Transformation a factor
9 Jan 2008
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
180 Comments
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9 Jan 2008, 16:29 pm
Thats just it.
We talk about our incredibly talented player base that we have in SA and then praise a guy for winning the U21 world cup.
Anyone could of taken an U21 Rugby team from SA and had a good crack at the world cup. anyone. What makes PDV so special.
PDV has accomplished nothing.
9 Jan 2008, 16:29 pm
Hallloooo weti,
Ek soek jou!!! Ek was die naweek by my suster in Vistaria, wou n draai maak.
Cousin my ou maat is mos geban jong!!!
9 Jan 2008, 16:30 pm
Stawn , I think if we closely examine PDV and Meyer’s record you will see that PDV is not that far , the only diffs is Meyer Coached and won in the s14 , having said that , I did feel Meyer deserved it more and thought he was going to get it but PDV is now the coach , no use crying , lets give the man our full backing.
Think of it this way guys , John Smit was by far not the best rugby player in his position the last couple of years but he was the best Captain.
9 Jan 2008, 16:31 pm
49
I dont think too many people are saying that PdV needs more time, just that Meyer is more experienced at the moment.
If PdV follows his heart and always selects who he thinks will win the games then he will do well.
If he plays a black/white/brown numbers game, he wont last 2 years.
9 Jan 2008, 16:31 pm
hey Pietman
I sendt an email today to GW union re: PdV playing record. I think you right about him never making the grade. Not many colored players in Kimb back then.
I remember playing against Wellington Mgxaji, a flanker,Dolly Ntaka, and ofcourse China Bell(Police EP)
9 Jan 2008, 16:31 pm
Pietman,
Jy slaan die spyker oppie kop daar broer!!!! Dis nie die donerse Bok coach wat transformation moet doen nie, maar die skole en clubs. Komphela en sy boeties moet wakker word innie lewe!!!
9 Jan 2008, 16:32 pm
Durban docks , if it was that easy howcome only 2 SA coachs have managed it so far ? Namely PDV and Jake
9 Jan 2008, 16:33 pm
greatest @48,
Karma’s a ***** I guess.
9 Jan 2008, 16:34 pm
Mr sparticus,
Danie Coetzee and Gary Botha were the equal of John Smit a few years ago. I still rate Danie as the stronger scrummager of the lot..even today.
9 Jan 2008, 16:34 pm
If the likes of Matfield decide that they do not now want to represent the boks because their fav coach is not the bok coach, and I really hope this isnt the case, then I say bye bye to you.
We will always find new talented players that will fill the void.
9 Jan 2008, 16:36 pm
Mr stodders,
I fear my old man, will never step foot outside Pretoria ever again. He is very angry over this.
9 Jan 2008, 16:36 pm
Stawm
Lets see how you find a new Victor in the next two to three years…
9 Jan 2008, 16:37 pm
58
Repeating the mistakes of history is nothing less than stupid.
9 Jan 2008, 16:37 pm
Mr Stawn
Matfield will now stay in France and then come back in 09 to face the Lions(his last challenge bfore retirement)
9 Jan 2008, 16:38 pm
62
Hangbal
It wont be easy, but it will happen anyway, regardless of whether matfield stays or goes.
The names Skeat and Bekker come to mind.
9 Jan 2008, 16:39 pm
Greatest13 , thats my point , there were better hookers than him but he was still the best Captain , so Meyer might be better technically , PDV might just be in the selestors eyes a better coach for the boks for now. Lets give the man a chance , his track record is good. He has put in lotsa hard word to get where he is today , the road was by no means easy.
9 Jan 2008, 16:39 pm
What next..Zuma to be president??
9 Jan 2008, 16:40 pm
64
Do you think Matfield does not mind missing all the tests in between now and 2009?
If so it will be a big shame, as he will definately be in the 1st 15 regardless of PdV’s other selections.
9 Jan 2008, 16:42 pm
Stawm,
They aren’t bad, but in my book they will never become the world’s best… Bekker a man giant but not a thinker… Skeate good hard worker but not a thinker and analyst like Matfield.
Saying this, it would be sad to loose a Matfield at this stage of his career. I wonder whi PdV will choose as captain??? I will let JS stay on!!!
9 Jan 2008, 16:42 pm
Mr Sparticus
Lets cut the PC and state it like it is. He was chosen because he is black. No “ifs” or “buts”
the ANC puppetmaster strikes again
9 Jan 2008, 16:42 pm
Gotto agree with Stawm , Matfield is very talented and hard to replace but not irreplacable. One thing I have learned over the years is that as old heroes go away new ones emerged. Thats a blessing and a curse in SA. Look at Bobby in his Heyday and think Pierre Spies today , or Kankowski or etc etc , u get my point.
9 Jan 2008, 16:42 pm
67
Zuma is a Zulu isnt he?
No chance he will be the next president.
9 Jan 2008, 16:43 pm
greatest13 , #67 – as horrible as that sounds I will not be suprise !!!
9 Jan 2008, 16:43 pm
Those CT boys aren’t good enough to clean Matfield’s boots.
9 Jan 2008, 16:45 pm
70
We live in Africa and must do things the african way.
If this leads to a Kenya type of election in years to come, nothing will change it because the powers that be do not want it changed.
9 Jan 2008, 16:45 pm
Eish greatest13 , I think we gonna have to agree to disagree on the PDV issue , I just feel the man is a good candidate along with Meyer and they chose him , personally I would have gone Meyer but I have no problem with PDV.
9 Jan 2008, 16:46 pm
74
At the moment I agree, but they are young still and need good coaching and mentorship.
9 Jan 2008, 16:46 pm
No one is irreplaceable, but you loose valuable knowledge that will take another two to three years to simply be the best in the world, slot in that position and to have the analyst skills like a Matfield… FACT!!
9 Jan 2008, 16:48 pm
thanks Sparticus , I understand where you are coming from dispite our disagreement.
Stawm,
Zim
Kenya
SA?
9 Jan 2008, 16:49 pm
78
Agreed, but this is why there is a big loss to our rugby if we keep losing so many players to the NH etc.
They need to stay in the system and mentor the younger up and rising stars.
9 Jan 2008, 16:50 pm
Geez… By the reaction here you would have thought that Chester got the job.
I am bitterly dissapointed for HM, but not dissapointed that PdV got the job. He has a tough ride ahead of him and could well do with our support instead of the bitching.
Remember when JW was appointed – WTF is Jake White?
By all accounts PdV has got the credentials and he knows all the guys at junior level (like Jake did). Give him a chance to unearth the potential he speaks of and if he doesn’t walk his talk then have a go at his appointment.
In the meantime give him some support!
9 Jan 2008, 16:50 pm
Good old “young, give them time” logic
9 Jan 2008, 16:50 pm
Correct!!!
9 Jan 2008, 16:50 pm
To the Heineken fan Club
Anger, disappointment and dissatisfaction can build up to boiling point and reach a stage where one cannot handle the pressure anymore so they either commit suicide or murder their nearest and dearest or drink ‘Brannewynâ€
Please act responsible!
9 Jan 2008, 16:50 pm
g13g
Maybe – who knows?
9 Jan 2008, 16:52 pm
WC winners will have to make way for quotas
9 Jan 2008, 16:52 pm
Stawm,
I agree, repeating history’s mistakes is stupid.
But it isn’t too difficult to understand how a formerly repressed majority of the population are seeking to right previous wrongs done to them.
The majority appear to be doing so in a non-violent way. Some are educating themselves and attempting to address years of under development and inaccessibility to jobs that were deemed to be the sole domain of the minority white population.
South Africa has 50 million people now, of which 40% are unemployed. Heyneke Meyer is now one of those 40%, but i bet he has a great chance of finding employment elsewhere in the country or the world because of the experience, development and opportunities that he has been afforded in SA over the years, unlike many other unfortunates.
A non-white man is now the coach of the Boks. He seems a fair man, a driven man. He has sought roles to gain experience in readiness for this day. Good luck to him and his Boks. Give him a chance. He might surprise everyone if given that chance. Then again, maybe he’ll fail.
9 Jan 2008, 16:55 pm
there be quotas for rugby media as well.
first black Keo web administrator?
9 Jan 2008, 16:57 pm
greatest,
He was probably chosen because he was well qualified enough to go up against HM.
Maybe his colour was the deciding factor, but I doubt if it was the sole factor.
That’s SA though. You can jump onboard and make the most of your lot and be positive, or you can levae the country like you did and cry about from the comfort of NZ. The days of yore that you long for are gone and are never coming back.
I hope to God that South Africa comes good and can stick its fingers up to the doubters that wish for it to fail! Ons Vir jou Suid Afrika!
9 Jan 2008, 16:57 pm
Worst case scenario – PDV selects his quota and SA get thrashed silly for the next 2 years. Surely then SARU will review his contract and chose another coach and ditch the quota nonsense in preparation for the next WC.
9 Jan 2008, 16:58 pm
“The majority appear to be doing so in a non-violent way. Some are educating themselves and attempting to address years of under development and inaccessibility to jobs that were deemed to be the sole domain of the minority white population.”
you need to do a little more research. Some people have just being sitting around since ’94 expecting payback.
9 Jan 2008, 17:01 pm
#89 I agree in essense of what you say there. I am glad he is only there for two years. If there is a dramatic change in the squad, it is more likely the next two yrs will be grey. On top of that, a wounded and down All Black Beast and a hyped Robbie Deans Aussie machine in the works.
few things to contemplate.
9 Jan 2008, 17:04 pm
Stodders
I have no problem with PdV’s appointment, this is a game of rugby after all. In fact I called this last year some time. He has my support 100%, unless/until he tries to pick a team that has to always please the politicians, then I refrain from supporting him, and with this I withhold all monies that I contribute along the way towards rugby, like DSTV, jerseys, live games etc.
However, there are instances where AA is being abused terribly, and this is a big mistake, like in engineering, medical, nuclear facilites, security etc.
Here I do not support it, because the long term ramifications could be extremely detrimental to all our society, and this far out-weighs the black numbers game that is being played now to appease politicians.
9 Jan 2008, 17:05 pm
Chillyboy
Gurthro (ahead of Heinkie?..not fair)
Pieterson
Habana
Hilton
??
??
??
??
9 Jan 2008, 17:07 pm
Can somebody give us a track record of the new coach please.
9 Jan 2008, 17:07 pm
well said Stawm,
not to mention, the 50,000 more white SA’s planning to leave this year
9 Jan 2008, 17:07 pm
Comment by stodders : January 9, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
a very fair post, but as with everything in SA rugby i want to know what the situation surrounding this appointment is.
10/15 comments, a sports bill with crazy provisions, reports of stofile vying for presidency, the undefeatable reformed markgraaft and of course LW as captain and his old man on the PC. one wonders just how much the defeat of Mbeki and his emphasis on merit, the proper meaning of the word, might prove in the longrun for SA rugby.
Good luck to Peter De Villiers, I will judge him on the fairness of his selections and the ability to withstand the contrivances of SARU.
9 Jan 2008, 17:08 pm
I see a lot of the normal guys on this site havent voiced an opinion. Most of the posters are vociferous in their rejection of de Villiers. I think most of the guys are adopting a “wait and see attitude”, which is probably the healthiest thing to do.
Mbeki said there wont be quota’s in the National side, this was accepted by SARU. MOST of us have said development is a good thing and most thinking people said it should come at a young age. If this means development of young players, then I’m all for it. de Villiers has the credentials to be given at least a chance by everyone. I yesterday picked him above HM, but saying there was little to choose between them. So the ” wait and see” stance is probably the wisest. But we should ALL get behind the new coach, he after all, is not responsible for being selected, he just threw his hat in the ring. Just my opinion.
9 Jan 2008, 17:09 pm
55# gerber
My researches also led to zilch, no GW or Boland colours, it seems.
Where did that reference come from in the first place?
Not that PdeV needed it to get appointed.
9 Jan 2008, 17:09 pm
track record?
“first black coach”
This is all we be hearing about in the next month or so.
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