No temptation to rest tiring stars
30 Aug 2010
Peter de Villiers says the fans’ desire to watch his senior players was the main reason for not resting them for the Boks’ final Tri-Nations Test.
After Saturday’s 44-31 win over Australia at Loftus, De Villiers was at pains to highlight how John Smit, Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana have already well exceeded the optimum playing time of between 1 400 and 1 600 minutes per season. Matfield and Smit were never going to be rested with all the fanfare of their 100th Tests over the past two weekends, but another dead-rubber Test in Bloemfontein provided a chance to grant them a deserved break.
The trio were again at Bok training on Monday however, and even though Smit and Habana especially are off form and look mentally and physically jaded, they are set to add to their playing time.
‘There was no temptation to rest players,’ said De Villiers. ‘I have to weigh up two things and I have to look for the perfect balance. I look at what the people want, and what they want to pay for when watching a Test. These are their heroes and they deserve to watch them. We also have to question when we will come back to Bloemfontein before the World Cup for a Test and when they’ll see them again.
‘The main point is, what are the little things I can do during the week to freshen them up so that they can go for 60 minutes on Saturday and make an impact. It’s not just about selecting a side and letting them play. It’s about considering the team’s role-players, and I consider the fans to be one of the most important of those.’
De Villiers’ ploy to freshen up the players since last year’s November tour and also during this year’s Tri-Nations has been to give the players additional rest days or have low-intensity training sessions. Monday’s practice fell into the latter category as it lasted one hour and consisted of some skills drills, lineouts and kicking between the backs.
De Villiers’ comments that the public want to watch players who are off-form and are not at their peak must also be questioned, as there were still gaping holes in the stands at Loftus even though he selected his strongest side of the year. Smit’s form has been spiralling since the start of the international season, and his waning playing ability was highlighted by Chiliboy Ralepelle’s influence in the final quarter.
Matfield lived up to expectations in his 100th Test, but Habana’s return to Pretoria saw his confidence dip to new lows as he played a full 80 minutes.
Despite De Villiers missing the opportunity to use the home-leg of the Tri-Nations to inject fresh life into the team via on-form Currie Cup players, he believes his plan is working.
‘If you take these past two games together, they provided a good platform for what we’re trying to achieve. If you add each stone on top of the other, it must be about reaching our goals until next year’s World Cup.’
By Grant Ball, in Bloemfontein
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105 Comments
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30 Aug 2010, 14:13 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-48: a valid old chestnut for the no 1.’s between WCs.
You have no answer…
30 Aug 2010, 14:17 pm
@Habana_is_a_kak_token_player(suffer_guy)-42:
And yet you keep following me around. Didn’t GBS make a happy home for your type there at RT. Go and share your sick stories of Blue Bulls players killing people. You seem to get off on it. I am proud that I stood up to rubbish like you, and that I was banned to show a point in how you ******** would bombard Roy with e-mails to get bloggers banned who didn’t share your thinking. To a point where you even threatend me personally. Go to RT. There is a place for you.
This blog doesn’t quake in fear of your kind, or the GBS lager. Those days are over. I won that fight. You guys left. Your blog is ****, admit it, hence the return here and the nic stealing from a few months ago. I get that you’re pissed, but your approach is stupid.
If you want to talk rugby, fine. But all you want to do is insult players of a certain race group, in fact, people of a certain race group and in the process you expose yourself to be what you are.
I’m sure that you will feel more comfortable with that approach at RT, since the place was designed for you to have that freedom. NOT HERE.
30 Aug 2010, 14:18 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-51: perhaps, but then again, I want my team to perform every game, not a two month period every 4 years..
should we name you guys England B? they seem to be the same… at least pre-isolation you guys tried to win every game, now you hide behind the building for the WC excuse..
and I thought Saffas loved their rugby, seems they only love a knockout tournament that theyve very rarely (in fact once, the final) deposed NZ from
30 Aug 2010, 14:19 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-45: Ook weer waar. That would have been sad.
30 Aug 2010, 14:22 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-53: I’ve often wondered about that. It appears that the players are tired. They ought to rest. The coach says they have played too many minutes, but he can’t rest them, because of a dead rubber match in a tournament that was won two weekends ago by the all blacks.
Above that, some Saffas seem to say they do not even care about winning the trinations or any other trophy, ONLY THE WORLD CUP. If this is so. Why the shoddy prep work for the WC2011? Makes no sense.
30 Aug 2010, 14:31 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-55: I dont understand why the ABs arent tired then? someone like Thorn , who is 35 is playing like he’s a young man again..
this fascination with the WC will mean eventually rugby will end up like soccer, (many think every game inbetween is now a “friendly” anyways), and I await the day we see the same sort of professionalism in RWCs..
many have called for tours to be reinstated, but why? the WC is the only thing they enjoy, it would be a waste of time returning to the true test of rugby sup[remacy…
seriously, beating Fiji, Argentina and Eng means you are the best side in the world? methinks not..
30 Aug 2010, 14:35 pm
Then i am not a fan because i dont wanna see Habana and Smit play again this year.
30 Aug 2010, 14:46 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-56: The Boks have been tired since losing regularly to the Blacks. They are tired during and after the Super Rugby comp. When the 3N kicks off and start losing they will become FATigue…Last year when the Boks were winning no one complained of being overplayed!….Lets wait for the EYOT for the tired Boks….Pathetic excuse
30 Aug 2010, 14:46 pm
You know what I actually agree with P Divvy here. If he believes this is the core group of players going to WC, then they need to finish off this TN tourno together and go through the highs and lows. IMO this will add to their experience, which could prove vital as they are struggling at present. After the TN is over, 1 more game they can have all the rest they need until S15. Going through tough times like this together helps, no matter how tired you are.
Also the Journos have been ripping into PDivvy for awhile now about various things and the one thing that keep popping up, is missing the opportunity to bring in fresh legs this old tired team. I wanna know – WHO? Who would these journos bring in that would make a bigger impact than the guys there right now? You cannot all scream Flo, Aplon and De Jongh as they were there already at the start. So could journo or anyone please inform me of who thos CC players would be?
30 Aug 2010, 14:49 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-53: Likewise NZ only win a rigged tournament – a 2 bit TV tournament that doesn’t display the true ability of a nation’s rugby strength because of surreptitious use of, lets say, kindly Irish refs and regular law fiddling.
So take that chestnut and shove it up your now precious (after “revenge”fully taking back your 3N), duplicitous, sheepshagging nought…
Your abs might be the std between WCs – but during, definitely not… England are at least as successful, so get off your mistakenly “superior” high horse…
30 Aug 2010, 14:53 pm
Despite what CT Stormersader twats say, the Boks are second to none… get rid of the lily livered Wepee players, replace them with Sharks, Cheetahs or Bulls and then the Boks will be cooking with gas… More ballas less Capetown hype…
30 Aug 2010, 15:08 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-17:
bwahahahahaha
30 Aug 2010, 15:15 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-46:
Habana_is_a_kak_token_player(suffer_guy) = Happy Sindane
30 Aug 2010, 15:23 pm
@wpw(wpw)-63:
LOL
I always wondered what happened to the poor boy. :lol
30 Aug 2010, 15:29 pm
@wpw(wpw)-63: hahahahahaha.
You guys are funny.
30 Aug 2010, 15:32 pm
On countless occassions it has been pointed out that P.DeV. is not, has never been and will never be a thinker in any aspect of this life.
He is a plain, simple Joe Average who has, all his life been subjected to struggling to make ends meet in mostly rural areas of S.A because he is Black(not white).
Here again, from HIS words, is more proof for that claim:
‘The main point is, what are the little things I can do during the week to freshen them up so that they can go for 60 minutes on Saturday and make an impact. It’s not just about selecting a side and letting them play. It’s about considering the team’s role-players, and I consider the fans to be one of the most important of those.’
Look at the last sentence in that paragraph”
[" It’s about considering the team’s role-players, and I consider the fans to be one of the most important of those.’]
Where I humbly ask is the connection between the words(‘idea’- “role-players”?) before the AND in that sentence and the words(‘idea?) after that AND in that very sentence?
Right, there is NONE. Stupid man just using stupid words making no point at all.
It is time for correct thinking rugby adherents(genuine non-racists) to accept that both HE(PDeV) and Hoskins have be placed in their respective positions because they are weak,non-thinking, led-by-the-nose-blacks.
They are simply figure-heads just good enough to carry out the rugby policy of the ‘verkrampte’ Afrikaans controllers who dominate and run the game. In short, this is no more than glorified window-dressing at its very best.
Remember rugby(professional) is a million Rand industry but who controls the S.A. economy, still?
30 Aug 2010, 15:32 pm
@ET(ET)-66:
be = been placed
30 Aug 2010, 15:42 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-15:
These questions by family members of the slain cop(below) strongly suggest that the car of the alleged drunk-driving rugby player was being escorted by an official police vehicle which, however lost them in that drive.
” Mogale’s uncle, Dichabe Mogale, is questioning where his colleagues had been when Roux allegedly assaulted him.
Another relative, Richard Taukobong, asked: “When has it ever happened that a police officer escorting someone they suspect of wrongdoing stops at a red robot?
“How do you let your colleague disappear from you when you are driving a state car with blue lights?” he wanted to know.
The family has been shattered by the loss of their only breadwinner and father of three. ” (Close quote).
These questions comes from an earlier report today.
“Bees’ Roux has much careful answering to complete sometime soon.
30 Aug 2010, 15:49 pm
@ET(ET)-68: I hope he gets whats coming to him – if he’s guilty. We dont want the same happening to him as what happened to OJ.
30 Aug 2010, 15:51 pm
Bolla hoe is Bloem?
30 Aug 2010, 15:59 pm
I’ve been behind PdV from day one and havent paid much attention to his rants. Like Jake my only major gripe has been not playing a fetcher but I must say these comments are seriously concerning to our chances of winning the WC next year…
30 Aug 2010, 16:09 pm
@ET(ET)-68: Farking moralising prat. What the hell do you know “Judge” Elliott.
Just another bitter “I-don’t-know-what-I-am”…
30 Aug 2010, 16:14 pm
@ET(ET)-66: “It is time for correct thinking rugby adherents(genuine non-racists) to accept that both HE(PDeV) and Hoskins have be placed in their respective positions because they are weak,non-thinking, led-by-the-nose-blacks.” – your comment.
Now, a question, considering your emphasis on hue: do you consider yourself black…?
30 Aug 2010, 16:16 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-60: a rigged tournament huh? wasnt last year was it?
bwahaha
back to your best boy george, back to your best…
which isnt much really..
them south sea island tokoloshes have really delved into the dark recesses of your psyche, so much so you are firmly entrenched in the conspiracy argument..
sure youre not PDV under an alias???
30 Aug 2010, 16:18 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-74: No conspiracy – its pretty blatant…
30 Aug 2010, 16:24 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-75: hahahahahah
it seems the ring of power has fallen into the hands of the unwavering tokoloshe, and that even the head of the orcs, aka gollum aka Heavens game,
is missing his precioussssssss
NASTY LITTLE HOBBITSES!
30 Aug 2010, 16:32 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-72:
I should just say “F-OFF!” but can’t resist saying that those are just the facts, and questions of his family members.
Being simply honest has never been and will never be your strong trait.
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-73:
F-OFF!
30 Aug 2010, 16:32 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-76: The only sure thing in NZ rugby when it really counts is your women’s team – they actually can win full RWC’s without the help of refs, law tinkering and rigged tournys….
They have ballas when the tough get going, unlike the precious ab handbag brandishers…
30 Aug 2010, 16:33 pm
@ET(ET)-77: No answer, hey dimwit?
30 Aug 2010, 16:34 pm
@ET(ET)-77: “my friend, Steve”…
30 Aug 2010, 16:36 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-78: hahaha or like the SA youth sides? they seem to struggle too dont they?
getting desperate now boy george, best you run along to France again..
30 Aug 2010, 16:41 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-81: The Sa youth sides are a matter of black an white, quite clearly. That is no true reflection of talent at junior level or their coaches – call it Sa’s own self-imposed handicap called quotas for players and coaches at age group – thank goodness for that, because kiwis would then truly realise that they are not no 1. and without that…? just a life filled with revenge…
30 Aug 2010, 16:42 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-82: it should be just a life filled with unfulfilled revenge…
little sheepshagger, hobbit, orc…
30 Aug 2010, 16:46 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-79: @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-80:
” F-OFF!”
30 Aug 2010, 16:48 pm
@ET(ET)-84: Clearly no answer…
Intellectual vacuum indicative of your almER mater
30 Aug 2010, 17:09 pm
LOL
How can PDV say the seniors need rest but he cant rest them because the public want to see them play?
Is this oke brain dead? We all want the young guns to be given a chance to prove there worth 3 stooges!!!
We all so tired of the same old same old lame duck fat gat useless bloody players…..need some fizz there….not stale beer!!
30 Aug 2010, 17:43 pm
@grant10(grant10)-86: where have you EVER heard such kak? Imagine this:
‘Graham Henry says he won’t enforce the 3 week layoff conditioning and rest program that the conditioning experts have recommended for All Black captain Richie McCaw and other senior team members because the fans in New Zealand say they want to see all their first choice all blacks when they buy their tickets.’
30 Aug 2010, 17:46 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-87: exactly mate….we are amateurs posing as the manne….
Light years behind!
30 Aug 2010, 18:30 pm
@grant10(grant10)-86: yeah that doesn’t make good sense….
30 Aug 2010, 19:39 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-4:
Here’s a bit of a repost:
The Police didn’t follow protocol, and now one of their comrades is dead.
1) Why wasn’t Bees handcuffed?
2) Why wasn’t Bees given the breathalyzer test?
3) Where were the other 2 patrolling police officers?
4) 30 minutes ater the incident, Bees’ credit card was used to buy McDonalds.
5) Why would you climb into a car with a 120Kg man suspected of drunk driving? With no backup and no patrol vehicle following.
6) They claim the other two policeman were too traumatized to explain what happened, yet they arrived after the paramedics. It seems they were surprized and needed to get their story straightened out.
It seems to me that the policemen were trying to hijack Bees Roux, they already stole his credit card, and were expecting Mohale to do the rest of the job, and got a nasty surprize.
If Bees Roux was found in the early hours of Friday Morning the 27th, dead in a ditch along the N1, the very same police would have been thousands richer, and none of those blacks would be protesting against “racially motivated murder”, their protest is ironically racist.
Don’t be so surprized, we all know how corrupt South Africa’s police are and how crime-friendly our government is. Hell, even the Police commissioner himself is the most corrupt of the lot, the intelligence minister’s wife is smuggling cocaine in from Columbia and journalists are being arrested for investigations not even published yet, and the deputy-president-to-be is calling for the mass slaughter of all Afrikaners and farmers. (Farmers, whom by the way feed 1500 mouths per farmer in this country. Kill 1 farmer and guess what happens to production and pricing.)
30 Aug 2010, 22:12 pm
Poppa 69
Our rugby administration is run by fools,from Hoskins to the coaching staff….Pieter De Villiers,Muir and Gold.We have far better coaches,Heyneke Meyer,Mallet,Alistair Coetzee and Alan Solomons are good examples yet they are not involved in any capacity with the Bok setup.
Shoddy sub standard coaching and a lack of any clear thought,logic and planning with regards to how our rugby should be managed.
Mallet fired…. because he spoke the truth about tickets being over-priced.He had the fans best interests at heart and told SARU exactly what he thought of them !
Alistair Coetzee often criticised when the Boks went through a bad patch under Jake White…..yet was it not Coetzee that surprised the All Blacks with the very effective “rush-defence” !
Alan Solomons is involved with the Kings in the Eastern Cape….he should be closer to our national side.
Like i said a few weeks back….a fish rots from the head.Time to get rid of the clowns running SA rugby.
30 Aug 2010, 22:15 pm
And that means getting rid of Hoskins, P De Villiers,Gold,Muir and selectors Jooste and McIntosh imho
30 Aug 2010, 22:50 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-82:
3-0
I laughed last week when you cried and said you were leaving Keo,you are really a sore and pathetic loser.
3-0…….3-0……..3-0
Keep shining the only trophy you have cos thats coming back to NZ next year. Unlike your win in 2007,NZ will have to beat top sides to win it so it will be the true #1 team in the world winning the RWC,it doesnt get any better. When that happens i suppose you can fall back on your crying of conpiracies,as long as you believe them then all is good.
30 Aug 2010, 23:27 pm
People are hard to please.
Picking form players does not guarantee victory. Had Pdv picked a team of form players and lost the games this article would be having a go at him for not picking experienced players.
Regardless of the team winning or losing all of these articles find only the negatives.
GO BOKS
31 Aug 2010, 00:22 am
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers had a simple statement for all those critical of the national team even though they had won this weekend: Either you’re for us or you’re against us.
“The team has closed the laager. We don’t care about what people say on the outside, it doesn’t hurt us anymore,” De Villiers said.
He does not like criticism, does he?
31 Aug 2010, 00:48 am
Heavens gate sounds like an English supporter, a typical whining Pom and the sort of ignorant fan who knows nothing about Rugby that this idiot De Villiers is trying to pander towards.
If you really believe that the Kiwi administrators are buying off referees so that they can win what you claim is a 2 bit tournament then I would suggest you should back them for the worldcup where they will also of course buy off referee’s.
The tri-nations are the true world championship because it reflects more evenly and fairly who the best is over a series of games against the 3 best teams in the world, rather than in the worldcup for SA and NZ one single game in the semi’s or final that can go either way on the day. Last year the Bokke were the best, this year its the Black, stop being a little girl and just accept this fact.
31 Aug 2010, 00:53 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-93:
You guys are no better than HG. You whinge just as much and are equal if not more arrogant than he …………so now you have already won the WC in 2010?? F u k you blokes never learn…..I predict some tears come 2011 WC, big time !!
31 Aug 2010, 07:52 am
This Bees Roux story just got very very strange…..not so straight forward anymore.
I will put my head on a block and say there is more than meets the eye on this topic. Why did he keep on shouting to the officer “so you think you can steal my car?” why was his credit card used 30mins after the incident? where were the metro cop’s collueges during the arrest and why did the cop get in his car and drive him away from the police station…rather in the opposite direction?
31 Aug 2010, 08:15 am
What the vuck is this dumb vucker talking about? The people would rather see the Springboks win than see “stars”. The people would never mind if the coach had chosen to rest some of the older players before a world cup season. Peter D is a vucking twat. He has to balance the books, it’s got nothing to do with the players or there physical and mental welfare.
31 Aug 2010, 08:53 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-58: I agree with you about it being **** about ‘tiring’, but the rest of your comment that no-one complained last season is completely untrue. With the away-leg most of those complaining now wanted the senior players to be rested.
So… what you’re saying about them overplayed is true, but don’t make obvious false statements like that.
Habana missed a number of S14 games due to injury at the start of the series. Can’t see how he can have the same number of minutes on the field as Victor and John. Please drop him and give Basson a chance to settle in the team!!!!!
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