PdV: I’m nobody’s fool
16 Nov 2009
Peter de Villiers sneered at suggestions that Saracens aren’t taking Tuesday’s encounter seriously.
Keo.co.za spotted Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter at the Springboks’ training session on Monday, and it took no less than 20 minutes for the Boks to tell him to clear off.
Venter seemed visibly upset when he was asked to leave a field his own team use for preparation, and also confessed that Saracens consider Sunday’s clash against Wasps more important than the ‘exhibition’ game against the Springboks.
De Villiers dismissed Venter’s talk of priorities, as he feels Saracens have invested plenty of energy into this fixture.
‘You can’t take this talk seriously. You can’t be fooled by people who talk these kinds of matches down. Why would they go through all that expense and secure the best stadium [Wembley] in England if they didn’t care?
‘Sometimes people should think before they talk.’
Venter’s office is on the Old Albanians Club grounds, but De Villiers believes it’s just not the done thing for opposition coaches to attend each others’ practices.
‘It’s unethical,’ the Bok coach confirmed. ‘Across all levels, if you know you are playing them, you don’t pitch up. Saracens are our hosts and we don’t want to be rude, but there are certain things you just don’t do.’
Late on Monday, Venter hit back at the accusations of ‘unethical behaviour’.
‘The Springboks accepted an invitation to train at our club training ground, and I was watching their Test team going through a skills session, he said. ‘It was not even the team we were playing at Wembley on Tuesday.
‘For Peter de Villiers to suggest that this was in any way “unethical” is unnecessary and unwarranted.’
Assistant coach Dick Muir, who has assumed control of the midweek side, believes Saracens will be difficult to beat.
‘With all those South Africans playing they are certainly going to be a force,’ he told this website. ‘They’re seasoned campaigners, some with Test experience. They’re going to pose a big problem.
‘I do believe we are better prepared than we were last time,’ Muir added.
De Villiers goaded the South African Saracens contingent by reminding them that the World Cup is right around the corner. It’s no secret that if they want to be picked, they need to return to South Africa.
‘They saw what happened when we picked CJ van der Linde last week, so they will know there’s still an opportunity. It’s going to be war out there on Tuesday, those Saracens players know we will be watching and so will want to put a marker down.
‘The World Cup is just two years away and a few of their contracts will be ending next year. They won’t hold back.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in London
85 Comments
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16 Nov 2009, 21:27 pm
#49 Slai:
Have you now permanently move back to England?
#48 Die_Valk:
“…‘pressure’ does not suddenly rob you of your vocabulary.”
I think you will find that if you finish your studies one day and go for interviews, your answers may not be the same as the ones you prepared at home. You may even find that you suddenly lost all of your vocabulary.
Hopefully it will not happen to you.
16 Nov 2009, 21:31 pm
Yes, I openly admit to being Meyer fan, but that does not mean I will overlook his shortcomings. Just because I said your a fan of PdV doesn’t mean I’m not ond of Meyer. I never implied that in any way. I never try to be ‘clever’, but I do try to be realistic. Thank you for your reference to that and my youth, that’s a huge compliment as far as I’m concerned.
16 Nov 2009, 21:31 pm
Yes, I openly admit to being Meyer fan, but that does not mean I will overlook his shortcomings. Just because I said your a fan of PdV doesn’t mean I’m not one of Meyer. I never implied that in any way. I never try to be ‘clever’, but I do try to be realistic. Thank you for your reference to that and my youth, that’s a huge compliment as far as I’m concerned.
16 Nov 2009, 21:45 pm
I do know what that feels like. I debated. Anyway, this is fun but I’m off to watch Band of Brothers. By thd way, which province do you support? When all is said and done, we are just passionately fans of rugby. Let’s celebrate that.
16 Nov 2009, 21:58 pm
#51 nama1:
Yes, i live there permanently now, at least for the time being
16 Nov 2009, 22:08 pm
#52 Die_Valk:
You totally lost me here. A bit incoherent.
#54 Die_Valk:
You debate, you play chest, you’re into computers.
Hmmm. what image is this I’m getting (smilie)
I’m a Stormers and WP fan, boet.
Enjoy your night.
16 Nov 2009, 22:16 pm
Those are hobbies. I play golf and rugby regularly. I’m a Cheetah supporter.
16 Nov 2009, 22:23 pm
Never thought I’d see the day a soutie calls me refined.
Sorry if it’s incoherent. Typing from my bloody phone.
16 Nov 2009, 22:28 pm
France are moving up in the rankings.
16 Nov 2009, 22:29 pm
#58 Die_Valk:
compliments on your command of the english language
16 Nov 2009, 22:46 pm
Charo, your nick makes me sad. Indian girlfriend is in Durbs. Thanks. I have a nagging feeling that the Sharkies will do well next year.
16 Nov 2009, 23:00 pm
#61 Die_Valk:
you are a lucky man – indian ladies are among the most beautiful in the country.
hope this post gets through before tomorrow morning – this is the slowest connection imaginable – africa needs more technology.
17 Nov 2009, 00:14 am
That guy is the Seven Pillars of Wisdom itself, nothing less
Did he figure out who appointed the rag tag singer
17 Nov 2009, 01:14 am
Why do i have the same feeling in my gut as I had before the Leicester game?
17 Nov 2009, 04:20 am
“I’m nobody’s fool” well could’ve fooled me(and the rest of the Rugby World).
17 Nov 2009, 06:48 am
#65 jockstrap:
A high self esteem,
The Midweek front row is far better now but the forwards will have their work cut out to make up for all the passangers.
I counted 9 S. Africans in the Saris’ line up: Horak, Barritt, De Kock, Hougaard, Joubert, Botha, Melk, Meineke and Van Hererden, Brits on the bench, 4 with Boks colours.
Not going to be easy, De Kock is a shrewd No.9 and will control the Saris possession economically, we shall see
17 Nov 2009, 08:06 am
#66 Hondo: Lot of experience in this team – the Boks will have their work cut out ….. Anybody know what the weather conditions will be like ?
17 Nov 2009, 09:36 am
#67 stew: and more importantly, who the ref is?
17 Nov 2009, 12:22 pm
‘Sometimes people should think before they talk.’
Go to the mirror Pete.
17 Nov 2009, 12:28 pm
#69 cane: Pete’s problem is that he has absolutely no idea how to translate his thoughts into words…so it’s generally a garbled message…highly entertaining tho’
17 Nov 2009, 12:30 pm
#69 cane: He talks before he thinks..!!
17 Nov 2009, 12:35 pm
Hope Barritt has a huge game. Just maybe PdV can speak to him to come back home.
Good luck to our Boks Dirt Trackers.
Cheers all out of here.
17 Nov 2009, 12:47 pm
#72 Puma:
Barritt is good decent player.Hard,direct,above avg ball skills,avg speed,good organisational skills,a leader.
But he is no world beater.Good player in a solid set up with a 13 to run off him and loosies to support.Old school typical SA 12 in the Mulder,Muller mould.
He is also only a 12 and nothing more.So a bit limited in that asect.
He is a younger version of Stuart Abbott.Another ex Saffa who played for England.Average to good.
17 Nov 2009, 12:50 pm
#73 mshiniwami: I rate him less creative than Abbott, but more solid. Have to agree with you though, his defence and organisation are top notch but he’s a bit limited outside that. Solid yet unspectacular.
17 Nov 2009, 12:55 pm
#73 mshiniwami: He was played at 10 by the sharks quite often. He is one of those players who do things with little fuss or flashiness and so doesn’t catch the eye in the same way as others. A player like Nonu for example catches the eye by combining good line breaks with good knock-ons.
17 Nov 2009, 13:04 pm
I will never forget Percy Montgomerys high praise of Barritt while Percy was at the sharks. Percy reckoned Barritt was Mr Organisation….and that Percy would have him on the team sheet at 12 everytime.
Solid and dependable….i know WP tried hard to get him to Cape Town ….
Personally with JDV and F Steyn away i , for one, would love to have Barritt back home in SA and pushing for Bok spot.
17 Nov 2009, 13:13 pm
#76 grant10: Might have slotted in well in WP with JdV gone. Would also prefer him to have stayed in SA, but mainly just so that he doesn’t play for England. He would have got a couple of Bok caps somewhere down the line but I don’t think he would have been a regular. In England he will grow and can dominate the 12 jersey – to SA’s detriment. Especially considering the current ‘talent’ there – Geraughty is a shocker.
17 Nov 2009, 13:16 pm
#77 Mutant: ja….i am a big Barritt fan….not sure if he is still eligible for boks as he has played for that Eng Saxons team…
17 Nov 2009, 13:18 pm
#78 grant10: Ja apparently he’s locked into Eng according to another thread. But then why aren’t they picking him?
Someone else said he’s still hoping to play Boks, so what’s the actual story?
17 Nov 2009, 13:20 pm
#79 Mutant: will try and find out….would suit the sharks as a F Steyn replacement….i reckon a lot of talking going on between the guys uo North now….that WC may bring a few saffas home yet!
17 Nov 2009, 13:23 pm
#80 grant10: Ja see if you can get to the bottom of Barritt!
Def lots of talking, and the CJ selection sent out quite a message. Hopefully it works – Super 14 could get a massive injection. It would actually be quite smart of Melbourne to sign some ex-Boks – create a favourite Aussie franchise for other South Africans, increase their support and their TV viewership.
17 Nov 2009, 13:27 pm
#81 Mutant: ja…thats why i was so dissapointed it didnt go to the Kings…could of attracted a lot of saffas back….we have some top class players in Europe….pi sses me off…wish the best were here assisting our super 14 teams….Melbourne will be scouting like crazy!
17 Nov 2009, 13:46 pm
Barrit is surely the most overrated and talked-up SA back in recent years.
So much discussion about his potential and talent, but zero evidence. At one stage I thought Morgan Newman was going to be the new Brad Barrit.
17 Nov 2009, 13:51 pm
barrit is not eligible to play for the boks having played for the england saxons…
17 Nov 2009, 14:07 pm
#84 gunther: So why aren’t they selecting him. Geraughty is pathetic, and from what I’ve heard Barrit has been playing well over there…
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