After 4 consecutive losses in this year’s Tri-Nations, Peter de Villiers deserves to be playing for his job in the next 2 matches against Australia.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers
I have always been prepared to give de Villiers my support, and think optimistically of his ability, but the time has come for the Springbok coach to deliver.
SARU President Oregan Hoskins has stated that Peter de Villiers was appointed on more than just rugby coaching credentials. At the end of the day however, a coach needs to be responsible for results.
RESULTS
In 2008 de Villiers inherited a World Cup winning squad, and came last in the Tri-Nations. The end of year tour was average until the last game against England.
In 2009, the Boks won everything there was to win with the British and Irish Lions series, the Tri-Nations, the Nelson Mandela plate (agasint Australia) and the Freedom Cup (against New Zealand).
I saw firsthand just how happy and content the majority of the squad was, and praised de Villiers for stepping back from the limelight when the players won.
The 2009 end of year tour however was a disaster with losses to Leicester, Saracens, France and Ireland.
2010 has been way below average, and there are signs the Boks are regressing rather than progressing. Coming after both the Bulls and Stormers dominated the Super 14, de Villiers has been outcoached by sides with lesser talent.
In his 3 years in charge, de Villiers has little to show for his time, baring a first ever win in Dunedin, New Zealand, and last years Lions series and Tri-Nations. Considering the talent he has at his disposal, I would suggest that is just not good enough.
RESPONSIBILITY
Off the field de Villiers has been a joke. We can no longer put up with his metaphors and ramblings without backing it up on the field. Most disappointing has been his refusal to accept blame for defeats, there is always an excuse.
While I accept the Boks are often on the receiving end of poor decisions, the coach has to take responsibility and lead from the front.
TACTICS
Tactically de Villiers has been found wanting. The composition and use of the bench leaves much to be desired, and some of his selections such as Davon Raubenheimer and Bandise Maku have just been poor.
The biggest issue I see with the Boks is the lack of constructive play. We have such great backs, but they never get the ball in space. This is because the side rarely takes the ball through phases, can hold onto the ball, and run into space.
After returning from overseas de Villiers said, “The problems have been identified and we have made small adjustments. But what I really think went wrong was that we were caught up in two styles of play. In the past when the Sharks and Bulls dominated our team, they both had similar styles of play, but now that it is the Bulls and Stormers dominating things aren’t the same.”
“We perhaps took it for granted that everyone was in the same place and never took the necessary time or had the necessary time to make sure everyone was on the same page. We’ve fixed that” said de Villiers.
If that is the case, it indicates a very confused and poorly coached side.
NEW COACH?
When looking at the Bulls and Stormers one sees 2 very well-coached outfits. They progress each season, and from week to week. When they suffer a loss they learn, rectify their mistakes and do not lose 2 weeks in a row. The same should apply to the Boks.
When looking at the winning percentages of Richie McCaw/Graham Henry v John Smit/Peter de Villiers, there is a massive difference. Like most Bok supporters I don’t accept mediocrity, and excuses.
Oregan Hoskins has stated that de Villiers’ coaching job is safe, and he will be the coach until after the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Even if de Villiers beats the Aussies twice I think he should step down. If he loses one he’ll feel the pressure, and if he does the unthinkable and loses both games, he may have the backing of his bosses, but he’ll feel the heat from the South African rugby public!
A change of coach is not ideal, especially just over 12 months from a World Cup. Stormers and Western Province coach Allister Coetzee could step and in and take the job, but I’d rather see Jake White return.
White has publicly stated he wants his old job back. He knows the majority of the players and could take over very easily. He may also not be the world’s greatest attacking coach, but he’d give the side great structure, and have a clear idea of how he wants the Boks to defend their world title.
I know I’d be much more confident heading into the Rugby World Cup with Jake White at the helm!
Giday,
Keep De Villiers as South African coach until after the world cup !
Regards,
djb
An All Black fan
Hey Dave…yeah I’m sure you’re happy!
I’m just hoping the AB’s are peaking too early once again…they’re good at that!
I agree with your comments until the part where you say that Jake White should return as coach. It won’t happen and the truth is I don’t want him to coach the team again since he has had his time and done well. I think people like Allister Coetzee, Frans Ludeke or Heyneke Meyer should be considered. They are all three very good coaches. In fact I would make Meyer coach and his forwards coach could be Ludeke and backs coach Coetzee. Gold and Muir are as bad as PDV…they all need to go. Plus I would get Eddie Jones back as a consultant!
Hey Bhups,
I agree 100% with what you say about the Assistant coaches too.
I doubt Jake would get back as the President’s council don’t like him. But it makes sense to me.
For a start it wouldn’t be fair to another coach to only have 12 months until the World Cup. Jake knows most of the players, and tactics wouldn’t have to change much.
Secondly, Jake would definitely bring Eddie Jones with him. And possibly use Coetzee. The other possibility is to appoint Coetzee and have Jake assisting him.
I think Meyer, Ludeke and Coetzee are the obvious choices after the 2011 World Cup.
The same game plan, same result …….to be honest, its taken almost 17 years and finally south Africa has decide to compete at the break downs but still their support at the break downs were found wanting, which unfortunately led to the last try and the all blacks winning the game. I personally think that this rough patch we experiencing at the moment could be good for us in the long run, going forward to next year, we know now what to work on, but I still, think that the management are just messing things up I mean their selections….. pick the inform players eg no 8 lets be honest duane vermulan or willem alberts makes a far better choice, then the scrum half postion what a joke, come on who are they trying to fool, then it’s the full back position, franz played in the wales test then suddenly he disappeared, he is the key to our back line, if you watch this kid play, you cant help but think, if he were to included in the all blacks or aussie teams what would he, be doing to the opposition.
My suggestion to the springbok management, eddie jones and jake white
Eddie jones made a massive difference in 2007. make use on the width of the field, move the ball through the hands, when last have we seen the springboks take the ball through the phases successfully, as for our backline, it seems our backline should be coming together nicely, I think this weekend against the aussies, with fourie, steyn and hopefully j.p is fit, our backline will show much more attitude hopefully we win the next two.
Hi Ahmed,
Thanks for your comments.
The Springbok backline has been awful, and you are right we don’t create anything out wide. Both the Bulls and Stormers showed we have the players to do it.
I think the problems come from our tight five who aren’t dominating, and our back row aren’t giving us go forward. In the Soweto match I can’t recall Juan de Jongh ever running in any space, let alone being able to create space for our wingers. Surely the coaches have to be held accountable?
Hi All
Sanjay first of all I want to say well done on a very good article.
I think it is clear to us that Div will not be replaced. He is a political appointment with the potential to haunt springbok rugby for ever. Seeing that he isn’t going to be replaced maybe bringing Edie Jones back will just make the difference the springboks need.
Deon
Hi Deon,
Thanks for the compliment.
I doubt Div would ever use Eddie Jones. It’s a shame because I thought he was more intelligent than that, but he appears to have learnt very little.
It is possible that with such good players, they’ll come back strongly next year having had a decent rest, but it all depends what they do on the end of year tour.
hi there guys
great website, sanjay
i guess we all agree on the coaching aspect
sanjay mentioned the tight five issue, i think its much more than that. i have been a springbok supporter for the past 20 years and its almost the same game plan being used over and over again. our philosophy of rugby is smash it up and hope some thing gives. how many times have we seen springbok players step, try and beat a player on the inside when running down the touch line or draw the opposition and put their supporting player into space, as for our forwards, well they tackle the opposition and just lay there were else when our tri nation mates tackle their opposition they either get up and compete for the ball our they reload on defense or reset for an attacking move.
Lets look at the Soweto game, henry said conditioning won them the game. That’s the key to both aussie and new Zealand teams together with a potent running game. If you watch them play you will noticed that all 15 players are involved, be it ruckking or running the ball from deep. Saturday was a perfect eg , can you recall the first two tries ? they were scored by forwards. Alot of these players have 7s experience and their philosophy is run the ball, that’s how rugby was discovered let me give you an eg : junior rugby world cup south Africa was hammered more than 50 points , women’s world cup s.a was hammered more than 50 points , tri nations s.a, 3 games against the all blacks over 90 points conceded.
Now lets look at our lose forwards, during the super 14, which players put their hands up? willem alberts, duane vermulan, kegan daniels, franz louw, burger and peter louw, the list goes on, our lose forwards need to be redefined, the a.b and aussies play their no 7 as a fetcher eg Waugh, smith, pocock and mcaw as for us we are still uncertain as to who is our fetcher.i believe our no 7 jersey should go to players like kegan daniels, peter louw players who are quick on their feet, can get around the park and are not afraid to get in there and get the job done, no 7 should be our fetcher, at the moment there is no body besides, louw or broussow being used as a fetcher or trying to be used.
The amount of talent wave got in s.a is unbelievable, we could have 2 or 3 springbok teams with capable benches, just a few years ago, almost, including the all blacks had s.a “grown “ players in their team
The answer to our problems is foreign coaches, look at the sharks and the lions and bulls yes they were influenced by a very capable aussie and it was good to see , peter roussouw carried on with his philosophy with an addition to his own brilliants
Hi Ahmed,
Thanks for your detailed response. Am I allowed to put that in an article and post it on my site?
You are very passionate, and I understand your frustration. You make a great point about our players. I have always felt it’s the coaching that makes the difference. Most of the Boks were great in the Super 14, but the Bulls guys especially have looked awful for the Boks. Is it just that Div doesn’t know how to get the best out of them??