Springbok
01-09-2008, 07:55 PM
http://www.supersport.co.za/rugby/common/articles/table_cnr_tr.gifDe Villiers follows Jake’s footsteps
by Gavin Rich | 09 January 2008 (14:08)
http://images.supersport.co.za/DeVilliersPieter060602GLbg.jpgPeter de Villiers © Gallo Images
The South African Rugby Union finally put an end to the speculation on Wednesday as Peter de Villiers was appointed as the man who will succeed Jake White as the Springbok coach.
De Villiers edged out the other front-runner, the former Bulls Super 14 winning coach Heyneke Meyer, after what was described as an exhaustive and thorough series of interviews conducted in Cape Town over the past few days.
The 50-year-old De Villiers will be South Africa’s first black national coach as the country seeks to step into a new era and speed up the transformation process which continues to be the one blot on the face of an otherwise successful sporting code.
Although De Villiers does not boast the senior level credentials of Meyer, who apart from the Super 14 title also won several Currie Cup titles with the Bulls, his supporters would be justified in arguing that he has tread a similar path to White.
Like the World Cup winning coach, De Villiers comes into the position having coached the SA under-21 team to the world title. Like White, he was also the losing finalist on one occasion. De Villiers also coached the Emerging Springboks to victory in the inaugural IRB tournament last year.
De Villiers enjoyed reasonable success as coach of the financially limited Falcons union in the early part of this decade, with the Falcons at one stage challenging for a place in the Currie Cup semi-finals during the 2001 season. It is understood he only parted ways with the Falcons due to a disagreement with some of the more conservative board members.
The other candidates who went through the final interview process were White’s assistant Allister Coetzee and former Springbok wing Chester Williams. They were always going to be bit players in the process, with Meyer heavily favoured and De Villiers also strongly in the running.
It is understood that De Villiers had the support of some big players behind the scenes, and while history has been made with the appointment of a black coach, don’t bet on too much changing in terms of Bok selection. It is believed De Villiers has already given John Smit an undertaking that he will continue with him as Springbok captain and he wants to retain the bulk of the squad that won the World Cup.
De Villiers’ appointment was confirmed after a meeting of the Saru Presidents’ Council earlier on Wednesday at Newlands. President Oregan Hoskins said he was happy with the choice made by the selection committee.
“Peter comes with a good record and strong recommendation and I am delighted that he has accepted this huge challenge,” said Hoskins.
“South African rugby is on top of the world at the moment and SARU is confident that the new coach will build on this great momentum and move us into a new era.
“Peter has created history today by becoming the first black person to coach the Springboks. He is a strong leader and a coach with a proven track record. We trust that the rugby fraternity will support him and the team as we embark on an exciting new phase of rugby in South Africa.
“I am sure that Peter will make a major contribution to our rugby,” added Hoskins.
However, De Villiers's promise as a coach who could increase the speed of transformation of a largely white team weighed just as strongly in his favour with SARU, said Hoskins.
"I want to be honest with South Africa and say that the appointment was not entirely made for rugby reasons," said Hoskins.
"We as an organisation have made the appointment and taken into account the issue of transformation very very seriously when we made it. I don't think that tarnishes Peter - I'm just being honest with our country."
De Villiers said: "You dream of being a Springbok player and if you can't be a player you dream of being a Springbok coach and that has become a reality for me now. "I am very privileged to be in this position of taking over a great squad of players but this is where the hard work begins. To make wholesale changes would be stupid." There are well sourced rumours circulating that White has agreed to act as De Villiers’ adviser over the next few years. De Villiers’ first assignment as Bok coach will be in the one-off test against Italy in June, a team ironically coached one of his predecessors in the hot-seat, Nick Mallett.
by Gavin Rich | 09 January 2008 (14:08)
http://images.supersport.co.za/DeVilliersPieter060602GLbg.jpgPeter de Villiers © Gallo Images
The South African Rugby Union finally put an end to the speculation on Wednesday as Peter de Villiers was appointed as the man who will succeed Jake White as the Springbok coach.
De Villiers edged out the other front-runner, the former Bulls Super 14 winning coach Heyneke Meyer, after what was described as an exhaustive and thorough series of interviews conducted in Cape Town over the past few days.
The 50-year-old De Villiers will be South Africa’s first black national coach as the country seeks to step into a new era and speed up the transformation process which continues to be the one blot on the face of an otherwise successful sporting code.
Although De Villiers does not boast the senior level credentials of Meyer, who apart from the Super 14 title also won several Currie Cup titles with the Bulls, his supporters would be justified in arguing that he has tread a similar path to White.
Like the World Cup winning coach, De Villiers comes into the position having coached the SA under-21 team to the world title. Like White, he was also the losing finalist on one occasion. De Villiers also coached the Emerging Springboks to victory in the inaugural IRB tournament last year.
De Villiers enjoyed reasonable success as coach of the financially limited Falcons union in the early part of this decade, with the Falcons at one stage challenging for a place in the Currie Cup semi-finals during the 2001 season. It is understood he only parted ways with the Falcons due to a disagreement with some of the more conservative board members.
The other candidates who went through the final interview process were White’s assistant Allister Coetzee and former Springbok wing Chester Williams. They were always going to be bit players in the process, with Meyer heavily favoured and De Villiers also strongly in the running.
It is understood that De Villiers had the support of some big players behind the scenes, and while history has been made with the appointment of a black coach, don’t bet on too much changing in terms of Bok selection. It is believed De Villiers has already given John Smit an undertaking that he will continue with him as Springbok captain and he wants to retain the bulk of the squad that won the World Cup.
De Villiers’ appointment was confirmed after a meeting of the Saru Presidents’ Council earlier on Wednesday at Newlands. President Oregan Hoskins said he was happy with the choice made by the selection committee.
“Peter comes with a good record and strong recommendation and I am delighted that he has accepted this huge challenge,” said Hoskins.
“South African rugby is on top of the world at the moment and SARU is confident that the new coach will build on this great momentum and move us into a new era.
“Peter has created history today by becoming the first black person to coach the Springboks. He is a strong leader and a coach with a proven track record. We trust that the rugby fraternity will support him and the team as we embark on an exciting new phase of rugby in South Africa.
“I am sure that Peter will make a major contribution to our rugby,” added Hoskins.
However, De Villiers's promise as a coach who could increase the speed of transformation of a largely white team weighed just as strongly in his favour with SARU, said Hoskins.
"I want to be honest with South Africa and say that the appointment was not entirely made for rugby reasons," said Hoskins.
"We as an organisation have made the appointment and taken into account the issue of transformation very very seriously when we made it. I don't think that tarnishes Peter - I'm just being honest with our country."
De Villiers said: "You dream of being a Springbok player and if you can't be a player you dream of being a Springbok coach and that has become a reality for me now. "I am very privileged to be in this position of taking over a great squad of players but this is where the hard work begins. To make wholesale changes would be stupid." There are well sourced rumours circulating that White has agreed to act as De Villiers’ adviser over the next few years. De Villiers’ first assignment as Bok coach will be in the one-off test against Italy in June, a team ironically coached one of his predecessors in the hot-seat, Nick Mallett.