PdV to blame for Leicester disgrace
7 Nov 2009
Peter de Villiers must take responsibility for his poor selections and the embarrassment that followed in Leicester on Friday.
It’s all good and well lauding De Villiers when his first-choice side steamroll opponents, but now when an opportunity presents itself to mould an inexperienced group, he and his fellow coaching staff looked out of their depth.
The Springbok ‘second-choice’ XV were annihilated by a club side without at least 16 of their regulars, also not helping their synergy. The Bok coaching staff will point to the lack of preparation time, but in that situation the common sense option is to pick combinations at provincial level. De Villiers ignored this, and the result was a disorganised showing in all facets that led to the South Africans being out-muscled.
While De Villiers stated this tour was about gauging his next best, his refusal to pick form players from the Currie Cup has now left him with more questions than answers.
This team were led out to be exposed by stupid selections and from numbers 1 to 22 there are few success stories from Welford Road.
De Villiers stated in the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine how his technical knowledge of the scrum is the best in the Bok camp. But if that was the case, he would’ve known before this match that Gurthro Steenkamp would’ve repeatedly unbound and taken his head out of the scrum, resulting in penalty after penalty. Instead of choosing Wian du Preez – who is now heading to Munster – and the rest of the Cheetahs front-row as a unit, they were all watching this debacle on TV.
That Chiliboy Ralepelle – the Bulls’ second-choice hooker – had the opportunity to lead his country after not being fit to take part in a Currie Cup final six days earlier is ludicrous. It wasn’t surprising he limped off after 20 minutes, and he should be on the next plane home. Jannie du Plessis’ days in the Bok set-up should also be numbered as he failed to produce any leadership or grunt required. How Heinke van der Merwe was suppose to perform after not playing in six months is a mystery, and one shudders at the thought of him having to play tighthead on this tour.
Danie Rossouw was a frustrated figure with the lack of leadership, and while he tried all night, it wasn’t enough. Andries Bekker also toiled throughout, but in a disorganised side, it was very difficult. That the Sharks’ fourth-choice lock Alistair Hargreaves came on to try and resurrect matters said it all. Even against 20-year-old rookies, Hargreaves was out of his depth and he would have benefited more from an Isaac Ross-course in bulking up over the summer.
Ashley Johnson and Jean Deysel were the standout loosies, but how Davon Raubenheimer was considered ahead of Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw and Willem Alberts is beyond me.
Heini Adams, another who can’t start for his province, struggled behind a pack being shunted around. His tactical kicking was woeful, and Sarel Pretorius would’ve been a better option.
Ruan Pienaar did nothing to show he is anything close to an international flyhalf. Worst of all was his temperament, panicked decisions characterising his play. But what can you expect when the last time he played in the 10 jersey was on 25 July? De Villiers and Dick Muir’s obsession with versatility over specialists seems to be slowly but surely ruining what was a promising career.
Wynand Olivier, Juan de Jongh, Jongi Nokwe and Earl Rose all soldiered on with little quality ball, but Odwa Ndungane delivered a disinterested performance. Ndungane’s final minute knock-on capped off why Lionel Mapoe should have been in his place on tour.
The technical short-comings, especially at the breakdown, were disappointing, but what was even more worrying was the lack of commitment and desperation shown by some in a Bok jersey.
Victories over Ireland and France were the main aims of this tour, but just as important was judging the depth of South African rugby. De Villiers should now realise that the out-of-form third-tier players who weren’t good enough before, still aren’t good enough. What a waste of an opportunity to ignore those who deserved a chance to tour.
Leicester now have the Bok scalp as theirs. However, records won’t state it was a woeful Bok side, many of whom shouldn’t have been there. For that, De Villiers and his selectors must take the blame.
By Grant Ball
394 Comments
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7 Nov 2009, 05:45 am
Can’t help but feel sympathy for Div. Under pressure from his employer and politicians he had to pick a cesspit of quota players. I don’t think you can blame him.
7 Nov 2009, 06:05 am
i agree with kwas but this sadly will be the future of sa rugby.it seems the black players who should be there dont get picked and the ones like chilli would shouldnt even be near a bok squad are.
7 Nov 2009, 06:08 am
to be honest tis good that chilli is hurt cause he might have to sit out now and make way hopefully for derrick kuun
7 Nov 2009, 06:10 am
There’s a difference between responsibility and blame, a big difference
7 Nov 2009, 06:15 am
Yep this goes to the top. He has quotas to fill and been a quota himself with a quota boss, Origina the Vag@#$%.
I really think some of the boys should have been rested and some new blood brought in, but that is idealism as we can see. Sometimes the old boy club will be as harmful as quotas.
Deysel above Raubi(good player but need some bulk).
Pretorius instead of Heini.
Kuun, liebemberg (infact anybody) above Maku and chili.
Wian du Preez instead of Gufro.
Mapoe instead of Oddwon.
Mibiyso intead of Pottie.
I think I can keep going…
7 Nov 2009, 06:17 am
The biggest concern for me, which indicates immaturity and an ego at play, is that the South African Rugby Union is supposed to be just that: a union. Yet the Union’s national coaching staff and selectors ignored the views of their own: the leading provincial coaches and selectors.
I only hope that these immaturities and ego-eccentricities will play themselves out during the period when the First XV are world beaters.
7 Nov 2009, 06:21 am
Its a disgrace.
Besides I heard some on this site saying boks will win by 60 points.
This was a third or 4th string bunch. Plus they had never played with each other
They left at least 6-8 better players at home.
Well PDV you got your resut with your experiment players
7 Nov 2009, 06:27 am
And it’s unfair to the players. As with the third test against the Lions, from which the coaching staff state they learnt the most out of all the games, they are given one game to prove themselves and that’s it.
7 Nov 2009, 06:27 am
Our front row is still a major problem.
Lets get cj and bj in the bok squad again
and get Os to coach the front row
7 Nov 2009, 06:29 am
#8 sglazer:
yes agreed. They need to spend some time together, well and select the 8 they left behind
7 Nov 2009, 06:30 am
#9 CoachPete: Yes, exactly
7 Nov 2009, 06:32 am
#11 sglazer:
Are we the only few who see this ?
7 Nov 2009, 06:35 am
I don’t know. We’ll see when the tidal wave wakes up on the other side of the world [s]
7 Nov 2009, 06:36 am
I’m watching Forensic Files. You?
7 Nov 2009, 06:39 am
Im watching Armagedon
7 Nov 2009, 06:40 am
We’re an optimistic bunch, looking to the light side of humanity and the future [s]
7 Nov 2009, 06:43 am
Billy Bob Thornton at Hooker, Bruce Willis at Flyhalf, Ben Afflek in the Centers?
7 Nov 2009, 06:44 am
Liv Tyler and Owen Wilson on the Wings
7 Nov 2009, 06:45 am
#18 sglazer:
Whoopie goldberg at scurm half
Quotas remember
7 Nov 2009, 06:46 am
#19 CoachPete: Ha ha ha!
7 Nov 2009, 06:47 am
Huge missed opportunity of building on the EB’s decent draw with the BIL’s using their pack (lesser degree backs) as the blue-print… and rewarding S14 performance with arguably a few CC form players…
Here’s hoping Strauss, Liebenberg, Vermeulen, and a few others are already on the plane… along with Smit and co!
Methinks the damage is already done to the passengers… and those carrying them… and we’ll see plenty of ‘real’ Boks in the fold come Saracens to prevent a flogging!
7 Nov 2009, 06:49 am
ja i agree pick overseas players
like cj and bj rugby is a job and the players
should be able to go where they can earn good money without
being punished
i agree with kevinrack comment number 5
i see the bok coach as a quota and shouldnt be there
only when i said it i got slammed
7 Nov 2009, 06:49 am
#19 CoachPete: Here it comes, the tidal wave, starting really on the other side of the world [s]
7 Nov 2009, 07:00 am
#23 sglazer:
I’m in the USA I can see it from here.
7 Nov 2009, 07:03 am
This was really a bad performance from the boys. However its shocking to see that Keo actually saying lack of preparation has totally nothing to do with this defeat. Even if the players that Keo has been moaning about was chosen for this team, the synergy and lack of preparation could have led to them failing to. Obvious some areas could have been improven.
One refreshing thing is that Rose seem to be flying under the radar today…..What’s going on Keo?? I don’t think for a second u changed your mind on how “useless” he is or have u had a change of heart???
7 Nov 2009, 07:06 am
That whole pack could be totally different.
I agree with KevinRack #5
maybe the cheetahs front row, and Liebenberg
locks Van Zyl and sykes
Looses forwards many
7 Nov 2009, 07:08 am
#25 Bentoshi:
Well if you have better players even if they have not played together they will be better
Rose yeah
Hey when the rest fo the team plays so kuk then he stands out as been ok
7 Nov 2009, 07:09 am
Of course this hiding is extremely embarrassing and PDV is the man to blame. But it only serves to prove how disastrous the road to “transformation” rather than strict merit selection is bound to be.
7 Nov 2009, 07:09 am
rest of
7 Nov 2009, 07:10 am
#22 klippies101:
I thought there was a time when you said that the coach was swaying you his way. Funny what one lost can do. Imagine if this was the test side losing against France. Holy Macaroni!!!
7 Nov 2009, 07:12 am
PDV, select on merit, and this f*** will not happen, you are a puppet man
7 Nov 2009, 07:14 am
A well-written article. I hope the content gets pointed out to Snorre & co.
7 Nov 2009, 07:16 am
#31 Hagar:
Does anyone know How much influence PDV had in the selection.
After all the starting boks were named did he have a big part in the selection or was he told who to pick?
7 Nov 2009, 07:17 am
#32 Lang Giel:
He gets Earl Rose to read if for him
7 Nov 2009, 07:18 am
“Danie Rossouw was a frustrated figure with the lack of leadership,”
Is he not suppose to provide it, as a senior player I mean.
7 Nov 2009, 07:26 am
Coach: That’s merely an assumption u made. What u saying that u can choose a random bunch of players of merit, throw then in a team and beat any team in the world without having any synergy or preparation?
7 Nov 2009, 07:26 am
Grant Bell
Don’t blame the village idiot, please don’t!
Instead look at the senior Boks and the captain, they allowed this farce to happened!
And please, this is rugby, how could you blame Jannie Dup when he has to bind with the like of Steenkamp and Chiliboy, it’s ludicrous!
7 Nov 2009, 07:28 am
#31 Hagar:
Why am I not surprise. Out in full force, are you?
Can somebody please tell me, who the hell coached this team?
7 Nov 2009, 07:28 am
#4 sglazer:
“with the authority comes the accountability”
(Kelly Johnson, Chief engineer, Lockheed Company)
7 Nov 2009, 07:30 am
#38 nama1:
why should you be surprised?
The bookie at Rosebank took a 2:3 betting for Leicester on Thursday
7 Nov 2009, 07:31 am
#36 Bentoshi:
You may be right however:
A randon bunch of good players is better than a random bunch of just average players
I have coached and seen it.
For the record I did not say you can thow together a bunch of players picked on merit, and beat any team in the world.
What I said was if you picked the 2nd string bok team based on current form/merit they would have stood a heck of a better chance against the Tigers
7 Nov 2009, 07:33 am
well its not that the boks lost u cant win every game doesnt matter who u play but the selections make no sense
the best players have been left in sa i think
7 Nov 2009, 07:36 am
#37 Hondo:
Grant Ball. First you can’t count now it seems you can’t read either. (smilie)
7 Nov 2009, 07:42 am
#40 Hondo:
I bet he made a lot of money.
7 Nov 2009, 07:45 am
#42 klippies101:
So, what is your stance on PdV as the Bok coach given his record the past two years?
7 Nov 2009, 07:46 am
Transformation has to be part of our rugby and if it means some player who performed well are left behind, hard luck. Its not like players on form hasn’t been left behind in the past before transformation kicked it… Coaches have their favorites and agendas that they wanne push. I say let PdV choose his way and if he feels transformation is vital to his contribution to SA Rugby I say we’ll done man.
7 Nov 2009, 07:51 am
#46 Bentoshi:
I disagree.
Pick the best players regardless of their color,
Pick the players who are possibly part of the transformation, in the springbok development squad, and let them make their way into the main squad on merit
7 Nov 2009, 07:56 am
Coach: Do u honestly telling me that Whites Blacks Clrds and Indian are getting the same fair treatment from school level up and till national level. Just look at the school teams. I’ve seen how average white kids from school level get chosen cause they see potential in them and all the other races has to play their hearts out to get in. Provincial level the same thing. A player of colour has to play has to play his heart out to achieve what a white player on average can do. If this is the culture that prevail in our country then I say put transformation in and force the change.
7 Nov 2009, 07:58 am
#39 Hondo: Yes, but not blame, response-ability. Blame is a complete waste of time, always has been, always will be.
7 Nov 2009, 07:59 am
It is very clear to me. This “2nd string bok team” lost because of four reasons
Poor selection.
Poor coaching
Some players did not play well.
No preperation time
Thats it.
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