This was in a New Zealand paper I believe and I agree with all of it, you will remember our "transformation" debate awhile ago, Fish_man.
Time for the "puppet" to perform
It is time for Peter de Villiers to show that he is up to coaching at the highest-level in the international arena.
The Springbok coach, who was labelled a "puppet" by ex-All Black Craig Dowd last month, is finding out the harsh realities about how tough test rugby is coaching-wise.
But instead of making any meaningful changes to the Springboks over the past month, de Villiers has instead wasted too much of his energy becoming the biggest mouth in world rugby.
On Planet de Villiers, his side's woes haven't been down to a game-plan which doesn't suit his players.
No, instead those cheating All Blacks and poor refereeing are to blame.
Under de Villiers, the world champs are at a very real risk of being transformed into world chumps. In fact he has handed the Boks as easy meat to us.
On the strength of the past month, while de Villiers can talk a good game, whether he can coach one still remains to be seen.
Dowd was spot-on with his criticism of de Villiers.
He is a political pawn, a successful age-grade coach who was partly given the Bok coaching job because of the dark colour of his skin.
The fact that he would help push through transformation in Springbok rugby (transformation meaning more black and coloured faces in the team), and not his coaching pedigree, was touched on by SA Rugby officials at the time of his appointment.
It truly was a bizarre move from SARU considering it really has the chance to push-on and capitalise following the Boks' impressive World Cup victory.
Considering that, what they should have done was to find the best coach for the job. But no, they opt for some high school coach who has absolute no experience at all.
Before being handed the Springbok gig, he had not achieved anything at the highest-level of franchise rugby under test level.
In fact, he had not even been a head coach in the Super Rugby format.
I have attended de Villiers press sessions before and after three tests in the 2008 Tri Nations - the two against the All Blacks in New Zealand and last month's loss to the Wallabies in Perth.
While his verbal offerings might be entertaining, it is not because he is filling the room with a lot of sense.
Instead de Villiers comes across as someone who is not operating in a level which suits his coaching ability.
And it is not just the media who are left with smirks on their faces during his rambling efforts.
On the eve of the clash in Perth, where he again had a shot at officials and perceived cheating opponents, his assistants, willy Muir in particular, were clearly trying to hide smirks on their bemused faces following some of de Villiers' off-tangent rantings.
If the Springboks are to do well in their remaining Tri Nations matches, it will have a lot to do with the work of Muir, fellow assistant coach Gary Gold and the remaining senior players in the Bok side.
However he is starting to sorely test the patience of his senior pros, giving them a verbal spray too in the build-up to the Durban clash.
It is hard to imagine his players are over-joyed at his ongoing attacks on officials either.
Are you too sick of de Villiers' constant moaning?
Do you think any of his points are valid?
And do you too think SA Rugby are now starting to regret selecting an inferior coach for the Springboks?
Edit: I would just like to say that I remember watching the Cricket a week or two ago when Geoffrey Boycott and Shawn Pollock were commentating. Geoffrey Boycott, as always, was being his usual self and he asked Shawn Pollock why Andre' Nel wasn't playing seeing as he is in good form and not injured. Shawn replied saying, "I know why but I can't say" - (
not entirely sure of the exact wording but it was somewhere along those lines). Geoffrey Boycott said "just say it" and Shawn spilled the beans that our Cricket team must have 4 players of colour per game and that they only have 3 players of colour on tour and they have to play. Geoffrey Boycott immediately said "I knew it", "that's what I wanted to hear" - (
not entirely sure of the exact wording but it was somewhere along those lines).
With all this said, before our last game against New Zealand at Newlands there was open controversy about the selection. Pieter De Villiers had replaced Conrad Janjes for Percy Montgomery at full back aswell as replacing Enrico Januarie' for Fourie Du Preez at scrum half. Our corruption free Government were not happy that two players of colour were being replaced. This put undesirable pressure on Percy Montgomery and Fourie Du Preez. They both had a bad game.
Transformation has been lingering around and I can't really be for or against it because worse happened during apartheid but that's in the past, I do however sternly believe in the "best player for the job" saying.
We have a sensitive media, I understand that, rather keep quiet than get grilled in the media, i'll opt for that but there are quite a few people which I wont mention that should voice their opinions without leniency or possible fear of getting grilled in the media. They are in the publics eye, they have the power to speak their mind whether it be in the news, on a sports show like Boots N All or even in a newspaper. I'm sure many people will agree with them. I have seen some Sports Journalists at Super Sports website touching on a few of the issues but there is too much leniency.
This article which i've quoted above is close to what I believe. It has no leniency or fear in it and they hit our couch hard. We need this sort of journalism here, otherwise there will be no pressure on the people calling the shots and this will continue and our Rugby will keep falling.
No Saru panic if Boks lose ->
http://www.supersport.co.za/rugby/artic ... &id=266751
