Disgraceful De Villiers
29 Jun 2009
In a surreal press conference, Peter de Villiers continued to deny Schalk Burger was guilty of eye gouging and delivered some of his most sensational rubbish ever.
De Villiers on Monday held court with a room full of journalists, the majority of those from the foreign press, and proceeded to spit the most ridiculous nonsense, and display an incredibly pompous and dismissive attitude, particularly towards the foreign contingent. For those present it was obvious that he has a very low opinion of them.
The questioning predictably centred around Burger’s eight-week ban for eye gouging Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald, an issue that the Springbok media team tried to dodge by saying that they would only comment after they had received an official report on the incident. You didn’t need an official report to know that Burger is unbelievably lucky not to receive a longer ban.
On Saturday De Villiers left the press incredulous by saying that Burger didn’t deserve a yellow card for the incident, let alone a citing. On Monday the coach had an opportunity to retract that ludicrous statement and concede that he was wrong. Yet he remained resolute in his flawed view.
‘I stand by Schalk, I’m still convinced he didn’t do it,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘When you watch the footage closely and if you know the nature of Schalk, you’ll know that he will never go to those measures to impose himself. Schalk certainly didn’t do anything on purpose. He watched the TV footage and was taken aback himself.
‘I am against anything that is against the spirit of the game. If we want to eye gouge lions, we’ll go down to the bushveld and eye gouge them there, then see if they can haul us in.’
When one of the travelling pressmen continued the line of questioning, De Villiers snapped, ‘Some of us seem to have a hearing problem. We’re waiting for the official report and we’ll see what that says. If they find him guilty of something we’ll abide by that decision.
‘I’m not ducking the issue, I’m working within a system. I’m not like you [the media] who don’t work within a system.’
De Villiers said he doesn’t condone foul play [the likes of which Burger was clearly guilty of], yet continued to inadvertently justify the incident.
‘Rugby is a contact sport and so is dancing,’ he said. ‘If you guys [the media] were clued up you’d know that there were so many incidents that we could have complained about, like the incident where a Lions player maliciously jumped into one of ours with their shoulder.
‘But we didn’t do it because this is a contact sport. If you are going to complain about every incident we might as well go to a ballet shop and all get tutus.’
Despite the series victory, there is a widely held view that the Springboks beat the Lions despite of their coach and not because of him. De Villiers’ rebuttal, ‘Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don’t react to opinion, I react to fact,’ he said.
‘If I’m the weakest link then we are bloody strong. I’m a God-given talent. I am the best I can be. I know what I am and I don’t give a damn.’
He continued by saying he didn’t read the papers, and therefore didn’t know how he was perceived in the media.
‘I don’t care. I don’t take an interest in your job, but I’m glad you take an interest in mine.’
Any preceding Springbok coach would have been seriously taken to task by the administration, but De Villiers gives one the impression, through his attitude and unbridled hogwash that he delivered on Monday, that he believes he is a law unto himself.
The reality is that he was an embarrassment to South African rugby, as he was when he offered his racially loaded views relating to Ricky Januarie, for which he will have to answer to the president’s council.
The same president’s council who appointed him based on his skin colour and not his rugby credentials (they confirmed this themselves when announcing his appointment), are now pointing the finger at him when they should be held partly accountable for the perception he is creating of himself, and by association, the Springboks, and South Africans in general.
De Villiers considers himself to be an ambassador for South Africa. He has said so on numerous occasions. But he is doing anything but creating a favourable impression of this country.
He needs to be reined in immediately. Word from inside the Springbok camp is that he just refuses to listen to any advice offered by his media managers, and as a result he is destroying any credibility he might have left.
Today he was a disgrace and he’s single-handedly detracted from the wonderful achievement of winning a Lions series. Hopefully it’s the last time we’ll have to endure a senseless rant like this from De Villiers. Don’t hold your breath though.
By Ryan Vrede, Johannesburg
859 Comments
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29 Jun 2009, 14:21 pm
Disgraceful Dragons!
29 Jun 2009, 14:22 pm
Just maybe it PDV way of supporting his player through times of trouble.
He will back his player in the media and discipline behind closed doors.
Maybe he is taking the media focus off his player…good on him.
29 Jun 2009, 14:24 pm
Keo and Ryan, Come on guys, the Coach is standing by his player “I stand by Schalk, I’m still convinced he didn’t do it”.
This is to be applauded. If PDiv thinks Schalk didnt do it, he is entitled to, and obviously Schalk feels similarly and hence his coach is sticking by him.
When it happened, I personally also didnt think it was a yellow card. Plus Burger is not that kind of player.
The replays have made it look bad, and if it was contact with the eyes, Burger has been punished.
29 Jun 2009, 14:24 pm
well, i do agree with this statement:
‘But we didn’t do it because this is a contact sport. If you are going to complain about every incident we might as well go to a ballet shop and all get tutus.’
29 Jun 2009, 14:28 pm
i agree with thew bok coach even if schalk is guilty no other teams get punished or cited so why must the boks
its time south africans started sticking up for our selfs
why wernt any of the brit lions cited only the boks were
what bout bods shoulder charge on danie
29 Jun 2009, 14:29 pm
Many will lambast Ryan for the perceived negative stance of this article, and accuse him of character bashing.
But I for one am sick and tired of the **** PDV sprouts.
It is not funny.
It is sad and embarrassing and cannot be good for the team.
29 Jun 2009, 14:30 pm
Funny how all this emotive language gets accepted unquestioningly. Sure, what Schalk did was a foul and he deserved a yellow card, no question. But it wasn’t “gouging”. Gouging is when the tip of the finger is directed into the eye or eye socket with the intent of scratching or forcibly dislodging the eyeball. At most, Schalk placed his fingers flat across Fitzgerald’s eyelids and pressed downwards. Uncomfortable, I’m sure, and certainly a foul, but not particularly dangerous. And it certainly doesn’t constitute “gouging”.
29 Jun 2009, 14:31 pm
pdv is an embarrassment. he deserves to be fired. south africa deserves competent coaching staff.
29 Jun 2009, 14:31 pm
‘If I’m the weakest link then we are bloody strong. I’m a God-given talent. I am the best I can be. I know what I am and I don’t give a damn.’
Anyone who thinks this is a humble statement and not a ludicrously arrogant one needs to get off the sauce.
29 Jun 2009, 14:32 pm
A video of panic mechanic poking a real lion in the eye, in the bush, would be a real you tube hit!
29 Jun 2009, 14:34 pm
It looks like all Jake White’s hard work to improve Bok discipline and cut out the foul play they were previously notorious for has not only returned under P divvy, but is being encouraged and promoted by him.
I look forward to seeing more Bok farcical mindless violence like the time when Corne Krige punched out his team mate Andre Pretorious then laughably tried to blame it on the opposition.
It seems the halcyon days of Bok thuggery are back, when touring teams knew they would have to take boxing lessons, in addition to the usual training on the paddock.
Heady days.
29 Jun 2009, 14:34 pm
Everyone will support him obviously but what he did was appauling !! Really didnt expect someone with Schalk’s class to do that !! But hey now we a coach who has been accused of racist slurs, and from what he said, “I’m still convinced he didn’t do it,’ he told keo.co.za” (I think he might be blind to haha,)
29 Jun 2009, 14:34 pm
You cannot win a fight against the media.
If he was half intelligent, he would realize that and work with them, rather than against them.
It is not so much the content of what he says, but rather his crude attitude and lack of decency and manners.
He simply is way out of his depth, and now it is getting serious, because he is starting to do damage to our reputation.
29 Jun 2009, 14:37 pm
its not fair iam tired of sa players being banned when everyone else walks free
29 Jun 2009, 14:37 pm
This bloke is an absolute baby and he’s thrown the south african game into total disrepute. He should apply for a job with max mosely at the FIA.
29 Jun 2009, 14:38 pm
#7 pierre:
Not ‘gouging’!!! you have lost the fvcking plot.
Luckily no else agrees with you (save for p divvy) and Burger got 2 months.
29 Jun 2009, 14:38 pm
#13 tight head:
Spot on Tighthead, spot on.
29 Jun 2009, 14:38 pm
Piet Snor is an embarrassment to us and SA rugby. A team manager should be appointed to speak to the media.
29 Jun 2009, 14:39 pm
It seems a few people on here dont have TVs.Guys the radio does not do justice to what actually happened.PDV is a clown,Schalk eye gouged and SA is 2 games up over the lions.Thats the way i see it
29 Jun 2009, 14:43 pm
Imagine what force the Boks could be if we had Robbie Deans as coach
29 Jun 2009, 14:44 pm
The politicians gave PdV the job because they believed having a non-white in such an important position would make South Africa look good. They thought he would be a great ambassador for people of colour in the country. Instead he is now the laughing stock of the rugby world and continues to discredit South Africa at every opportunity. It is time for SARU to correct their mistake before further damage is done.
Appoint Alistair Coetzee right away.
29 Jun 2009, 14:46 pm
Actually I start to enjoy all the nonsense PdV says. Keep it up PdV.
29 Jun 2009, 14:51 pm
#13 tight head: Pretty much on the ball hey, his attitude is the problem, and i cant imagine what goes on in that springbok camp… he is either a genius or a raging lunatic.
29 Jun 2009, 14:53 pm
Sh*t I wish I could attend these press conferences.
“I am against anything that is against the spirit of the game. If we want to eye gouge lions, we’ll go down to the bushveld and eye gouge them there, then see if they can haul us in.”
Again, just keep winning PdV!
PdV is the Boks’ competitive advantage: people underestimate the Boks because he talks nonsense on purpose.
The players know that he wants them to do only 1 thing: win!!!
29 Jun 2009, 14:57 pm
Please tell me who his optometerist is? I was watching at a friend’s house, and he has a huge TV, Schalla clearly had his fingers in the dudes eye. No doubt. Good that he is standing by his player, but needs to go to English lessons.
I still have hopes that he will be a good coach, but I have my doubts.
I always say its not what you say but how you say it.
29 Jun 2009, 14:59 pm
PdV is an absolute disgrace, the laughing stock of world rugby and he is totally out of his depth here. He needs to go quick before SA Rugby is dragged further into the mud …. and all this kuk after we’ve won! The decison was in court for 8 hrs and judges decided it deserved 8 weeks … what the hell is PdV’s problem! He is insane, thank god for John Smit!!
29 Jun 2009, 15:00 pm
Can’t believe people are defending PdV here. I am a huge Burger fan but what he did was wrong and he could have cost the Boks the game – he cost us 15 points directly by acting like an idiot.
To defend that is a joke & a worrying message to some of the other players, lets see how our disipline goes from here.
The Boks win in spite of de Villiers not because of him.
29 Jun 2009, 15:01 pm
I gouged someone’s eyes over the weekend.
Also kicked me into touch for 2 months.
29 Jun 2009, 15:01 pm
“I am against anything that is against the spirit of the game. If we want to eye gouge lions, we’ll go down to the bushveld and eye gouge them there, then see if they can haul us in.” – What the hell does that even mean??
29 Jun 2009, 15:05 pm
I feel sorry for PDV not because I think he is a good coach at all but beacause he has been put in a position where he is so far out of his depth that he is a drowning man at the moment.The guys who put him in this position are the ones who should be blamed.
I was at the game on Saturday and it was a bitter-sweet win for me.As glad as I was that we won I coulnt help but feel that this side is playing way below there potential.
We have about 10 world class players at our disposal and battle against a side that has 3 at the most.
One can only come to the conclusion that its because our coaching is way below par.
The Aussies have about 3-4 world class players and are gonna be even tougher than the LIONS this year for one reason-ROBBIE DEANS.
It looks like PDV is on his way out!
Its time to bring in the only coach you can honestly say has true credentials besides Jake White.
HENEKE MEYER
29 Jun 2009, 15:06 pm
Ryan you racist.
29 Jun 2009, 15:06 pm
#25 lion4ever:
yep i have a 50 inch plasma running a HD signal from sky.
And yeah i saw fingers in the eyes,plain and simple.
PDV isnt talking nonscense on purpose,i dont think he is capable of such an impressive plan as that.
And by the way the Keo site is damn slow tonight,took me over 2 minutes to display this page and any others i have tried to look at
29 Jun 2009, 15:08 pm
Ryan after that toilet trash **** you penned yesterday you are the last person to throw stones.
I am in fact, ecstatic that he is putting the media in their place!
Schalk obviously feels he did not do it on purpose or intent, PDV is standing by his player, supporting him. Brilliant.
Intent or not, Schalk entered an area in the game which you do not enter, he got punished, and as far as I read PDV’s statement, they will accept the outcome of it. Again, what’s wrong with that?
And as for the so-called racist slurring, was what he said a lie? That we would rather stick with out of form whites than with out of form blacks or coloureds?
Just exactly who is the racist then? The one that says it like it is? Or the one screaming racism because the truth hurts???
Put these hypocrites in their place PDV!
29 Jun 2009, 15:08 pm
Tell you what – as a player an overseas offer gets more attractive every time this clown opens his mouth.
His statement on how the SA Publics opinion means jack to him was also great, lest he not forget we pay his and every player on that pitches salary.
29 Jun 2009, 15:10 pm
#2 wallabie.: I agree with you… Maybe it is PdV’s way of standing by his player…
Schalk was definately in the wrong and I guess we won’t argue as much because we have Brussouw! Hopefully Schalla will come back firing in all the right ways…
Think it will work out brilliantly having him back for the away leg of the Tri Nations… Let Burger go rattle some All Black and Wallabie down under!
Let’s win the Tri Nations 2009!! Go BOKKE!!!
PS: Jon Smit is a great Captain!!!
29 Jun 2009, 15:11 pm
#32 Hurricane:
Just wanted to say the site is a damn crawl at the moment.
29 Jun 2009, 15:12 pm
#29 bok1906:
It means he is prepared to go to the bush, chase a real lion, gouge its eyes, then see if he can outrun it!
29 Jun 2009, 15:17 pm
Site is bloody slow.
I posted a comment, went to make coffee, smoke a cig, when I got back, page was still refreshing.
29 Jun 2009, 15:17 pm
#35 Gambit25: Bob Skinstad is that you??
29 Jun 2009, 15:18 pm
#33 PissAnt:
“Putting the media in its place” – how exactly? He is looking like a prize idiot & causing serious damage to SA rugbys reputation. It was an eye gouge FFS, even a blind man can see that. There is no place for that in rugby & PdV should be making that very clear. Who cares if Schalk meant it or not, it was blatant & he should know better and PdV should NOT be defending it.
As said above, the man is WAY out of his depth!
29 Jun 2009, 15:23 pm
#37 Dawn: Haha! You cant make this stuff up!
How sad that we have all this drama after a test series victory and the biggest story in Australian rugby is over a food fight in a hotel room…
29 Jun 2009, 15:23 pm
#39 bok1906:
29 Jun 2009, 15:26 pm
#24 Sheriff:
Yes – It seems that the vast majority would like the Boks to win at any costs, and that if underhand thuggery puts the opposition players off their game, it is a legitimate and advantageous tactic to use to win the game.
The rest of the world luckily don’t think it is worth stooping to eye gouging and other underhand tactics to win a game of rugby.
This puts the current Boks at odds with the rest of the world and will forever sully their series victory.
Trying to say that British and Irish supporters simply have sour grapes at losing is to miss the point made above and will simply isolate Boks supporters from the rest of the rugby world.
Simply put, the world has moved on. Everyone else in the world, unlike in South Africa, believe that those underhand tactics are not acceptable, and have no place in rugby.
The choice for the Boks is, to continue the underhand thuggery on the premise that the end justifies the means (winning at all costs), and risk further isolation, or join the rest of the rugby fraternity in playing hard but fair rugby.
The choice is yours.
29 Jun 2009, 15:27 pm
I can not understand how a single incident can be ellevated above the glory of winning a series against the lions.
Schalk did what he did and was punished accordingly.
****, the Lions lost a series cause Schalk put his finger into a Lion player’s eye?
I would also be irretaded if I was Snorre.
Focus should be on what we achieved, and not individuals i.e. Snorre, Schalk, BOD and whoever!
29 Jun 2009, 15:27 pm
#28 Dawn: HAHAHAHAHAHA
29 Jun 2009, 15:28 pm
Headlines on keo after a historic win over the B&I Lions:
“Disgraceful De Villiers”
“A national embarrassment”
I’m glad to see we’re all standing behind the coach and the team…
You see it’s not about winning or losing, it’s apparently how you conduct yourself. It would have been a lot better to lose the series, but be more eloquent in front of the media.
29 Jun 2009, 15:29 pm
#41 bok1906:
S’all Ryan’s fault.
He is the worst kind of cullert reverse racist.
Hy maak sy eie mense uit.
29 Jun 2009, 15:29 pm
Let me tell you what we want as fans: we want to win as often as possible, 80% of the time or more!
What PdV says about this or that is irrelevant.
He knows that most of them will always be prejudiced, so why bother.
I like the part where someone wrote ” if a white coach said this he would have been sacked ” One of the other articles I think.
My interpretation: He knows they look down on him so he is returning the favour.
I probably would have taken a similar principle position. But of course, you’re not allowed to react. Then you have a chip on the shoulder.
You must just say “ja baas, nee baas” then you are fantastic!
29 Jun 2009, 15:31 pm
How can u say he is a disgrace for standing up to his player ? What was he suppose to do ? Once again poor
29 Jun 2009, 15:31 pm
#36 PissAnt: Pissant, mate – you know that I respect your opinions and know that you are the most balanced blogger of the lot, but I am going to disagree with you on this one. PdV is a disgrace. I am aghast at people protecting him. I was one of his biggest supporters when he was appointed. He is not running the show (senior players are) and his ramblings are putting SA in a very bad light. I spoke to some of the Boks in Edinburgh last year and they admitted that PdV is useless. (It came from a Black Bok, by the way).
I can accept that he wants to stand up for his own player, fair enough. But I cannot see what he has brought to the party. People will now point to the win in NZ last year etc etc. Fact is, we should have won the test before that were it not for his tactical naivity and the second one was won with a lucky bounce. Fact. coaches has been fired for much less (nick mallet critisizing ticket prices….) playing the race card is the backbone of an argument without substance. I am not attacking the man for his skin colour, but for him being found wanting. take the ricky argument – does he forget that many of us so called racists slammed him because he played Frans Steyn at fullback in the place of Kirchner? No, I do not accept the racial arguments. I want to have faith in my team and support systems; at the moment players are running the show. What if they up and left after the tri-nations? will PdV be able to build a team like his pedecessor? something tells me we will find out. I hope he can. History so far tells me he wont.
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