Spears slam ‘scared’ Saru
29 Mar 2006
Spears coach Peter de Villiers has labelled the decision that has shafted his side from the 2007 Super 14 as one made in ‘fear’, stating that the Spears would be competitive in the southern hemisphere showpiece.
Speaking to keo.co.za from Namibia where the Spears are currently undertaking a tour, De Villiers’ condemnation of the decision taken by the Saru President’s Council was forthright.
“Who knows what their motivation was, but let’s be honest, they’re all just covering for themselves,” De Villiers said. “What gives a guy like (Bulls CEO) Stephan Pretorius the right to say we are not going to be ready? And that attitude is reflected by all the big unions. When have any of them assessed our structures? Fear makes people do and say stupid things.”
De Villiers felt that the Spears’ attitude towards transformation and competitiveness genuinely frightened the current five South African franchises.
“In our last game against Namibian opposition, we had 13 players of colour in our team. I know that scares some unions, because it shows up their total lack of commitment towards transformation.
“People are hiding something, and you won’t get any straightforward opinions from any of them. They are protecting something, and I think it’s pretty obvious that is their own interests and not South African rugby.”
When asked whether the Spears would be ready for the 2007 Vodacom Super 14, De Villiers was adamant that the fledgling franchise would be and by pulling the rug, Saru have acted prematurely.
“When we were only together for two months, the Cats came and played us. Their backline couldn’t run through us once. We ran through them four times. People forget about that.
“We have a squad of players who no-one invested in, and we are now giving the correct structures and support and they are flourishing.
“We are only getting better and I promise you that any day, any damn day, we will do South Africa proud. People say we are not ready, when did they come and watch us? When did they come to evaluate our structures?
“Rugby wise we can stand shoulder to shoulder with any other team in this country.”
265 Comments
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30 Mar 2006, 00:38 am
Well, this is a blog for u saffa’s, I’ll stay out of this one.
30 Mar 2006, 01:37 am
Boland’s Manuels doing ‘training’
The three other South African referees who will officiate in weeks 9 and 10 are Marius Jonker (Highlanders v Western Force in Dunedin), Craig Joubert (Blues v Western Force in Auckland) and Mark Lawrence (Cats v Sharks in Johannesburg).
The controversial Linston Manuels of Boland will be assisted by the former Test referee, Freek Bruger, when he appears as a TV referee (TMO) for the first time since the Loftus debacle.
SA Rugby union’s manager of referee affairs, Andre Watson, says this decision forms part of Manuels’ “remedial training”.
I see the consulting bussiness for the PDA is alive and well
30 Mar 2006, 01:43 am
The decision to insert the Spears into Super14 as a pre dominated and managed black team GOT ABSOLUTLY NOTHING TO DO WITH RUGBY, certainly there was never such an intention, time to sober up!
The anc for their own reasons (which I will not comment on) use it to aggravate/irk/upset/negate the already vulnerable SA rugby, that’s all.
Only question left open is who is gonna pay for that Spears’ venture? certainly not the SA sponsors nor Murdoch SKY TV, so it makes sense that the SARFU will skim the other Super14 unions off the top to makeup the shortfall
Enough said
30 Mar 2006, 02:28 am
PLaying against Namibia? The same Namibia that got whacked by almost 150 points in a game at the last world cup and lost every match they played?
The Deviller coaching clown of the Spares is a complete ******. His Spares will be the whipping-boy in a Super 14 tourney and lose every game by 50+ points and make South African rugby look ridiculous.
Send this clown and his team off to the circus to play against the blind school 1st XV
30 Mar 2006, 08:01 am
Tackler, how can you call Pieter de Villiers a ******? Have you met the guy?
I admire the guy for taking on a challenge like this, especially because the 5 big unions and SARU are against him. It’s easy to throw in the towel and say “sorry guys, show’s over. Go home.” Instead, he’s being proactive AND realistic. He’s organised games for the Spears against local & overseas opposition and, importantly, he’s starting small.
And even better, he’s backing his boys. Everyone slammed Jake White for saying that only 2 Irishmen would make the boks in November 2004 but the truth is that Jake backs his men he makes them believe they can achieve great things.
Same for Pieter de Villiers. He backs his team to beat anyone and even if they don’t (and get thrashed) it won’t be because of a loser attitude.
Tackler, a thousand people have said it before on this site, but you’re a real wally, man. When you do something positive for the game of rugby come back and then we’ll talk again.
30 Mar 2006, 08:05 am
surfbok please see it in context.tackler is in his forties unmarried and in a country with no friends.he is not a saffa and he is not a kiwi.he drinks the cheapest beer you can get in nz.its a cry for help thats all.
30 Mar 2006, 08:08 am
LIES, LIES, LIES .
SPEARS, will never be competitive!
30 Mar 2006, 08:14 am
farmer neither will the cats or the stormers.
30 Mar 2006, 08:24 am
Harlequin,
some good and valid arguments in your post 248
30 Mar 2006, 08:29 am
farmer,
stay on the farm mate … leave the real world to the rest of us!
The Spears put 100 past the Kenyans if i’m not mistaken. They went down by 20 against the Cats and actually outscored the Cats with all their big names in the second half. And this was a team that had been together for about 2 months against a huge rich franchise.
And the talk of the Vodacom Cup – the SEC sides have been competitive and that’s without the Spears players. Noel de Villiers and Michael Gallinetti, the EP centres, probably deserve a place in a Super 14 squad long before some of these other fools we have parading as 1st class players!
30 Mar 2006, 08:41 am
Spears were never a real rugby concoction, more political & rugby opportunism. A region with little to recommend it at any medium level of rugby.
As I’ve said elsewhere, you could more easily develop a black based rugby team in the Witwatersrand. There’s no justification for trying to do an RDP in EP.
30 Mar 2006, 09:11 am
Ah, sarky. Ignorance is bliss, isn’t it!
30 Mar 2006, 09:20 am
Kevin w, I farm and still have to advise you chaps about reality. You just a dreamer.
30 Mar 2006, 09:36 am
Xkreteri,they were not good enough to make it to the top 8 of the comp. the bulls played in the bankfin cup.
http://www.scrum.com/internationals/curriecup00/standings.asp
Have fun.
30 Mar 2006, 10:41 am
Nice on pieter. Except you have to show them that your spears can win.
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