Transformation a factor
The decision to appoint Peter de Villiers as Springbok coach was made not only in terms of his rugby credentials.
De Villiers became the first black head coach of the Boks in a dramatic afternoon at Saru headquarters. It was widely expected former Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer would get the job but the decision to give it to De Villiers must be seen as a strong move towards transformation. Saru president Regan Hoskins confirmed as much.
“I want to be honest with South Africa and say that the appointment was not entirely made for rugby reasons,” he said. “We as an organisation have made the appointment and taken into account the issue of transformation very very seriously when we made it. I don’t think that tarnishes Peter – I’m just being honest with our country.”
SA Rugby MD Johan Prinsloo said the final race was between De Villiers and Bulls mentor Heyneke Meyer and that it went down to a vote. Prinsloo could not divulge the exact number of presidents for and against the ultimate appointment but maintained the final call was aligned with that of the technical committee.
“The technical committee was assembled to advise the presidents council on the selection of the Springbok coach,” he said. “I can confirm that the recommendation from the committee was the same as the final decision.
“Peter has created history today. He has a proven track record and we trust he will have the support of the rugby fraternity as Springbok rugby enters a new phase. Saru is confident he will build on the momentum created by the World Cup win and it is a very important appointment for SA rugby.”
De Villiers will now begin contract talks with Saru and join the technical committee in appointing his support staff. Saru will advertise for these positions in the coming week and candidates will be subject to a similar selection process to that of the top job.
De Villiers is also scheduled to meet with the five South African Super 14 coaches on 14 January.
By Jon Cardinelli at Newlands
January 9th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Comment by stodders : January 9, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
doubt there’ll be many excuses other then from the bulls, but imo i doubt it will happen, not because his black, brown or green but what he’s been quoted as saying ito of his style, who he wants to pick as captain and the 10/15 comments.
I think if he changes JW’s RWC squad, we will come stone last in the 3N with Deans coaching Oz. I like his attacking style, but believe SA strengths lie elsewhere and he like many cape coaches will focus on the backline to the exp of the pack.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
wouldn’t it be nice to see Obama win to the top office eventually. One man doesn’t shape foreign policy but it would be accurate to say that Bush presents the face of all that is bad about america and little of the good. Perception is everything.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I think he has to change some of the squad members Cab. I know I would. At least three that I can think of and two forced. But if you are refering to wholesale change then I agree with you.
I’d also like to think that he will consult with JW. It’s the sensible thing to do.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
stodders
I hope Obama wins, i like him.
But during his last visit to Kenia he might have just made the wrong moves.
I had a mail today, Kenian guy in Oz.If it is true what he says, and the US media gets wind of this, he is ‘dead’.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
136 Rex
No you didnt read the posts leading to that post. My point about mentoring relates to AA and BEE and not PdV.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
We have had some very good Cape coaches in the past. Just not in recent times. Fester was from the Platteland. Small was a forwards exponent. Before him was Solomons who was successful.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
yeah I shouldn’t imagine that anyone in his right mind would suggest that PdV needed mentoring. Quoted out of context. Happens all the time.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
must be bad Piet.
you know what the yanks are like. If its there they’ll find it.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Comment by TASSIES : January 9, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
Other then injuries, the only change I can see is for Os who is retiring and the re-introduction of Spies if fit, JW first choice. For Os, Guthro is being nurtured, but purely on merit, there is one young loosehead that has torn everyone up, Heinke.
who else u thinking?
January 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I’m thinking that I could do better than Olivier. Afraid Willemse is no longer Bok material unless he undergoes an overhall. Van den Berg can be bettered. thats three off the top of my head.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
yip fair enough on those three, thought u meant from run-on XV.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
okay. I’ll put money on Alastair being re-appointed backline coach. Can’t say yet who will coach the forwards because that depends on personal decisions by some of the obvious candidates. If I’m right,then the WC squad will remain relatively unchanged. We are also likely to see that young Bulls fullback enter the frame and Conrad Jantjes. Both are outstanding players. Need nurturing and game time though. We will also see a bit more of Hylton lobberts(our petulant youngster).
January 9th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
poor old meiskiekind, one of the best dummy passes in the game, dummies the oppo by passing to the linesman at least once per game, thats called thinking out of the box.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Hoskins’s comment today made the hot seat even hotter.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
there’s Chilliboy too. Lot of nurturing maybe but he’s there. The run-on IX is going to be a bit tricky for now but in 12 months we should see a gradual changing of the guard. Guys get injured.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
there’s also a young 20 year old flyhalf playing WP under 21 who’s not half bad. Ricardo Croy in the right hands has the potential to go very far. Good pedigree too. They’re out there if one is looking.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
yes, good player chilliboy, lobberts might feature too, but they are not the best in their position, they are also too young and inexperienced. Lobberts is competing again Juan Smith and chilliboy against John Smit and Bismarck, both have considerably more exp.
REally depends if SA want to win test matches in 2008.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Its kind of a pleasure to have two, no three, level headed and objective thinking bloggers on here similtanously Tassies, Stodders and Pietman, quite a rare pleasure.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
A good point was made by a black poster on this site the otherday. A white coach – even with the best intentions- may not be able to relate to black players well enough for them to feel comfortable playing for him. So maybe a coloured coach will be able to relate to both black and white players, and maybe this will allow both black and white players to perform to their full potential. Just a theory. I hope so.
Matfield has said in the press before that he has no objection to playing for PdV. So stop your stupid debate please. Besides, matfield is a professional, and proud of his country – of course he would play. But will the PC let him if he plays for Toulon?
I just hope that Pieter has the humility and grace to call in experienced guys like Jake and Meyer and the rest of the S14 coaches like Muir to get advice from different perspectives – it can make all the difference, and a problem that looks big from one perspective can be diminished by looking at it from another angle. I think he is a smart enough guy to do that though. I alo hope that they hire Meyer as director of rugby.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
skopskiet,
and dont forget your right honorable self.
well the boks have got your man as coach, salt of the earth, true south african and all the other horsemanue that emanates from your fingers…the proof is in the pudding so to speak. oh yes, we shall now see. no more white, no excuses.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
This is why I left South Africa, not because DeVilliers is black but because the better man does not get the job.
Heyneke has transformed Bulls rugby, brought it into the professional era. He has been key in setting up the structures and processes at the Bulls. In actual fact he is a great business man, equivalent to a director or Vice Presedint of a company. Guiding the people in the company with his experience and making sure that he doesn’t have to be there to micro manage.
This is what you need in a truly great leader.
Devilliers is just a coach, nothing compared to Heyneke, yet De Villiers gets the job.
Nothing against De Villiers but Screw South Africa!
Hopefully Heyneke comes back to the Bulls now!
January 9th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Aah little cabbage patch, so you already wishing the mans demise, good on you, as for your exalted one you know just exactly what I think of that two faced twat.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Just to jolt your memories!
Johm ONeill said he will not accept any second rate side from any nation.
He has a foreskin as well as foresight!
January 9th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
johm = john
January 9th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
unlike you i have not wished anyone’s demise, but the proof is in the pudding and not many are going to be thrilled if an RWC squad is carved up with poor results from a SARU appointment.
January 10th, 2008 at 4:28 am
come on guys, whats the worst thing that can happen, 49-0
January 10th, 2008 at 5:30 am
no, the worst thing would be loosing to England in a Quarter final!
January 10th, 2008 at 8:08 am
God but some of you people are pathetic. It’s bad enough that PdV is undermined by his own union in more or less the same breath that his appointment is announced – was it really necessary to say his skin was a factor – but the knee-jerk crapola from people who can’t see the racism inherent in condemning the man before he’s even out of the blocks only serves to show why transformation is so necessary.
As others have pointed out, JW wasn’t exactly man of the moment when he was appointed. The Bulls-types didn’t want him either because they’re too busy thinking they own rugby and banging on about reverse racism to see over the kraal fence. That The Freedom Front P*es has entered the fray sums it all up really.
I wish PdV every success in what must be the toughest job in world rugby. It’s a thankless task – and all the more so when fans bay for your blood and call you a spanner before you’ve even had one match.
Nice one guys. Just keep on with proving why the old racism chestnut isn’t going to go away any time soon. Those getting their jocks in a knot about this are too thick to see that they’re as much a part of the problem as any of the ANC conspiracies they hold so dearly to their chest.
January 10th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Tacitus jumped.
January 10th, 2008 at 9:08 am
PDV is just as qualified as Jake was and deserves to be given every opportunity to succeed. SARU have given him a 2 year contract so if they have got it wrong they have time to fix it.
Heynecke’s big mistake was that he said he would quit if not picked. SARU has had 4 years of battles with Jake White and I am sure when HM started calling the shots at the interview stage a number of Presidents were put off.
Personally my choice was Heynecke but having said that for 3 years I wanted John Smit dropped for Gary Botha and we all know how that turned out.
Good luck Pieter!