Div rates gut feel and prayer

2008-06-19 22:25

Cape Town - Divine intervention, gut feel and decisions based on rugby wisdom are the cornerstones of Peter de Villiers's selection policy.

Springbok coach De Villiers told the media on Thursday that in order to cope with the intricacies of the Springbok selection process he often went along with his gut feel, after which he would pray that his decisions would prove to be correct.

The matter of selection has been a daunting task for De Villiers. "You know the hardest part of this job is to say to a guy like Percy (Montgomery) 'because of these three things I'm playing Conrad (Jantjes) ahead of you' - knowing damn well that if Percy steps out there he can be just as good, or on the day, even better.

"But you have to go with what you honestly believe in. In Afrikaans it's called your gat se gevoel (gut feeling). "You must understand that if you don't go with that, you're a goner.

"I get my inspiration from Above, I pray over my selections, I pray over the team and where I want to be with them."

A big talking point at Thursday's Test team announcement was the selection of Frans Steyn at flyhalf, ahead of Peter Grant, who had strong claims to the pivot position, following the decision to rest first-choice No. 10 Butch James.

Butch James is No. 1 flyhalf

"It was a rugby decision. At the start of my tenure as Springbok coach I always maintained that I would make rugby decisions, and Steyn's selection at flyhalf is a case in point," said De Villiers.

The Springbok coach said in a recent discussion with Steyn, the 21-year-old, World Cup hero told him that he wanted to be considered only for the flyhalf position in future Test teams.

"In a long chat with Frans (Steyn) I asked him how he saw his rugby future and he told me wants to play flyhalf," said De Villiers. "I told him that at this stage Butch James in our No. 1, and if he wants to stay with his decision, he must accept that.

"Steyn has bought into our thinking on the matter (that James is the No. 1) and now that I decided to give James a break to charge his batteries, I've used the opportunity to play the two flyhalves that I think will still be around in South African rugby for the next 10 years.

"Steyn is one of the most highly talented players in the country, and that's the reason (why I opted for him ahead of Grant)."

According to De Villiers James did not request the break but the decision came about because of humanitarian reasons after considerations from the team management.

De Villiers explained that whenever a selection issue became a complex one, he would rely on rugby wisdom.

"When one has a job like mine, you have to do your best for the country," explained De Villiers.

"Here you have someone like Frans Steyn, a World Cup winner with a gold medal around his neck. Everyone will tell you he's the most talented player in the country.

"As far as it affects Peter Grant, I must say that Steyn's selection is a rugby-related decision. I know my decisions won't always be correct but I hope that for the sake of the country and the team, that it pays off.

"I will stand and fall by my decisions and I'll stick with my policy of always making decisions based on rugby - that's the reason why I was appointed."

- SAPA