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, 19:14 pm
#350 cab:
Lol@’decent lady’, have you met the *****?
29 Jun 2009, 19:14 pm
#349 justrugby: YES….Iagree… this is out of hand….
29 Jun 2009, 19:15 pm
#336 Bul-a-Bhloo:
I think the#337 rangerman:
Tis a shame that ROG didn’t have his best game. Still in his defense, he was groggy from a bash to the head before leaking the try and giving away the penalty.
Kearney was excellent though and i thought ROG apart the other Irish lads had solid to good games.
29 Jun 2009, 19:16 pm
I saw the match live on the Internet from the USA. Being a US citizen, I had no bias for any side. I just appreciated an intense, hard-fought rugby match. The Lions were clearly the better side in the first half. Unfortunately injuries messed up their game plan and the Boks came on really strong in the 2nd half. Physicality is a huge part of the Bok’s game, as shown by the Burger and Botha incidents. In my opinion, the French referee needed to be stricter on the illegal physical stuff. Both sides were doing it to a certain extent, but the Boks seemed to be instigating it most of the time.
I’m amazed that the French referee wouldn’t have even given Burger a yellow card unless Bryce Lawrence the NZ touch judge had recommended it. And when he said “minimum yellow”, what he was really saying was “if I was the referee, it would be a red card”. Because of the French referee’s lack of English, he only heard “yellow”. If you remember he was the video ref the previous week in the 1st test. When the ball was ripped out of Monye’s hands as he crossed the goal line, the referee (Bryce Lawrence) couldn’t understand what the video ref was saying and he had to ask him numerous times what his decision. In the end, Lawrence awarded a drop-out 22, when the video ref said a scrum 5, Lions ball. It clearly wasn’t a try, but his poor English and lack of knowledge of the laws, led to a very confusing situation.
It is clear from the de Villiers’ comments about the Burger yellow card that he full-supported and actually encouraged the over-zealous physical side of the Bok’s game. As a mouthpiece of the South African Rugby Union, he should have thought about his response very carefully. But clearly he didn’t care about the repercussions. I firmly believe that he should be reprimanded and that someone higher up in the SARU should apologize for his remarks.
The Boks are very a talented rugby team, but the Burger and Botha incidents and the coach’s response, leave such a bad taste in one’s mouth. They have won the series, so they should celebrate and be humble in victory. Antagonistic-like remarks are totally inappropriate and uncalled for.
29 Jun 2009, 19:17 pm
#348 cab: Give me the job and the benefits and I would also be a decent sort…..
29 Jun 2009, 19:17 pm
‘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.’
who the hell are these pipsqueak little pompous self righteous baby children journalists led by the nose by their pompous little White brotherhood baas to try and ridicule and recriminate a coach who stands by his players, as if the glory underhand king Jake White would have done different,
you reckon Jake would have turned his back on his favorite player Schalk and fed him to the Lions and The Wolves huh Ryan Vrede?.
Some these journalists today have serious ulterior motives brewing back of it all, and its led by an entire punk *** breed of schmucks who want to drive a knife into the coaches back, wouldn’t put it past the holy triumvirate of ‘Winning Ways’ to be behind all of this third force operative going down here.
29 Jun 2009, 19:17 pm
#350 Boksarenumber1:
yes actually, i have.
29 Jun 2009, 19:18 pm
#353 grant10:
Which hand grant?
29 Jun 2009, 19:18 pm
its precisely the lack of any kind of sportsmanship from the lions that has brought me to this point.
i wonder why they havent congratulated PDivvy yet?
could coach MCGeechie be waiting for a win in the third test so he can squeeze PDivvies hand, look him in the eye with that smile that says “you were lucky and we should have won” and say “well done”.
risky strategy.
what if the Boks sweep it 3-o?
PDivvy will give McGeechie and co. a twitch of the moustache and a high pitched “thanks for coming” and McGeechie’s pain will be so much worse.
i hope that if it comes to this, McGeechie will not retire to a cave somewhere, a shattered man.
but if the British media are permanently scarred……..*** them.
29 Jun 2009, 19:20 pm
#355 skopskiet: your last para may not be too far fetched!
29 Jun 2009, 19:20 pm
#354 Bul-a-Bhloo:
that is uncalled for, the british ppl are the most tolerant anywhere on the planet.
The problem is a very specific one. These tourists are a bunch of whinging ingrates who have believed their own press and are arrogant and full of themselves.
29 Jun 2009, 19:21 pm
#357 Boksarenumber1: LOL….still need clarity on my hypocritical agenda !!
29 Jun 2009, 19:22 pm
they came equipped with a seige mentality and looking for a fight, they’ve now lost and are just whinging.
29 Jun 2009, 19:23 pm
#358 rangerman: you on fire tonight my man!!
29 Jun 2009, 19:23 pm
“Disgraceful De Villiers”
F’ck them, who these snot nose punk *** idiot pricks think they are, they deserve to be smacked around the ears these snot nosed lily white yellow bellied punk *** baby shoes journalists over here.
Anybody thats DISGRACEFUL is this bunch of snot nosed yellow bellied lily white journalist punks, nobody else.
29 Jun 2009, 19:23 pm
#352 Sir_Charles_Napier: a bash to the head?
why then did he try to bash Fourie Du Preez’s *** with his head then?
that was a filthy tackle and fully deserved the penalty which saw you blighters off.
lovely substitution that one by the way. wasnt he also half of the barn door Bryan Habana ran through?
kearny was solid. paul o’connel was…..uhm………was he on the field?
29 Jun 2009, 19:23 pm
#353 American_Rugger:
A nice to hear a voice of reason.
I am afraid, that for your efforts, you will be shouted down in a minute, with all sorts of irrational bile.
I am off now before i lose my cool and react to one of them again.
Have a good evening.
P.S. i would to apologise if i have offended normal rational Saffas. My fight was with the Boer head banger, eye gouging, testical biting apologists on here.
29 Jun 2009, 19:23 pm
Chaps – a quote to think about: “The best way to quiet a country is a good thrashing, followed by great kindness afterwards. Even the wildest chaps are thus tamed” by a Sir Charles Napier. Now an individual using this name as a nick comes onto this blog spouting off about SAs history. Can you actually get a sense of his hypocrisy. A pity the Lions couldn’t give the Boks a good thrashing – it seems if you can’t thrash those ex-colonies then bleat and make excuses. SCN – you are a hypocrite.
29 Jun 2009, 19:24 pm
have to say the lions fans i met and chatted too were pretty cool…
29 Jun 2009, 19:24 pm
#356 Bul-a-Bhloo:
Lol no boet give me the job, at least brussow jacque
and steyn would be playing every toets
29 Jun 2009, 19:24 pm
#359 grant10: Geez….. I hope not….surely not ???
29 Jun 2009, 19:25 pm
#368 Sir_Charles_Napier:
Good riddance sir *******
29 Jun 2009, 19:26 pm
PDV by al means be your own man but
PLEASE STOP SWEARING IN PUBLIC
29 Jun 2009, 19:26 pm
#363 grant10: Hey Grant,its me on Richards laptop in Nairobi airport!!!! You ok Gorgeous?
29 Jun 2009, 19:27 pm
#330 rangerman:
What I expected from you
.
As long as we can agree to call a spade a freekin shovel all’s cool.
29 Jun 2009, 19:27 pm
#368 grant10:
i am reffering to the touring team, players, captain, coaches and journalist i have read. i have yet to read one decent account, other than from will carling whom someone else posted.
29 Jun 2009, 19:27 pm
#363 grant10: ah, i used to be here a lot more Grant.
i had so much more time in those days.
nowadays, i have to make use of my time effectively
#364 skopskiet: possibly the first and last time we will agree on anything skop.
disgusting behaviour from our own, let alone the whining lions brigade.
29 Jun 2009, 19:28 pm
353 – awesome commentary and insight from an outsider
29 Jun 2009, 19:28 pm
#370 justrugby: a revolution is started with a whisper boet….
29 Jun 2009, 19:28 pm
#363 grant10: Lol….don’t think Rangerman got his quota of crays today !!!;
29 Jun 2009, 19:29 pm
#360 cab: Why uncalled for? Is it important that everyone share you sentiments for an institution that has no significance or bearing in our lives…at all.
I couldn’t give a hoot for her, I don’t owe her any respect and it seems a significant portion of the UK as well.
29 Jun 2009, 19:29 pm
#370 justrugby: Hiya JR some good pics of you in Forries!! We leave Cape Town and the sun comes out!!
29 Jun 2009, 19:29 pm
#373 carol: wow!! now i am!!
29 Jun 2009, 19:29 pm
#378 grant10: This is true !!!
29 Jun 2009, 19:30 pm
#373 carol: wow! yea….all cool….how you doing?? Great surprise!!!
29 Jun 2009, 19:30 pm
#346 The-Pill: no he didn’t hurt his eye at all, i saw the rerun stacks and his finger is on the guys cheek
29 Jun 2009, 19:30 pm
#364 skopskiet:
Congrats Skoppie you’ve outdone yourself with your illterations.
29 Jun 2009, 19:31 pm
#371 Boksarenumber1:
Troglodyte.
You had better run along and look that up because you have clearly had a substandard education and are as thick as the proverbial two short planks.
Still, as long as you clean windows, or clean lavatories i am sure there will be a role for you in this world.
29 Jun 2009, 19:31 pm
#375 cab: the fans were awesome…some great parties with them….but i see your point cab.
29 Jun 2009, 19:32 pm
#381 carol: Hi Carol…glad to see you got back safely…..was absolutely brilliant meeting you and Mark, Richard and Jane…how was Loftus ??
29 Jun 2009, 19:33 pm
#379 justrugby:
my mate and i nearly drowned on wed last week and lost our spearguns trying to “get a dive in before the huge swell hits us”.
lmao we were idiots!
29 Jun 2009, 19:33 pm
Hey loads of Night Owls gathering now, what an absolutley wonderful time we have had in your country!!
Really hard getting on that plane in Joburg today. GBS came to see us off, thought of putting him in my hand luggage!!
Such freinds made and great memories!
29 Jun 2009, 19:34 pm
#380 Bul-a-Bhloo:
no, you can have any opinion you want, but what in the name of allah does the queen have to do with this group of whingers?
29 Jun 2009, 19:34 pm
#373 carol:
I’d be more worried about you being in Nairobi Airport.
Take care of the laptop!
What part of the corridor are you in
Not the best example of ‘Africa’. Mind you, Madagasacar is worse.
29 Jun 2009, 19:34 pm
#381 carol: you gotta make a plan with the pics Princess!! Great memories…thanks…
29 Jun 2009, 19:36 pm
#353 American_Rugger:
YOU
DA
MAN !
#377 Heavens Game:
and, yet, when a Kiwi says the same thing we’re ’1-eyed, bitter’ and we project spittle everywhere.
Our American friend got it spot on.
29 Jun 2009, 19:37 pm
#389 justrugby: Well we are currently in the Business Lounge at Nairobi airport waiting for an overnight flight!!
Heard PDV had been doing “his stuff” so thought I would have a look!!
29 Jun 2009, 19:38 pm
#390 rangerman: Lol…you ain’t seen nothing yet when in Cape Town you must get a dive in at Peegrooms (spelling ?) a spot off Cape Point…now that can get rough !!!!
29 Jun 2009, 19:38 pm
#392 cab: I hope you are not referring to my comment regarding singing God save the Queen.
29 Jun 2009, 19:38 pm
#396 carol: I bet the booze is no longer flowing?? All partied out??
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