Div takes a beating – again
P Divvy’s honeymoon period with the overseas media is over. Where they once laughed with him, all they do now is mock the man leading the Springboks’ World Cup defence.
NZ Herald’s Chris Rattue, in his weekly column, wrote that it was incredible the champions of the rugby world attributed such a lack of importance to who coached the team.
‘De Villiers is a faux test coach, a man who got his lines from a joke shop with a free Groucho moustache thrown in.
‘South Africa may feel the rest of the world is unduly harsh on de Villiers, but the rest of the rugby community can rightly feel miffed that the game’s leading team doesn’t take the job of head coach seriously enough.
‘Having been given a leg up to the very top, de Villiers should be made to earn his stripes, increase prowess and prove his ability in the Super 15 while a competent man takes charge of the world champions.’
Rattue added that the surprise was not at the Boks’ decline, but at how quickly it has all happened.
‘What is happening to the Springboks was inevitable under de Villiers, although the cracks have appeared a bit quicker than many of us expected.
‘Men far more qualified than de Villiers have fallen on hard times with apparently good teams, but those who have earned their stripes through the grades – such as Graham Henry – can fight their way clear.
‘Sports teams can function superbly when dominated and effectively run by legendary players, but only for a short time. They will self-destruct when age and fading form emerge and the old hands refuse to relinquish power or embrace new trends. Nothing exemplifies this more than the placing of the cumbersome Jean de Villiers on the wing.
‘Under the new rules, which encourage ball in hand over kicking, the new breed in South Africa must be given their chance to take over, players such as Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh.
‘But these gifted players, many of them black, will land in the middle of a dysfunctional team, a side run by old players, tight forwards at that, who will fall back on conservative ways.’
July 31st, 2010 at 1:44 am
@skopskiet(yliad)-200:
Im in 2 minds about The Tickler.
On 1 hand, delighted he has emigrated and taken a positive attitude to his new country, wherever that may be. Happier, still, that its my home country. He’s probably the kind of guy who puts something back in to the community whether it be thru school or church or a club. He’d be a great teacher, no nonsense. These guys are the backbone of NZ society, no less. He is contributor and, therefore, welcome.
On the other hand, I can understand that his overtly-antagonistic approach towards the peoples of his birth country are received with some pain. Im not particularly enamoured with 100% of the people of my birth country either, but Im not about to wave a red rag in their faces either. The question youve gotta ask is ‘Is it entirely necessary’ ? Im not sure.
The greatest aspect about Tickler is he has a point of difference here. Some get it through their style (hey Poora-geezer !), others like Tickler get it thru their content. And thank the Keo Gods for that !