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, 20:34 pm
#490 SA Barbarians: Man, what a game by Morne Steyn, Brussouw and Mossie…
…and what a near farkup with Langbek giving a penalty for a high tackle….
Morne has got BMT flowing in his veins…. what a boytjie !!
29 Jun 2009, 20:36 pm
Night all, thanks to all I have met during the last few days, especially Grant and GBS….wonderful, wonderful friends.
Catch you tomorrow….Goodnight South Africa XXXXX
29 Jun 2009, 20:36 pm
#495 carol: Hi Carol
Good to hear, and also glad to hear you have enjoyed the trip!
29 Jun 2009, 20:38 pm
#501 carol: See you on the blog tomorrow Karlien….
… you’ll be back in SA…. I know it !
29 Jun 2009, 20:39 pm
At the end of the day the Boks can only play what has been put in front of them
PDV will be judged by me the same way as I judged other coaches-wins. I the Boks win then I am happy, how they do it I really do not care about
I really do not care what he says and to who (I hope he gave Stephen Jones (Times) and old Nick an earful
29 Jun 2009, 20:39 pm
#496 grootblousmile: Flight was fine…battery dead byee xxxx
29 Jun 2009, 20:40 pm
#451 Bludeks: Hear hear, real trailer trash journos in the UK
29 Jun 2009, 20:42 pm
#492 cab:
so long cabbertjie, me too outa here
29 Jun 2009, 20:42 pm
#265 ZoomZoom:
Thanks for that.
Agenda based writing.
Pathethic from Ryan really.
29 Jun 2009, 20:44 pm
#500 grootblousmile: Dit was ‘n moerse game gewees. Daai laaste twee skoppe van Morne was ongelooflik.
Hopelik weet die amateur komediant nou dat Brussouw ten alle tye op die veld moet wees. Ek kon nie glo toe hy vir DR opstuur nie, en as dit nie was vir DR se besering nie, sou Brossouw nie opgegaan het nie en sou ons die toets verloor het!!!
Hopelik het dit ook deur sy dik kopbeen gedring dat mens ‘n spesialis skopper wat game na game na game goed skop, op die veld moet hê.
29 Jun 2009, 20:44 pm
I must admit I can’t agree that PdVs comments were disgraceful, i fact they were damn hilarious, maybe it will get the poms to shut the fk up.
29 Jun 2009, 20:45 pm
#504 JL1: I rather believe that the success of a country as a whole is a function of the bits and pieces. A very complicated mix.
Difficult one to offset winning games against the damage that individuals can do to the image / marketability of a country.
I know that if I was Sasol wanting to break into the European market, what PdV says with their name on his chest would be more significant than how many games he wins.
29 Jun 2009, 20:47 pm
#494 justrugby: #497 Peter Mkata:
cheers, take care, so long
29 Jun 2009, 20:47 pm
#509 SA Barbarians: Nou wat sal hom anders maak as enige ander SA coach die laaste 12 jaar
Laaste coach wat dit gedoen het was Kitch,speel Ruben as fetcher, ‘n egte yster, saam met Andre Venter, ‘n baldraer en dan speel jy die skopper, Joel Stranksy
Niemand daarna het dit gedoen nie
29 Jun 2009, 20:48 pm
Nice hatchet job, Ryan, and not exactly objective sports journalism, is it?
29 Jun 2009, 20:49 pm
#511 Bul-a-Bhloo: I see your point, but Gatland and his moans and whinging can alo be seen as a negative image
Sponsors like exposure and they like winning-nothing more, nothing less, wih PDV they are getting both
29 Jun 2009, 20:49 pm
This article is an Disgrace !!
29 Jun 2009, 20:50 pm
#514 Windhoek.Lager: Did he or did he not say these things. That is the question…..
29 Jun 2009, 20:50 pm
#510 byoboy: Put yourself in Geeche’s shoes. He has NO, and I mean No idea whether Snorre is playing mind games with him or not. If we are in the dark bout his comments, imagine the poor oke. No mind games here, he is getting mind f.cked! hehehehehe
29 Jun 2009, 20:51 pm
#511 Bul-a-Bhloo: …and if they want to break into the the European market sponsor the Lions-do what First Cape Wines do or Standard Bank sponsoring Eng Rugby versus Argentina or the ICC 20/20 cricket
29 Jun 2009, 20:51 pm
#513 JL1:
heeltemaal reg, Jake of miskien ook Streauli en Mallet sou nooit Brussow gespeel het, hy sou dieselfde f’kop gemaak om Roussouw op die bank as reserve loosie aan te sit, lank voor hy enige tyd n ‘fetcher’ sou kies.
29 Jun 2009, 20:52 pm
#516 sparticus: No JM Coetzee wrote that and got a Pulitzer, really not that good this journo
29 Jun 2009, 20:52 pm
#513 JL1: Sy strategiese naiviteit, blatante rassisme en die feit dat hy ‘n verleentheid vir die borge, die Springbok handelsmerk en die land is om ‘n paar te noem. Behalwe dit is hy ok
29 Jun 2009, 20:52 pm
#519 JL1: Considering it, but not westwards. In the other direction……
29 Jun 2009, 20:54 pm
#452 Isigidi: Only Bismarck and Habana got their caps from Jake White, so he can’t claim any of the other players you mentioned
29 Jun 2009, 20:54 pm
#520 skopskiet: Maar PDV glo dieselfde sal werk
Danie hoort vir Bakkies te vervang of Juan
Schalk moet 8 speel of 7, alternating tussen hom en Juan
Dan het ons a sterk bench.
Rugby now days is about the dark arts of getting the ball first at point of contact or slowing it down to get your defense lined up
29 Jun 2009, 20:56 pm
#518 Isigidi: It’s a classic. Geeche can’t even be noble enough to say congrats to us and none of the B&I players have said any kind words either, and I’m glad PdV mentioned that as well. Their behaviour is a disgrace!
29 Jun 2009, 20:58 pm
#522 SA Barbarians: Ek weet nie so heeltemal nie-sy Engels is swak so hy probeer hom uitdruk deur dinge direk te vertaal
Carel dup het baie games verloor wat meer van ‘n verleentheid vir my is, Straeuli het nog meer met sy draadkamp gedoen
In die buitleland hou hulle nie van ons nie omdat ons wên en omdat ons “dutchmen” is en hulle glo ons haat hulle
29 Jun 2009, 20:59 pm
These punkeyed white racists like these two pretense liberals here the Barbarian and his mate Blhoo, are what they are, no one will change them this lifetime, not even if PdV wins 100% of his games and he walks the tri nations will they grant a moments gratitude, they are racists through and through, no question about it, and they are the dinosaurs on the way out, whether they prepared to acknowledge it or not, they are history, pity they can’t see it yet, but its a fete a compli, better catch the next ferry to Gondwanaland fellas else there simply no hope for you, none whatsoever.
Thats me gone, consider your options, you don’t have too many.
29 Jun 2009, 20:59 pm
#524 XhosaKid: Only mentioned senior players that could influence a rebellion, or dictate a palying patern despite coaching orders. How would we know that what happens on the field is really the gameplan of the coach? Rumours going around that the “senior” players desides on gameplan on field anyway.
29 Jun 2009, 21:01 pm
#526 byoboy: You must realise that the press love Geegs here in the UK
… and Edwards and Gatland were the masters around Wales and their NH success… this is a bitter pill to swallow and if JHB turns into a Bok feeding frenzy, then their press will turn against them
Bokke must smash them on Sat
29 Jun 2009, 21:02 pm
#525 JL1:
They haven’t learnt the secret yet, jake in all his 4 years and so far PdV getting the hang of it only just by default only, and I reckon it could be Gold thats pulling the strings amongst the forwards, yes and the ‘senior players’ otherwise who of them would have picked Brussow ahead of Schalk, after Jake the Great Fake has been telling all and sundry that Jake is the 100% success man, the first name in his team.
Thats the last one now from here
See you JL, take it easy.
29 Jun 2009, 21:03 pm
#531 skopskiet: Cheers
29 Jun 2009, 21:04 pm
#528 skopskiet: You just don’t get it do you.
Fortunately it doesn’t matter that much, now wipe that froth from your mouth and drink your medicine…….
29 Jun 2009, 21:04 pm
#527 JL1: Ek verstaan wat jy sê. Carel Dup en Straeuli was nou ook nie juis my gunstelinge nie, maar hulle is gepos soos hulle verdien het.
Die pos van afrigter is ‘n baie openbare een, en een van die posbeskrywings behoort openbare beeld en “people skills” in te sluit imo
29 Jun 2009, 21:05 pm
#531 skopskiet:
Jake is the 100% success man – should read Schalk
29 Jun 2009, 21:06 pm
#528 skopskiet: Bwaaahahahahaha Idiot
29 Jun 2009, 21:07 pm
#533 Bul-a-Bhloo:
I dont dislike you, I just abhor outright racists, so sorry, it just happens to be ingrained in societies and human consciousness whether they like it or not, its a conditioned reactive response and might take generations to eradicate altogether.
29 Jun 2009, 21:07 pm
#534 SA Barbarians: Ja, die laaste coach wat a gentleman was Kitch/du Plessis/Gysie Pienaar kombinasie
Die ouens mimic hulle base-SA Rugby, as dit so gaan wat se beeld is daar dan om uit te beeld
Al wat dit vat is media training, kos so R150 000 oor 6 weke
29 Jun 2009, 21:08 pm
#536 SA Barbarians: Look at yourself – thats the only place that counts – fool.
29 Jun 2009, 21:09 pm
I am not a great PdV fan but I agree with what he has said here and I think all his players will thank him for that. The Poms are playing slimeball… harping on Burger (a dirty fool) and Bakkies ( who I think did nothing wrong) whilst not even offering congrats. They will go on to moan about how they “wuz robbed”. Wait for it. I think anyone who calls the media up will receive the keo article written here, because journos and media people feel they have the right to be negative about everyone. I am very pleased to hear PdV defending rugby as a game that is not ballet and noting Lions are not angels.
He is very often wrong, but these outrageous remarks should be balanced by the outrage of McGeechan not offering any congratulation to the Boks, the Britpress winding up their moaning stores. Phillips sour rants and so on. PdV gave them pure hell right back. Good on him.
29 Jun 2009, 21:10 pm
#529 Isigidi: So in essence, what you are saying the senior players have this win/lose button that they switch on and off depending on whether they want to win or not, geez you might be right, if one just goes to 19-0 AB loss, FDP, Butch, JDV switched the lose button
29 Jun 2009, 21:11 pm
#539 skopskietSkop, have you had one too many again?
When you get in rant mode you remind me of my ex-wife on half a bottle of vodka!
29 Jun 2009, 21:11 pm
#537 skopskiet: You have known me for a number of years now. You will know by now what my convictions are.
29 Jun 2009, 21:12 pm
#529 Isigidi:
Perhaps PdV tells them to decide how they want to play it; they are after all on the park
My guess is that they work on the basic game plan unlikely to be as rigid as White’s. But also a few back-up plans depending on what plays itself out on the field.
But I do think they have a few preplanned moves for specific situations ie lineout/scrum in opponent’s 22.
There are strong personalities there: Muir, Gold, Smit, Matfield, JdV, FdP and so on and thus unlikely that PdV will or will want to have the only say.
29 Jun 2009, 21:15 pm
#528 skopskiet: In fact PdV and Skoppie have quite a bit in common
Both are so short they have to roll down their socks to have a ****.
Both consequently suffer from acute short man syndrome
Both have their bowls located in their brain cavities
When the **** in their brain cavities reaches critical mass a chain reaction ensues, and boom! A massive mushroom cloud of misplaced adjectives, unintelligible statements, and **** particles contaminate the environment
29 Jun 2009, 21:16 pm
#530 JL1: It would be absolutley brilliant to beat them on sat and i think we will, just wish bakkies was the to rough them up a bit.
29 Jun 2009, 21:17 pm
PDV should go and coach a coloured thugby club like Delicious RFC where kicking a fallen opponent to death is also deemed “part of the game”. This affirmative-action clown just doesn’t have a clue. What a disgrace!
29 Jun 2009, 21:17 pm
#545 SA Barbarians:
Jy moet boeke begin skryf………
29 Jun 2009, 21:19 pm
#544 Sheriff: A very sensible comment. I am sure it works that way. After all the players have to respond on the pitch and the planning sometimes goes wrong. Senior players can influence a game and I have know instances when they basically ignore the coach and do it their way, but most often it’s a blend, as you say. Oh Sherif, I loved Pretoria and the test!
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