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De Villiers' 'life is rugby'

2008-09-02 08:22

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Peter Neill, News24 User

Well done Peter de Villiers! And well done to every Bok player on Saturday!

It irritates me to read all the negative journalism about the Boks and De Villiers. Every rugby journalist and rugby fan should be congratulating De Villiers and the team on a brilliant performance and a fantastic turnaround. Many of the articles that I have read are condescending, to say the least - full of subtle (and not so subtle) messages of advice for the poor "black" coach!

The reality is that some will embrace change, but for most, it is extremely difficult to absorb. This applies both to journalists, administrators, players and fans. I, for one, want every South African to get behind the team.

This week the players performed with purpose because (I believe) their backs were against the wall and the sword was over their heads. Saru had also made it clear that De Villiers was staying put, so for the players it was a matter of do or die - either play well or face the chop. The whole of South Africa demanded a win from them. De Villiers and his team should be commended for having come through an extremely difficult transitional phase with flying colours. Collectively they will continue to win or fail and both coach and players are responsible in the end.

I read the derogatory comments in this forum and my feeling is that people are still angry that Jake White is no longer the coach and nothing poor De Villiers does will ever be good enough. On the other side of the stick there are those who still refuse to recognise what White achieved with the Boks. For me both sides are wrong and both need to reconsider their attitudes to life.

Give Div a chance

I wrote an article last week where I stated: "Unfortunately for De Villiers the odds were stacked against him from the beginning and to be able to maintain the heights that JW achieved by winning the RWC was never going to be easy - even for Jake White!" By saying this I was in no way undermining De Villiers in favour of Jake. Jake had earned the right to be regarded as successful by winning the RWC. Truth be told, we'll probably never know whether Jake could have improved on his record, or how his team would have performed in this Tri Nations.

But now we need to give De Villiers a chance. We all need to move on from the White era - excuse the pun. No individual is bigger than any sport and rugby is for every South African. De Villiers is now the coach and we need to give him a chance and give honor where honour is due. If he fails in the long term - so be it.

But for now he has proved to me that he is adapting fast. He is both passionate and pleasantly eccentric and I like his moustache and the way the journalists desperately try to decipher what exactly he is trying to tell them - or not tell them. He has been misquoted and for many is still misunderstood, but there is no denying that he is a colourful personality whose life is rugby and who loves South Africa.

When we beat New Zealand in Dunedin it was because Richie Mc Caw was not playing. Well, neither was John Smit. Now when we thrash Australia it is because the Aussies were not motivated - absolute rubbish! I can assure you that I have never met a sportsman who wants to lose.

Listen carefully

Under White I was never a Jaco Van der Westhuizen fan. Under de Villiers I have stated that I am not a Conrad Jantjes fan. I have written that I feel he is too small and doesn't have a big enough boot. Well on Saturday Jantjes played like a star and proved me wrong and if he continues to play like this I will always support him. There was a time when I disliked Percy, but he won me over. This principle for me extends to the whole of the team and the coaching staff. The secret is to keep an open mind.

Also, it should not be forgotten that (for me) our biggest threat to failure in this Tri Nations has still not changed from every other year - the Aussie and New Zealand referees. The first match was a disgrace and I can honestly say that Saturday was the first time that I felt that the ref was fairly neutral. But then why not - after all South Africa were already out of the Tri Nations, so there was no reason for Paddy O'Brien's Australasian understudies to effect any definite influence over the game?

In conclusion, I have listened to De Villiers carefully. I have never heard him say that he doesn't want structure - in fact quite the opposite. Just the other day I heard him say that he didn't want to change the structure of the RWC team - he simply wanted them to add another dimension to their game by also being able to express themselves freely and play the situation. Now what is wrong with that? Particularly if it leads to the quality of tries we saw on Saturday.

Well done De Villiers and to all the Boks - you have my vote!

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AJ 9/2/2008 8:28:41 AM
When watching the game it seemed like a lot more calls were going our way for a change. I thought I was imagining it, but perhaps so. usually their arm is ALWAYS pointing away from our guys. As for performance we always perform well with backs against wall, but we need (like NZ do) to be able to play well even when in front and maintain it.

jfky 9/2/2008 8:34:14 AM
Everyone will unite against Div should the results be a try nations cup - not 2 out of 6. The same happens in other countries when teams perform poor, we not unique. So, there you have it.

Robert 9/2/2008 8:34:51 AM
Hey... While it's great to stick it to the Aussies in all fairness they really played crap! Argue that if you like. Agreed, nobody walks onto the field not minding if they win or lose. Great performance by the Boks. but it is just a single step in the right direction. I would like to point out that none of the expansive rugby was on display, for once the forwards were forward, the backs on the wing... etc. A win... A very good win. But one win doesn't give you a championship.

Realist 9/2/2008 8:35:13 AM
If you understood rugby better you would not be elated by 2 out of 6 wins in the Tri Nations. Saturday's win does certainly not eradicate helium's lack of ability.

CANDI-G 9/2/2008 8:35:45 AM
THANK YOU!

Len van Heerden 9/2/2008 8:38:06 AM
Just something I need to call you up on. Jake White is no longer the coach. He did his time and won the WC. Congratulations to him. When referring to this team, there is absolutely no need to acknowledge White unless he comes up in the topic. the constant reference to white seems to believe that he alone was responsible for the successs of the team. He was not, as much as PDV is not solely responsible for the fortunes of the team. Let's leave the white phase behind (pun intended) and move on.

Francois 9/2/2008 8:39:55 AM
AMEN TO THAT!

Lardus 9/2/2008 8:40:03 AM
It has nothing to do with colour. It has to do with the way he made the players play. Sure they won on the weekend, but was it due to his expansive style, or because they reverted to a more structured gameplan before going wide? Still, nothing to do with race! Idiot

Angus 9/2/2008 8:40:42 AM
Not liking a player because of his size is utter bull, Conrad is weighing 92kg and Percy 94. The Australian Flyhalf weigh 85 kg and he is regarded as one of the best flyhalfs in the world and it is believed that he will soon give Carter a run for his money. The same weight argument was brought up when Adi was chosen and he proved everyone wrong game after game, yet people still believe he should start off the bench and Frans Steyn should be in the starting line-up, where is merit selection gone.

dave the brave 9/2/2008 8:45:09 AM
Well said!! i completely agree! Although i disagree with a lot of PDV's decisions...i am not a professional rugby coach so i will act off the assumption that he does in fact know better than me! PDV does live and breath rugby and thats good enough for me! Neither does he want to lose! For the next presidential election i am gonna vote "the Beast" for president! Did you see what he did to Fat Dunning! lol, the beast deserves a man of the match soon! He is humble and pretty funny! GO BOKKE!!!!!!!

Kolobe 9/2/2008 8:45:24 AM
Peter Neill is normally a propaganda generating machinery, but this man removed his blinkers today and realised that Peter De Villiers is an excellent coach, I support PDV fully especially after he introduced players like the Beast,ndungane,Jantjies and Nokwe to the team.

Zola 9/2/2008 8:46:12 AM
Well said mate and well done to DiV,absolutely loved DiV's game plan, and all those who were against it must now not pleeeze claim it as "structured play"/ "traditional S.A what what", it was running rugby. Maintain that DiV, must if he should ever go down, do so, playing his game and his team, not the public plan and/or team chosen by former 4th team players and supporters. Cheers, hard part is done, England etc to finish the year should be a lekker cruise! Cheers DiV!

Dave Robbins 9/2/2008 8:47:10 AM
and great to watch us win so well on Saturday. Springbok rugby will always drive us mad because of its' inconsistencies - but then again, isn't life inconsistent?

Didier 9/2/2008 8:47:55 AM
Great Artile Peter! I am white and i also support PDV all the way. he make a mistake, it is human beginning. All of you who are negative, Grow up! Well done to PDV & player for hard work...

OB1 9/2/2008 8:48:30 AM
WTF don't you and your mates stop trying always politicise everything in this country. The same happens in every other country when a coach performs poorly. Its got absolutletly nothing to do with his colour, remember Rudolph Straeuli. He was a terrible coach and he got it in the neck from rugby supporters...he was white.

Lyndi 9/2/2008 8:48:48 AM
finally no prophet of doom- I agree PdV shld be given a chance. Jake also came under fire a lot of th time for not winning: remember when he had to fly in from overseas for a hearing?? let's just support th coach and our boys: it's never fun to lose and yes especially Australian refs need to be sorted and most importantly, THE BOKKE NEED SUPPORT!!!

FO 9/2/2008 8:49:26 AM
Well said Peter Neill!I don't hear any outcry against Mickey Arthur and his chargers for a dismal performance against England in the ODI's. Is it because Arthur is not "black" so we can forgive him? I think SA sport supporters is very selective in their support and critisism...

Tim 9/2/2008 8:52:44 AM
Woo hoo..well said Peter Neill..

Matrix 9/2/2008 8:52:53 AM
Pity the gameplan & impressive win came too late. Still maintain that PdV is not an adequate strategist. Combinations getting better, not there yet. Some players still chosen based on colour & not merit. All is fair in love & war. We the rugby public stand by our view. Then PdV copares himself to Jesus??? Eish, that alone is enough to give him flack. He needs a PR that can speak, seeing that he is often misquoted. Greate game "beast" & ConradJ!!!

L 9/2/2008 8:53:54 AM
Is it odd that we complained about the referee in 4 matches that we lost and happy with the referee in 2 matches. This paranoia of blamin referees for every loss is ridiculous. When we benefit from referees, we do not complain about bad referring. Hardly ever does Australia, England, France and even New Zealand complain about the referee despite their exist in the World Cup in the hands of an incompetent English idiot.

Angus 9/2/2008 8:54:12 AM
What game did you watch, the ball was fed through to the wings much more often then any bok game I saw. The difference was that the ball was fed only when the boks was out of their own half. Why do you think Nokwe scored 4 tries. PDV game plan worked but it can only work if brainless playmakers like Butch and Du Preez and Frans Steyn is not on the field. Ruan played a great game and was sidestepping into the open gaps like you will not believe. That is part of PDV gameplan, guys who can create.

Len 9/2/2008 8:56:56 AM
If that was the case, why bother mentioning it, instead of stating your point. Fact is, if it did not have nothing with colour, you would not have prefixed your comments with a statement like that.

Johann 9/2/2008 8:57:24 AM
Who is your people?? I think everyone queried Adi's selection for the 1st couple of games - he didn't play enough in the Super 14 - but now I don't think anyone will select Steyn over him. The last 6-8 weeks I don't think Steyn was mentioned once in the media?? Adi has proved he is there to stay and even Jacque Fourie will have to fight to get back into the fold.

GeePmb 9/2/2008 9:00:06 AM
I just wish that those posting comments would read the letter in the manner intended. Lardus, the word "Black Coach" was a supposition in the context of the letter, not a dig at his race. Angus, it is Peter's personal opionon about size. Read the letter again and note that the writer is a) a concerned rugby fan, b) a patriotic South African and c) prepared to accept change. Clearly he actually supports PDV contrary to his original misgivings!

rogi 9/2/2008 9:00:09 AM
the fact is... we came lost in tri nations!!!And we are supposed to be happpy and encouraged???Especially taking into account that we are WC Champions?? Would we be so happy about these results, if a white coach was producing these results??? So it has nothing to do with colour and Angus you are a clown!!!

The Truth 9/2/2008 9:01:07 AM
but don't expect all other "unpatriotic" SA sports fanatics to follow suit.The Boks have a bad habit of winning dead RUBBERS (eg.Lions and Australia - 1997),it means less than squat.What became of winning when it actually matters in this country? The Bok team is no place to experiment with new gameplans and tinker with already tried and proven ones.Any coach who wants to spend his time doing that should be coaching a country districts team rather than the World Champions.

H 9/2/2008 9:03:18 AM
Isn't it ironic that no one is saying anything about the Proteas and their dismal performance. Why is no one commenting about Mickey Arthur?

Les-Maada 9/2/2008 9:03:59 AM
At some stage ,one joker posted an article on news24 criticizing De villier's tactical approach of the game & even went as far as suggesting that the Boks should take a page out of Bafana's book(This was based on the Bafana's 2-2 draw against the Aussies in London).I wonder how the clown felt after the trashing of Australia last Sat.This kind of lashing at De Villiers sometimes brings the colour code suspicion instead of his perfomance to the picture, that might only be the reason !

LA 9/2/2008 9:04:27 AM
A good big player(Francios Steyn), will always be a better choice than a good small player(Adi Jacobs)

LvH 9/2/2008 9:04:50 AM
Agree with you. The issue of size is one of the most ridiculous as Dan Carter is one of the smallest guys in world rugby but takes contact like a man. January is smaller but has a heart of a giant. Conrad has always had a big boot and kicks further than any of our players. It simply needed some control. So, nothing he did over the weekend has he not done before.

OB1 9/2/2008 9:05:47 AM
WTF don't you and your mates stop trying always politicise everything in this country. The same happens in every other country when a coach performs poorly. Its got absolutletly nothing to do with his colour, remember Rudolph Straeuli. He was a terrible coach and he got it in the neck from rugby supporters...he was white.

Godfrey 9/2/2008 9:07:12 AM
It is encouraging to read a letter like this.Certainly those racist,beer swirling,uncivilised,uncouth white rugby fans don't represent ALL white rugby fans in SA.I'm sure some of those fans are the same ones that make racist comments on this News24 forum.Should News24 ban them? No, lets allow them to expose their own stupidity.In the mean time thank to all other rugby fans who go to matches to watch rugby matches and not to show their wives,girlfriends and children how stupid they are.

Ryan 9/2/2008 9:08:03 AM
I just do not feel that Peter De Villiers instills any confidence in the team. How can you win games with no confidence? We won on Sat because of the altitude. We have great players but a ummm ahhhh ummm of a coach.

Jasper 9/2/2008 9:08:08 AM
Great Game - just a pity the guys could not pull it off when it mattered - why is it that we have to be treatened with all kinds of things before we wake up and produce the goods - sport in this country is a joke and everyone cries foul when we Cock things up - everyone should rather take ownership and make an effort to be the best they can be without having to make an issue of funding - up till 1994 money was never an issue!

Lockshin Culture 9/2/2008 9:08:46 AM
Peter Nell I salute you for a great article. I am tired of biased and racists sentiments expressed through these forums. It makes us think all whites are racists, but we know the truth. There are a few racists in sport trying to resists and undermine transformation. Just look at the 90% white olympics team that achieved a whole lot of ZERO at Beijing. Shame on the racist and their dunder coconut friends for resisting the inevitable.

Cynic 9/2/2008 9:13:23 AM
Proof that PDV is an "Excellent Coach" will only come when he has trophy's in the cupboard. Nokwe desrves his plave, but he only worked for one of his tries. Adi is like Lomu, only once he gets going does he have momentum. PDV may prove us all wrong and please Lord he does, but do not fete him as the saviour of bok rugby just yet. U19 & U20 rugby is amatuer and far cry from the professional game so stop using that as the yardstick for PDV's credentials!! Ony time will tell!

tumza 9/2/2008 9:13:45 AM
Peter, even if PDV was to bring us the Tri-Nations trophy, he would never be good enough to a lot of rugby fans. Only a white coach will be good enough, not the a black one. Thats just the way it is, some things will never change. 4fr tumza

Cynic 9/2/2008 9:13:47 AM
Proof that PDV is an "Excellent Coach" will only come when he has trophy's in the cupboard. Nokwe desrves his plave, but he only worked for one of his tries. Adi is like Lomu, only once he gets going does he have momentum. PDV may prove us all wrong and please Lord he does, but do not fete him as the saviour of bok rugby just yet. U19 & U20 rugby is amateur rugby and far cry from the professional game so stop using that as the yardstick for PDV's credentials!! Ony time will tell!

L van Heerden 9/2/2008 9:15:25 AM
Can someone mention these players? Was it Nokwe, Ndungane, Mtawarira, Jacobs, January, Jantjies? I would have thought that these players proved that they belong and performed better than some of their white colleagues. Perhaps racists will never acknowledge an average performance from a black person while Matfield was useless and Du Preez was average but they are not questioned.

Jasper 9/2/2008 9:15:41 AM
Great Game - just a pity the guys could not pull it off when it mattered - why is it that we have to be treatened with all kinds of things before we wake up and produce the goods - sport in this country is a joke and everyone cries foul when we Cock things up - everyone should rather take ownership and make an effort to be the best they can be without having to make an issue of funding - up till 1994 money was never an issue!

witseun 9/2/2008 9:15:53 AM
I think it is a mentality thing. Some people understand that life moves on and they try to make the current situation work. Other people are stuck in the past and they simply don't have the ability or perspective to understand that things will change, no matter what. PDV has brought about change, so put up with it or shut up. No matter how much you try to break him down, HE IS THE CURRENT COACH AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Once again, a vocal minority is spoiling it for the majority.

witseun 9/2/2008 9:16:14 AM
I think it is a mentality thing. Some people understand that life moves on and they try to make the current situation work. Other people are stuck in the past and they simply don't have the ability or perspective to understand that things will change, no matter what. PDV has brought about change, so put up with it or shut up. No matter how much you try to break him down, HE IS THE CURRENT COACH AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Once again, a vocal minority is spoiling it for the majority.

VJ 9/2/2008 9:18:23 AM
Hi guys.Please don't try and communicate with angus.He is a blatant racisist and likes to focus all his comments on skin colour.Anything black is great and anything white not.He does not have the sport at hart but rather consentrates on getting his uninformed political opinion across.Angus - PIETER DE VILLIERS IS A BAD COACH.HE SUCKS AND HIS TRI NATIONS RECORD PROVES IT.He also sometimes comes across like a of an idiot.You approve of him because of his skin colour.Sad racist...

Crackerjackjack 9/2/2008 9:19:37 AM
Go visit the coloured communities of Cape Town and see how passionate they are about their rugby. They have the knowledge and skill and the same goes for Peter de Villiers.

Angus 9/2/2008 9:22:35 AM
Just last week after the Ausies won in Durban Adi was blamed on this forum for the Tiqiri try, and it was said that Frans Steyn should replace him. There is still bok supporters thinking and saying this. Peter Hendriks himself said Frans Steyn should start in the outside centre position. Now Bob is saying that Adi is doing so well because he had no Jake White influence. Mind You, the majority of the players who did not perform on Saturday was players who actually played in the starting 15 for JW.

John 9/2/2008 9:23:08 AM
The problem as I see it is that the Bokke went from no.1 in the world to 3rd within the space of 6 games. After taking over a winning team with all the structures in place I just feel that we should have done much better in this Tri-Nations. Being beaten by these Australian and All Black teams (especially at home) is just not good enough and also only being able to turn it on once our backs are against the wall is also not good enough. The main problem is that I HATE to see the Bokke lose.

PK 9/2/2008 9:23:46 AM
wait, there is still that dark cloud hanging over rugby, after the racism head go a big whowhooo again, because it was white to black. If it was the other way around....nothing would be said....

Skurk 9/2/2008 9:30:59 AM
You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman. I am sick of reading "Funny how this" and "Funny how that" snide remarks. You would swear we're a bunch of flippin' comedians! That man, Jonge Nokwe - UNbelievable!!! And Ruaan Pienaar I've got a feeling about just like I had about the greats like Errol Tobias, Andre Joubert, Danie Gerber, Uli Schmidt & Corne Krige to name a few. Bottom line is the boks were angry. Angry at us and themselves. Always a great magic potion.

Paul Montele 9/2/2008 9:33:38 AM
Well written piece, the incidents that occured at the game(Racist) and those who will not accept change in this country are not different from the criminals that they are always complaining about, Shame on you so called civilized and educated people, with a lighter skin colour. A lot are saying it had nothing to do with colour but it has everything to do with colour, thanks to all players and technical team, Hamba Nokwe Hamba

Mart 9/2/2008 9:33:40 AM
Credit to the boks and PDV, now lets see what happens end of year. Angus, as i have said before, your dislike of players shines brightly. Butch and Du preez where on the field for most of the game. And guess what, we scored in that time. it was a great team effort and why dont you just accept it. AB Idiot

AJ 9/2/2008 9:33:55 AM
"I support PDV fully especially after he introduced players like the Beast,ndungane,Jantjies and Nokwe to the team." - Clearly you dont watch rugby (or you have only started watching in the last couple of months, which is probably closer to the mark.

Mart 9/2/2008 9:35:52 AM
Angus every week you complain and complain about him,so tell me what did he do wrong. You sir, are so racist in your view, give credit where its due. ALL the BOKKE, 1 to 15 played well.Accept it or shut up

Suzie 9/2/2008 9:36:12 AM
Don't feel so sorry for de Villiers! In my job if I have three failed projects I will be fired. I am paid to do my job successfully. I also have a team that reports into me. Regardless whose fault it is (maybe someone on the team)if three of my projects fail I will be gone. De Villiers is also paid to be successful...end of story

Bizkit 9/2/2008 9:36:15 AM
You know what, stop being so sensitive and be like "you all hate him cause his black", if you cast your mind back to 2005/2006, WHITE rugby supporters called for Jake White's head because the team didn't perform... this has nothing to do with colour, if the team doesn't perform, supporters demand action, this is copycat stuff what happened to Jake! Jake got on with it, and after a few years people's opinions changed and supported Jake, the same will happen to Pieter

AJ 9/2/2008 9:36:35 AM
L, I am trying to think when we benefitted last from a referee (unfairly) and it is really hard! I dont like bringing ref's into the equation, but comparatively to other teams we have had some SHOCKERS!!!! Even off the field in disciplinary panels etc. If we get a fair ref it seems like he is biased towards us as it is so unusual!

charlie 9/2/2008 9:44:07 AM
Its not to say you love rugby you love cricket , I love Rugby and hate cricket so this topic is about Rugby So I dont care about the cricket or their coach , I do about the rugby tho ,I'll give PDV soem time to proof himself , If he doesnt get anywhere , he must go , I dont care if he is pink with blue polka dots .

colin 9/2/2008 9:47:29 AM
Where if it is not about colour why have we not seen a onslaught on Mickey Mouse - the proteas went to the last world cup and almost did not make it to the final round and had a dismal performance against the Ausies and now they are one game away from being dished a 5-0 by England who is the 8th best cricket team in the world - why not call for the axing of Mickey Mouse is it his skin colour. I can bet you if Mickey Mouse were black then the media administrator and all of you would have sung a different tune and that is how our world operates.

tshepo 9/2/2008 9:50:41 AM
great analysis from Peter. Your points are always well thought of.

Andre 9/2/2008 9:51:19 AM
Today, Jake White is a God. His initial struggle as the new coach, all forgotten. In fact, all the troubles i.e. lost tri-nations and bad perfromances in the northern hemosphere, all forgotten. At least afford any other coach, including Pieter de Villiers, the same 4 years opportunity a man like Jake WHite had.

Stinkbug 9/2/2008 10:04:06 AM
...but then i get irritated by reading kolobe's stupid comments, he acts like it was only because of the black players that we won on saturday yet he denies that it's the same players that lost a few weeks ago too. Its a TEAM effort not a black or white effort! Well done to the boks lets hope they keep this style of rugby going.

tumza 9/2/2008 10:06:21 AM
I wish everyone was as objective as you two. your comments are on points. Not all the negative gamors. Now can somebody please say something about Mickey Mouse, we 've lost 4 out of five. asseblief tog!! I wonder whats gonna happen with the last game.

Afr 9/2/2008 10:06:40 AM
You have just proven to me that you have absolutely no idea what rugby is...bid you maybe watch Bafana Bafana and mistook one of those losers for Fourie du Freez?...oh and to everyone stating that no one critisises Mikey Arthur...I dont watch cricket anymore since he started coaching...whats the use of having a good test side and a crap oneday side??lol

THE PROPHET 9/2/2008 10:08:18 AM
get over yourself robert... give credit where credit is due...p.d's game plan worked. period.entertaining rugby with structure.well said neil, p.d never said structure should be scrapped, he wants to built on it by playing entertaining rugby.i remember reading an interview in sports illustrated where he said he wanted players to get away from the bulldozing rugby of going through the opposition, but rather go through gaps that way creating more space for the wings.

Ray 9/2/2008 10:09:14 AM
Well said PN, Those wanna be bok supporters and rugby know it all's should rather go watch netball. How many of the players on Saturday was not part of Jake White's team? Seven if I am not mistaken and that is about half the team almost. So please those of you who actually do know rugby please wake up and give the coach some credit. When last has anyone scored eight tries against Australia? We are playing against the top nations of World rugby and everyone wants to beat the world champs.

Afr 9/2/2008 10:10:53 AM
You have just proven to me that you have absolutely no idea what rugby is...bid you maybe watch Bafana Bafana and mistook one of those losers for Fourie du Freez?...oh and to everyone stating that no one critisises Mikey Arthur...I dont watch cricket anymore since he started coaching...whats the use of having a good test side and a crap oneday side??lol and if PDV is really that good everyone would already he supporting him,just like everyone wants Brian Habana in the team,irrespective of colour

VJ 9/2/2008 10:13:46 AM
I personally like Jongi Nokwe - but let's not over do this??Three of his tries was not more the 3 to 4 meter runs to an open try line.Come on guys, lets not lose the plot here.Next thing we here he's the next saviour of SA rugby and needs to replace Habanna?Just keep perspective here.

Chantelle 9/2/2008 10:16:38 AM
Seems like colour really bugs you a lot. You mention it a lot... You're so scared someone will call you racist, you lash out at others mentioning colour, thereby forgetting that you're doing the exact same thing - mentioning colour! And I still say: Well done to ALL the players, the coach, all assisting coaches, and everyone else officially involved in the Springbok team! You're there because you CAN play. Race has nothing to do with talent. WELL DONE for making the team, win or lose!

Chantelle 9/2/2008 10:18:52 AM
If I were a betting person, I'd take your bet. Because I don't think you're following rugby, else you would've seen how previous coaches had to suffer under pressure, under nasty comments, calls for their resignation, etc. Stop seeing race, you're as bad as Len!

Rodders 9/2/2008 10:19:23 AM
Why can't we all give credit when it's due (cause we're certainly good at throwing muck around when things go wrong!) Well done to Div, the Bok team and everyone else involved - it's good to see things coming right, cause it's always difficult trying to build for something 4 yrs down the line, which is what Div is doing. People forget that half the 07 WC winners will be too old to contest it in 2011, so we need to build a new team (same as Eng did in 03). As for Jantjes, if it wasn?t for Nokwe?s phenomenal 4 tries, He?d probably have been man of the match on Sat!!! GO BOKKE!!!

Filemon 9/2/2008 10:21:50 AM
Peter you stuffed up an emotional letter by mentioning race. You fail to mention rugby tactics won us this last game and lost the previous 3 games and therefore the Tri-Nations when it was in the bag. Peter Helium deserves recognition for realising his "Care" style was not working - neither did it work for Carel - and reverted back to winning rugby although too late. I still believ if he takes it slowly, PdV CAN add a new dimension to the Bok's game - AND WIN!

Len van Heerden 9/2/2008 10:22:52 AM
Wow, this has to be a new one. both teams played in altitude. Many of the players are from the coast and so would also be affected by altitude. Many teams from australia and NZ have won at Loftus and Ellis Park in the super 14, and so I cannot understand the crap about altitude. The Ozzies could have camped up here before. In any case, altitude is often felt towards the end of the game in the last 20 minutes. South Africa has scored most of the tries by then.

E-Rabbit 9/2/2008 10:23:01 AM
One can easily see who are the rugby "knowledgable" guys taking part in the forums and who are the not so "knowledgable" guys - they usually say things like, PDV did great, nice that he brought in some color to the team etc. For these so called "knowledgable" people I say go and look for other forums, maybe there is something for you to say there.

Len van Heerden 9/2/2008 10:23:36 AM
Sadly, we have lost 4 out of 4

KS 9/2/2008 10:23:42 AM
Great article...you said it! Well done to PDV, the Beast, AD and Jantjes...all had fantastic games! Especially the Beast - I still think he should have received Man of The Match!!!!! Nokwe is no Habana! Although those 4 tries are historical....his performance wasn't anything special.

L 9/2/2008 10:24:16 AM
Perhaps you should stop watching rugby too

Pedro 9/2/2008 10:24:37 AM
Please all, can we now walk away from this subject now, although a rugby supporter, as soccer,as golf, as cricket, lets move on, Tri nations is gone, Curry Cup on its way to last rounds etc. Get subjects that is of total common interest of all and then discuss it. Pedro

kam 9/2/2008 10:25:27 AM
Like so many others before me said. It is not about racism towards the coach. It is the way we played in the Tri-Nations. We couldn't even keep our own ball at the breakdown. Our kicking was horrendous that is if we didn't try to run the ball from every single position on te field. This directly relates to the 'expansive' game plan the coach had in mind and it failed miserably.

Fraud 9/2/2008 10:26:18 AM
Of all the rugby articles that have been written in the past 2 weeks abt SA rugby, this is the only one that has considered facts and logic - instead of emotion. Brilliant article. Some experienced journalists could learn a lot from you. You know what, YOU'VE MADE MY DAY. Shot broer!

E-Rabbit 9/2/2008 10:26:35 AM
The boks won because of structured play and good defence - things they were taught in 4 years. Frans Steyn would have performed even better than Adi if he was given the chance to play from the start, Adi is made to look great by the better inside center he has. just look at how well JDV and FS performed at the WC.

Len 9/2/2008 10:27:05 AM
You misunderstood me, Mate!! We speak the same language. I was reacting to Matrix and Co

Point Blank 9/2/2008 10:29:08 AM
PDV did not introduce those players to the team you racist old fool. And I mean that in a nice way :) They got there on merit, not because they black. You selling your own brothers short by statements like that, give them credit because they good players and not by the colour of their skin, go to a sharks game and see how Beast is loved by all us whities, you should do the same.

Snowy 9/2/2008 10:30:30 AM
I think the problem does not lie with the coach, but the players...they don't have big match temperament! When the pressure is on to win the series, they lose...but when a win means nothing, they win! How does that work...if they perform well with their backs against the wall, they should have won the previous match as well!

Richard Hipkin 9/2/2008 10:34:55 AM
Man some of you guys are so blatantly racist and you do not even realise it, and I mean from both sides. If my memory serves me correctly, Jake White also started out with some horrific loses. Slowly his game plan started to work after a few realignments here and there. Stop being so pathetic and childish, I mean surely we all grown men in here.... right?

Angus 9/2/2008 10:35:02 AM
Yes Butch and Du Preez were on most of the game and caused the first half to be almost 4 minutes longer than it should have been. Even Peter Hendriks commented on the fact that if the Ausies had to score a tri in this added four minutes, it would have done much for the confidence of the Ausies and they could possibly come back and win. As far as me being a racist is concerned, I did not once mention colour etc. yet you attack me because your little brain cannot challenge the facts.

rogi 9/2/2008 10:36:17 AM
the fact is..after winning a WC, Authorities (whichever ones) thought that by handing this WC team over to a new "black" coach (and treating the WC winning one as they should treat PDV now),he will not be able to F@@# it up.. Well guess what, he has lost the no.1 spot on world rankings, he has come last in the Tri Nations, yet he is a HERO, WTF??!!!Has Angus, Kolobe, and the Co lost their mind, or they are just happy to see a "black" face, even if it is a F%@#@# up??I guess so...

L 9/2/2008 10:36:26 AM
With the exception of the Smith incident, I really think we got what we deserved when it comes to disciplinary issues. If we cannot follow simple rules, we really cannot blame referees. I blame the media for this, as it seems that when we lose it is either administrators, politicians or referees and never players' inability to stick to game plan and make the proper decisions when it is called for.

L 9/2/2008 10:37:24 AM
You obviously do, otherwise why mention it?

Robert 9/2/2008 10:37:59 AM
Shame the poor `black` coach earning millions. Catch a wake up

KS 9/2/2008 10:38:26 AM
I don't watch them anymore because of their total unpredictability! Rugby is the game! Even if SA have a crap game, it still gets the blood flowing and heart pumping! Cricket just depresses me!

L 9/2/2008 10:38:37 AM
For you, perhaps, but you cannot deny that this is not true for every critic of PDV

L van Heerden 9/2/2008 10:41:01 AM
Your analogy is week. If you just started in a company, got them an account they have failed to win in 80 years and then achieve the biggest sale in the history of your company. Also, you manage to win 5 out of 9 deals, if your company fire you, they are idiots

L 9/2/2008 10:41:37 AM
Frans steyn did not play

Angus 9/2/2008 10:42:12 AM
But when Jake White took an exclusive white team to the tri-nations last year and lost every single game it was OK to experiment with new players and gameplans. When he introduced Frans Steyn who now proves to be useless in the entire backline, crap you still did not try him at scrumhalf, maybe you should bounce him up and replace Januarie on the bench.

Rv 9/2/2008 10:42:14 AM
At the end of the day all these comments dont mean anything.PDV chooses the team and has the final say for the starting 15.I just want to know whether you have a favourite white player or do dislike all of them?My favourite players are the beast(loved how destroyed dunning) nokwe because he plays for the currie cup champs!!Nobody will argue that adi is a good player and he has silinced everybody the right way by playing well.

L 9/2/2008 10:44:38 AM
Perhaps because experience teaches us it is people of a certain hue who believes their skin colour makes them better. If you know of any bunch of black people that accosted a white woman at Ellis Park, why not report it to the police and media?

Filemon 9/2/2008 10:45:59 AM
about rugby. Matfield is useless? Rated number 1 in the World, won the RWC and Captained winning Bulls S14. Nobody better. Fourie average? Rated no. 1 in world! Where you from? Stormers? Loser! Take up netball you reverse racist!

L van Heerden 9/2/2008 10:46:30 AM
Who does not hate to see their team lose? Fact is, PDV has won 5 out of 9. If you cannot deal with that, then perhaps you need to start supporting another team. Teams do lose, in case you did not know that. It is how they recovered from that adversity that estalishes men from boys

L van Heerden 9/2/2008 10:49:13 AM
A white coach is screwing up the cricket team, and you are not complaining about his performance. White had similar problems in the past. so, yes, it does seem colour plays a major part in your views. Stop denying it and accept you are racist. Join Racists Anonymous. It helped me too

Afr 9/2/2008 10:49:55 AM
I think race is totally irrelevant here...if white people didnt like PDV just because he is black,why would Sharks supporters yell BEAAAAAST everytime he touches the ball?And why does every stadium in the country erupt everytime Habana touches the ball?PDV needs to earn rugbyfan's support and respect,and a 2 from 6 tri-nations winratio is not going to achieve that.That said...he needs a fair chance,and i do hope he improves

LvH 9/2/2008 10:51:24 AM
The amateur performance was used as a yardstick in giving White a job as a coach. What is wrong when this is used in the case of PDV?

Zee 9/2/2008 10:51:26 AM
How many countries in the world can say that there is more criticism of its own coach when he wins than when he losers. Really guys this is pathetic - PDV has not done a bad job so far - win in Dunedin, 50-pointer against the Aussies. The players need to start taking responsibility - if you get hammered one week and then dish out a hammering the next, you cannot blame the coach! The players lifted themselves this week and it showed. Well, everyone except Butch. Ruan for flyhalf :)

Thembalabantubonke 9/2/2008 10:53:57 AM
Odd then that these players were denied these opportunities on merit by White. goes to show you that merit is like beauty. If White was still around, the players mentioned by Kolobe would not have been in the reckoning, whether you like it or not.

Thembalabantubonke 9/2/2008 10:55:29 AM
My aunt would be my uncle if she had cajones too. Useless argument in my opinion only made by small minds.

THE PROPHET 9/2/2008 10:55:33 AM
Steyn wasn't even a 1st choice centre for jake white, he got a chance because jean de villiers got injured, so why should he be 1st choice for p.d, oh let me guess, it's because adi isn't white...never mind how well he's played the whole tri-nations, it must be because of jean de villiers. well then i guess beast must be doing well because of bismark and c.j van de linder too. please man... don't get your facts twisted!

Angus 9/2/2008 10:56:00 AM
The only thing Frans Steyn did right this week, and I need to praise him for that, he sat on the bench because he was injured. The Truth, experiments are being conducted with the talentless player trying to get his true position and its a OK.

Tim2 9/2/2008 10:59:06 AM
Reading the comments we were avoiding the race topic until once again Len van Heereden and Kolobe brought up the race card. It must be really difficult having such an inability to think beyond race and Len don't try and be patronizing in your response, its really pathetic.

Mock 9/2/2008 11:01:12 AM
Boks lost cause they are unprofessional and cannot adapt to change, period!!...All the games lost, was cause WC players did not perform and were below par, and main culprits were Matfield, Juan, Butch, Fourie, Percy, Steyn, Schalk...while no WC winners were on form, ie Bekker, Conrad, Adi, Beast, etc.. An adjusted game plan cannot be responsible for poor performances, basic errors and judgement calls made by these players!!Maybe want to proof that Div is not man through bad play!!!

Len van Heerden 9/2/2008 11:05:13 AM
If you are not racist, congratulations then. Am I racist? Yes, I was like you. I saw black as inferior until I was taught otherwise. What about you? Are you tolerant of others and do not judge people on the basis of their race? If so, then you are one of a kind, or your head is deep in the sand. either option is not attractive

Mojojo 9/2/2008 11:06:54 AM
I agree with whoever wants to vote "The Beast" for president. Who was the blind fool who chose Nokwe as the man of the match. He was brilliant as a finisher, no doubt, but Ndungane or Mtawarira deserved the man of the match. First choice Mtawarira and if Ndungane didn't make that mistake at the end, I'm sure he would have gotten it. I don't support quotas in sport. But it sure does feel good to have 4 of the black players probably being the best 4 out on Saturday. The other being Jacobs.

JR 9/2/2008 11:07:29 AM
What is wrong with you peolpe blaming the refs so everytime you loose or should i say the goats lose you are going to blame the ref bravo bravo!!!! Hand of appluase to that a hand of appluase bad so bad.

mock 9/2/2008 11:08:32 AM
....Further one can also argue in order to stay part of SA squad, these bad players were given an ultimatum to perform or maybe they sorted out their differences, why the step up, a game plan can not be responsible for basic errors, bad kicking, missed or no passes, losing the ball, not tackilng....but I guess because of div these guys forgot how to do these basics, new and adj Gameplans have always been there and so basics??? I dont expect anyone to agree, it's WC players not playing for Div!!!

Mojojo 9/2/2008 11:10:06 AM
If we are forced to have a coalition government (very popular in Africa these days) I think that Jacobs and Jean De Villiers are the best pairing for the job or any other for that fact. Doubles Tennis, synchronised swimming, anything, they are just a brilliant team.

L van Heerden 9/2/2008 11:13:41 AM
Perhaps reading is not something you do well, you dimwit. Even Matfield admitted he did not play well. Perhaps your ears were blocked at the time. come on, catch a wake up. Matfield did not play well on the day, forget about the bloody rankings as they reflect games played prior to Saturday. He is definitely a good player but since he became captain, he has been less than average. Now, perhaps we need to teach you manners instead of rugby? Not sure what a reverse racist is, but suspect you know.

L 9/2/2008 11:15:58 AM
Well said

Mart 9/2/2008 11:18:24 AM
did not play. Yet Angus refers to him. Secondly, you all refer to race being the issue, yet, you will not anknowledge that the whole team, black, brown, white performed. You people make me sick, and angus you are top of that list. Quick to find fault with certain players (if they are white) yet will NEVER say a coloured player is bad. YOU CAN GO .... yourselfs.

KS 9/2/2008 11:20:19 AM
This is a player I want to see more of...although he came on when the Aussies were down and out already - he made stuff happen! He is very versatile and I would much rather see him at flyhalf than Frans Steyn! Butch, although fantastic on defence, hasn't shown his offensive game that he played while overseas! Its vanished...maybe Ruan should be given a chance!!!

Hero Nakamura 9/2/2008 11:20:29 AM
Rugby is truly a uniting sport. Their (The Team) success is critical to reconciliation and unity. I realize that we love the rugby, We love South Africa and we each other; except for a few rotten potatoes but thats alright!

Mock 9/2/2008 11:38:40 AM
Here I need to bring in Race...No white owned company is SA in run by a black person, and thats just the way it is..due Politics, racial makeup and diff's..when a black person is appointed to that level he need to be 20 times better than his white colleages to be successfull or accepted and after yrs when that person has proved himself, things might change and that's reality. The squad must have faith in the Manager, loose the preconcieved ideas and controversy that surrounded his appointment....

Angus 9/2/2008 11:40:32 AM
Carefull my brother, they (MART and Stinbug etc.) will call for your head. You cannot solely focus on the black players, even if they were the stars on Saturday. I must agree, Ruan looked good and PDV proud.

Paul Montele 9/2/2008 11:44:49 AM
It was the first time Ziningi Shibambo had ever been to a rugby match. The atmosphere was exhilarating, the national anthem was sung with gusto, and when the Springboks took to the field, the crowd erupted into a thunderous roar. The Tri-Nations match between South Africa and Australia was living up to all the 30-year-old Shibambo's expectations - until the referee blew his whistle for halftime. It was during the break, near the women's toilet at the northern stand, when Shibambo says she was accosted by three men and racially abused in the passageway of the Coca-Cola Park stadium in Joburg on Saturday.

pat bateman 9/2/2008 11:51:54 AM
How can you say a white coach is screwing up our cricket team? We just beat England in a test series away. Losing a couple of one day games is immaterial when compared with that. I have never been the biggest fan of mickey arthur but look at our record since the cricket world cup- it is right up there with the aussies. take your blinkers off

John 9/2/2008 12:00:40 PM
I do understand that teams lose games but I do not understand how a winning team with the correct structures from last year can do so badly against mediocre AB ans Aussie teams this year. By the way, the teams we beat earlier this year were also poor and we only just beat them. We should not be in a rebuilding phase as that has been done for the last 4 years. I can only hope that the Bokke keep on playing like they did on Saturday.

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