Steve
06-30-2009, 09:23 AM
Div set to mend fences
2009-06-30 10:01
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Peter de Villiers (File)
Johannesburg - This is the week in which Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers is being taken to task by the SA Rugby Union for his strange and sometimes racist utterances in company of, and also directed at, the media.
The management committee of SARU has mandated the union's president Oregan Hoskins, to speak to the coach who has alienated himself from the South African and overseas media and, in the opinion of some overseas pressman, ridiculed himself and "embarrassed" South African rugby.
It is indeed a pity - and something that Hoskins will probably address -that De Villiers declined the opportunity for "media training" to make his relationship with the press an easier and happier one.
That to a large degree would have prevented the reluctance of the media to ask him questions which are now increasingly being directed at his captain John Smit or other panel members at press conferences.
There has been an increase in criticism of the coach in recent weeks, which now openly ridicules De Villiers - and by implication, the Springbok management and the country's rugby in general.
The under-pressure coach has often been quick to accuse journalists of racism when he comes under fire.
But a large portion of this criticism comes from writers who are not white, as pointed out by website planetrugby.com's Danny Stephens: "Three columnists in the past week alone have written highly critical reviews of him, not one of them white, all of them concerned at his apparent non-sporting agenda.
"One white columnist confided in me that he felt unable to write a similar tome as he felt too pressured by that agenda.
"Add to all of this the contempt and rudeness with which he treats the media and you complete the picture of a man who simply cannot rise to the challenge of being an ambassador, either for the game or for his country...
"De Villiers also did not endear himself to the media at the meeting on Monday with statements such as 'I'm a God-given talent' and insisting that he did not think the eye-gouging of Schalk Burger was in fact just that.
On a somewhat funny but ultimately macabre manner, he referred to the spate of injuries to Springbok players: "It's like being in an accident. If somebody dies in a car accident you just replace them and that's what we will have to do."
It must be remembered that De Villiers' utterances are widely publicised overseas - and the media play a huge role in portraying South African rugby for what it is overseas.
To that end, the following helped to further divide the Bok management and the media: "I'm not ducking the issue. It's just that I'm working within the system.
"I'm not like you (the media), who have no systems."
Even before the start of the Lions tour, De Villiers ruffled media feathers when he informed sports editors at a "closed" meeting that the press in South Africa were technically ignorant - a harsh statement for a group with a number of provincial coaches among them.
He has gone further after the first Test ten days ago, as written by Gavin Rich in superrugby.co.za: "A former Springbok coach once got into hot water for suggesting South Africans don't have a great knowledge of rugby, and it seems that De Villiers is saying something similar now.
"If that is the case, he is insulting the greatest stake-holders in the game, those who make him who he is."
And: "The coach himself admitted on Saturday night he got it wrong, to turn around now and suggest not only did he not get it wrong, but should have made the changes sooner, is disingenuous.
"Everyone who knows the slightest thing about rugby and watched Saturday's game, knows who got it wrong, and why the Boks almost lost.
"But it is De Villiers's latest little parable to explain his selections, this time Ricky Januarie, that should really be taken issue with.
"This is what De Villiers said about Januarie on Monday: 'I am not concerned about Ricky's form. Look, if you go to a black mechanic and he doesn't fix your car, you don't go back. If you go to a white mechanic and he doesn't fix your car, you go back and make sure he fixes the problem. What I am saying is give Ricky a chance.'"
Too often the racist card has been played by de Villiers, the most infamous being the retort to a senior and respected Black journalist to make up his mind whether he is Black or White when enquiring about a De Villiers selection of the player of colour.
The media have become more outspoken about what they perceive as someone who is out of his depth coaching the world's topside at international level after only a rather unsuccessful provincial stint with the Valke and then the national junior sides.
In another of his columns, Rich queried the input of the De Villiers into the coaching of the team: "It is hardly a secret any more that the senior players run the Springbok team. And rightly so if you consider the success they have enjoyed, and the Super 14 and World Cup medals held by some key members of the side."
Just like Rich queried De Villiers' credentials as coach, Tank Lanning, former Western Province prop and a columnist for sport24.com, has been very blunt in his assertion that De Villiers is not up to the task as a coach.
"I have supported Peter de Villiers from the get go, but my oath, the man has now been exposed for the fraud he is."
Perhaps agreeing to the media training previously suggested - but rejected by De Villiers - could help to swing some support back to him.
2009-06-30 10:01
Email (javascript:void(0);) | Print (javascript:window.print())
http://cdn.24.com/files/Cms/General/d/189/8166adad0e914cf7974adff709b5eedd.jpg
Peter de Villiers (File)
Johannesburg - This is the week in which Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers is being taken to task by the SA Rugby Union for his strange and sometimes racist utterances in company of, and also directed at, the media.
The management committee of SARU has mandated the union's president Oregan Hoskins, to speak to the coach who has alienated himself from the South African and overseas media and, in the opinion of some overseas pressman, ridiculed himself and "embarrassed" South African rugby.
It is indeed a pity - and something that Hoskins will probably address -that De Villiers declined the opportunity for "media training" to make his relationship with the press an easier and happier one.
That to a large degree would have prevented the reluctance of the media to ask him questions which are now increasingly being directed at his captain John Smit or other panel members at press conferences.
There has been an increase in criticism of the coach in recent weeks, which now openly ridicules De Villiers - and by implication, the Springbok management and the country's rugby in general.
The under-pressure coach has often been quick to accuse journalists of racism when he comes under fire.
But a large portion of this criticism comes from writers who are not white, as pointed out by website planetrugby.com's Danny Stephens: "Three columnists in the past week alone have written highly critical reviews of him, not one of them white, all of them concerned at his apparent non-sporting agenda.
"One white columnist confided in me that he felt unable to write a similar tome as he felt too pressured by that agenda.
"Add to all of this the contempt and rudeness with which he treats the media and you complete the picture of a man who simply cannot rise to the challenge of being an ambassador, either for the game or for his country...
"De Villiers also did not endear himself to the media at the meeting on Monday with statements such as 'I'm a God-given talent' and insisting that he did not think the eye-gouging of Schalk Burger was in fact just that.
On a somewhat funny but ultimately macabre manner, he referred to the spate of injuries to Springbok players: "It's like being in an accident. If somebody dies in a car accident you just replace them and that's what we will have to do."
It must be remembered that De Villiers' utterances are widely publicised overseas - and the media play a huge role in portraying South African rugby for what it is overseas.
To that end, the following helped to further divide the Bok management and the media: "I'm not ducking the issue. It's just that I'm working within the system.
"I'm not like you (the media), who have no systems."
Even before the start of the Lions tour, De Villiers ruffled media feathers when he informed sports editors at a "closed" meeting that the press in South Africa were technically ignorant - a harsh statement for a group with a number of provincial coaches among them.
He has gone further after the first Test ten days ago, as written by Gavin Rich in superrugby.co.za: "A former Springbok coach once got into hot water for suggesting South Africans don't have a great knowledge of rugby, and it seems that De Villiers is saying something similar now.
"If that is the case, he is insulting the greatest stake-holders in the game, those who make him who he is."
And: "The coach himself admitted on Saturday night he got it wrong, to turn around now and suggest not only did he not get it wrong, but should have made the changes sooner, is disingenuous.
"Everyone who knows the slightest thing about rugby and watched Saturday's game, knows who got it wrong, and why the Boks almost lost.
"But it is De Villiers's latest little parable to explain his selections, this time Ricky Januarie, that should really be taken issue with.
"This is what De Villiers said about Januarie on Monday: 'I am not concerned about Ricky's form. Look, if you go to a black mechanic and he doesn't fix your car, you don't go back. If you go to a white mechanic and he doesn't fix your car, you go back and make sure he fixes the problem. What I am saying is give Ricky a chance.'"
Too often the racist card has been played by de Villiers, the most infamous being the retort to a senior and respected Black journalist to make up his mind whether he is Black or White when enquiring about a De Villiers selection of the player of colour.
The media have become more outspoken about what they perceive as someone who is out of his depth coaching the world's topside at international level after only a rather unsuccessful provincial stint with the Valke and then the national junior sides.
In another of his columns, Rich queried the input of the De Villiers into the coaching of the team: "It is hardly a secret any more that the senior players run the Springbok team. And rightly so if you consider the success they have enjoyed, and the Super 14 and World Cup medals held by some key members of the side."
Just like Rich queried De Villiers' credentials as coach, Tank Lanning, former Western Province prop and a columnist for sport24.com, has been very blunt in his assertion that De Villiers is not up to the task as a coach.
"I have supported Peter de Villiers from the get go, but my oath, the man has now been exposed for the fraud he is."
Perhaps agreeing to the media training previously suggested - but rejected by De Villiers - could help to swing some support back to him.