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, 21:19 pm
#547 TheTackler: Like spear tackling or employing boxers in the front row-go get a life
29 Jun 2009, 21:20 pm
I am not against criticism against PdV.
Rugby at international level extremely tough and one person is unlikely to get it right all the time. Geech in all his wisdom selected Vickery in the 1st test and so on.
I think what I’m saying is that it is unacceptable for people for people to have a go at PdV -the person – all the time. Always highlighting his shortcomings even in victory.
We cannot condone that. Take Ryan’s article for instance; only quotes certain parts to support his agenda.
I want to remind those that it is written “For what you sow, you will reap”
29 Jun 2009, 21:21 pm
#548 Bul-a-Bhloo: Ek raak moer geirriteerd met sulke spraaksame idiote
29 Jun 2009, 21:22 pm
#547 TheTackler:
Correct you are a disgrace!
29 Jun 2009, 21:27 pm
#546 byoboy: Typical yarpie thugby mindset. No wonder people despise the yarpies as an unsporting race.
29 Jun 2009, 21:27 pm
#545 SA Barbarians:
LOL
Some funny “****” there
29 Jun 2009, 21:27 pm
#549 peterg123:
Glad to hear Pete!
Yeah, ironically I was prob within 5km from the stadium in a suburb called Brooklyn at the time of the game.
We left and reached a more eastern suburb of Pta at around the 68 min mark. I instinctively told my father in law that we will win the test eventho we were behind at the time.
Our function was adjacent to a pub and our joy was huge when:
1. Jacque Fourie scored that try
2. Morne Steyn landed that penalty at 80min
2nd test that I could not see live; should be able to see the 3rd in Jhb altho not at Ellispark
29 Jun 2009, 21:28 pm
#554 TheTackler:
But you are a Saffa, born and bred
29 Jun 2009, 21:30 pm
Tackler,
Why does everybody on this site seem to hate you?
29 Jun 2009, 21:30 pm
Sherrif – I see you still fighting the good fight. I tend to ignore the twats but I have noticed they seem to get more anxious everytime the pdvs boks WIN.
29 Jun 2009, 21:31 pm
Did Morne Steyn Not play Under Peter De Villiers coaching at Junior Bok level? Maybe the senior Junior players coached that team too.Same time when Heineken Meyer preferred that laaitie from Piketbergh?
29 Jun 2009, 21:36 pm
Namakwa – yeah Pdv had Morne as his flyhalf u21 Boks.
29 Jun 2009, 21:36 pm
#559 Slappes:
Had to come on as I left sort of halfway through a discussion.
I think what helps is that Im actually not fighting with anyone. I’m merely raising points and state my view/opinion.
It will support others’ view and disagree with others’, but that’s ok.
I’m comfortable with people disagreeing with me. But that’s me.
PdV has and continues to make mistakes but at least he is winning. His winning % actually the best but of course he has not won a 3N or World Cup but he will have a crack at it.
29 Jun 2009, 21:39 pm
#558 BULLET: I speak inconvenient truths. Like telling a child there is no Father Christmas or Tooth Fairy.
29 Jun 2009, 21:40 pm
I have just listened to De Villiers interview. My word, I have not laughed like that in a while.
29 Jun 2009, 21:40 pm
Hi Tackler,
Please educate me, what truths have you spoken that upset the masses?
29 Jun 2009, 21:41 pm
lol tackler’s the bogeyman who tells children there’s Santa Claus
29 Jun 2009, 21:41 pm
Sherrif – Agree, my view is judge Pdv on his performance – Not on his PR skills. But it irks me to see peoples ignorance and prejudices coming to the fore.
29 Jun 2009, 21:42 pm
#566 Big Hit: *no Santa Claus
29 Jun 2009, 21:42 pm
what a disgrace schalk “skollie” burgher was a to south africans all over the world, let’s hope we never see you in a springbok jersey again bravo brussouw you have great skills, you made us proud.some of those blue bullies weren’t top either.
29 Jun 2009, 21:42 pm
The question is not is he winning,
It is why is he winning?
Any one that can look past then substitutions and comments about Schalk is naive.
And it has nothing to do with race!!
29 Jun 2009, 21:43 pm
#565 BULLET: he was speaking on the Boer war last night, Crouchback stylee. It seemed to rankle with a few.
29 Jun 2009, 21:43 pm
JEANJACQUES,
Are you suggesting a life long ban for Burger?
29 Jun 2009, 21:44 pm
BIG HIT,
If thats the truth, I cannot debate with him, my Boer war knowledge is not what it should be. Pity, I was hoping for an intellectual rugby debate.
29 Jun 2009, 21:44 pm
correct bullit
29 Jun 2009, 21:45 pm
Bullet – yeah i had to laugh too, good entertainment from our coach there. Cant see why Ryans upset though?
29 Jun 2009, 21:45 pm
The pool code for Keo Bloggers 2009 CC is linygamy
29 Jun 2009, 21:45 pm
#569 jean-jacques: Harsh, Schalk is a true Bok and when you pull someone out of a ruck and you hands are around his face it does not mean he did it with intent it all happens in a break of a second
It does not make Schalk a dirty player
29 Jun 2009, 21:45 pm
JEAN-JACQUES,
Seems a bit harsh. I agree that he deserves a lengthy ban, but not a life one? Would 6 months or a year not be sufficient for him to learn his lesson?
29 Jun 2009, 21:46 pm
#569 jean-jacques: It’s Schalk Burger.
Why for life? A bit dramatic are you?
29 Jun 2009, 21:46 pm
Take it easy fellas!
29 Jun 2009, 21:47 pm
#576 superBul: Going to be tougher to call than the BL pool. Maybe just back the Bulls as your banker all the way through.
29 Jun 2009, 21:47 pm
#563 TheTackler: Piss off
Go unclog more toilets, moron
29 Jun 2009, 21:47 pm
#571 Big Hit: Still the most costly war (in money and lives)for Britain outside of the WWs
29 Jun 2009, 21:47 pm
SLAPPES,
Perhaps he is just too passionate about people not making comic’s of themselves. He cannot just laugh at the man.
29 Jun 2009, 21:48 pm
LOSERER,
Profanity is the crutch of the conversational cripple. Let the man speak, if he speaks sense, we can have an interresting debate.
29 Jun 2009, 21:50 pm
#585 BULLET: I have listened to his ‘wisdom’ for months now. I am all wisdomed out
29 Jun 2009, 21:51 pm
#561 Slappes: Thanks,thought i heard him say That.
29 Jun 2009, 21:52 pm
#417 Brentie1:
You got it in one.
Which, i would like to think is NOT truly representative of the average saffa. It certainly isn’t my experience with the thousands of Souties i know.
29 Jun 2009, 21:52 pm
LOSERER,
Fair enough!-) I am not all that familiar with the man.
Do youy live in SA? What are the papers making of the Boks matches? Just listened to an interview with Clive Woodward, first British person to congratulate the Boks.
He said that the Lions will be dissappointed that they did not give a better account of themselves. Made a very valid point on the eye gouge scenario, but still mentioned that the better side won.
He said it was one of the best test matches he had ever seen.
29 Jun 2009, 21:54 pm
#589 BULLET: where did you hear the Woodward interview?
29 Jun 2009, 21:54 pm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8125270.stm
29 Jun 2009, 21:54 pm
The Irish Pommie is in the house….
29 Jun 2009, 21:55 pm
Whose the Irish Pommie?
29 Jun 2009, 21:56 pm
#563 TheTackler: Do Not confuse Inconvenient Truths with Your shallow selective Drivel.
29 Jun 2009, 21:56 pm
#588 Sir_Charles_Napier: you back for more mick?
29 Jun 2009, 21:56 pm
sorry guys i’m losing it, but schalk has always seemed to me to be a thug playing a gentleman’s game and not a gentleman playing a thug’s game, lets face it he’s always been barbaric.
29 Jun 2009, 21:56 pm
#576 superBul: Can’t wait for the CCup.
29 Jun 2009, 21:57 pm
#554 TheTackler: ha ha ha… i’ve never heard such fkn bullshit, really man you’re pathetic
29 Jun 2009, 21:57 pm
#563 TheTackler: WHAT inconvenient truths?
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