your home countries ''that dont pack up and leave for financial reasons .. you cant have your cake and eat aswell '' give positions to players that'' earn it and can give something back their communities n younger players coming through ''thats how games develop and other players around them
Posted 23:14 25th September 2010
martinmarais78 says...
So an IRB free cake and tea conference is more important than keeping your word??? PDV surely you cannot contribute anything intelligent at such a meeting anyway and the whole thing should have been vice versa. (i.e. cancel the IRB free cakes thingy if you cannot meet with your star players and build healthy relationships with there respective clubs). PDV IS JUST A LAZY @SS HAVING A HOLIDAY AT THE MOMENT IN SA!!! Busy with a braai and sipping brandy and coke with his mates in Mitchells plain if you asked me...
Posted 15:20 25th September 2010