/ 3 July 2009

Blame the coach

If the British and Irish Lions tour has taught us anything, it is that the Springboks winning despite our coach.

If the British and Irish Lions tour has taught us anything, it is that the Springboks are such a talented group of individuals that they are winning despite our coach.

Peter de Villiers has made it patently clear during the tour that he is out of his depth.

His selections and tactics have been left wanting and his stubborn, egotistical attitude does not allow him to admit when he is wrong.

De Villiers would probably label me a racist for airing my opinions, as he did those who criticised his selection of Ricky Januarie, but it is exactly that laager mentality that is doing harm to the fortunes of what is arguably the greatest Springbok team ever assembled.

De Villiers’s inability to admit that Heinrich Brüssow is by far the best open-side flanker in the country at the moment is folly. The Springboks are a far better side with him scavenging in the rucks.

Schalk Burger was clearly not ready to be rushed back into action after a lengthy injury lay-off and his yellow card for eye-gouging was disgraceful.

At the press conference after the match De Villiers said that Burger didn’t deserve a yellow card for the incident, let alone a citing.

If this was just a hot-headed, off-the-cuff comment it could perhaps be forgiven, but again on Monday the coach said: ”I stand by Schalk. I’m still convinced he didn’t do it.

”When you watch the footage closely and if you know the nature of Schalk, you’ll know that he will never go to those measures to impose himself,” said De Villiers. ”If we want to eye-gouge Lions, we’ll go down to the bushveld and eye-gouge them there, then see if they can haul us in. If you are going to complain about every incident we might as well go to a ballet shop and all get tutus,” he said.

De Villiers’s outrageous statements have left the South African Rugby Union doing some damage control this week.

”We would like to apologise to the rugby community for the erroneous impression that acts of foul play are in any way condoned by South African rugby,” said Saru president Oregan Hoskins. ”That has never been the case and is not now, and we support strong action by rugby authorities when such acts occur.”

How long will this coach be allowed to ruin the legacy of what could be the greatest Springbok team in history? De Villiers needs to shape up or ship out.