PdV quits as Boks crash out
9 Oct 2011
Peter de Villiers has quit after coaching the Springboks to a World Cup quarter-final defeat in Wellington.
De Villiers’ contract has expired and after a four year tenure marked by controversy and criticism, he will opt not to put forward his name as a candidate for the now vacant post.
‘Its been a brilliant journey and one that none of you [the media] can take away from me,’ he said. ‘There’s a time to come and a time to go. The journey is over.
‘I enjoyed it. I was in a privileged position to be able to contribute to my country. South African rugby is in a good state and will move forward after this.’
Asked how he wanted to be remembered, De Villiers said: ‘As the best me I could be.’
De Villiers ends his career with a 63% success rate, winning 30 of his 48 Tests. However, measured against the best in the world he has struggled. With the defeat in Wellington this evening his record against Australia dipped to four wins from 12, while he has won just five from 11 against the All Blacks.
De Villiers enjoyed the bulk of his success in 2009, winning a series against the British & Irish Lions, as well as the Tri-Nations. However, outside of that the Springboks have struggled, this with arguably the finest generation of players in decades at his disposal.
His loyalty to captain John Smit, despite the rise of the incomparable Bismarck du Plessis, has elicited severe criticism. He sought out Smit in 2008 while the Test veteran was contracted to French outfit Clermont, offering him the captaincy, then persisting with him despite Smit touching the ceiling of his potential in 2009.
Smit was liberal in his praise of De Villiers. ‘We’ve had a good four years. He isn’t a coach in the usual mould but one we’ve thoroughly enjoyed,’ Smit said. ‘He has given us leeway and space and tightened the reigns when he needed to. He is a great man and coach.’
De Villiers was appointed ahead of superior candidates, most notably Heyneke Meyer, in 2008, South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins citing ‘reasons other than rugby credentials’ as the reason for the decision.
There isn’t a clear favourite for the post. Meyer has signed a long-term deal with the Bulls as their director of rugby and has indicated repeatedly to this website that he isn’t considering applying for the job. The Stormers duo of Rassie Erasmus and Allistair Coetzee are expected to toss their names into the hat, while others like Lions coach John Mitchell and former Saracens head Brendan Venter have been mentioned as possible candidates.
By Ryan Vrede, in Wellington.
695 Comments
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10 Oct 2011, 02:07 am
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-601:
Condolences Skop. She will be there as a guide, like Jinx is for me.
10 Oct 2011, 02:11 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-649: It is plainly obvious that Bryce has been handed his job by Paddy as he certainly does not have the talent to succeed in the role. The only reasoning for this would be so that his mate Bryce can influence games the way he wants them influenced. I point to the Super 15 as a prime example. Bryce was dreadful and almost exclusively favored Kiwi teams.
Bryce has been abysmal this WC and should not be there. Paddy has seen fit in the past to publicly berate and remove other “problem” refs like Stu Dickenson but fails to do anything about Bryce.
Therefore my conclusion is that Paddy is a cheat.
Again – I don’t blame the ref for the loss on the weekend. But he should never have been there
10 Oct 2011, 02:45 am
@jeest(jeest)-652:
“so that his mate Bryce can influence games the way he wants them influenced. I point to the Super 15 as a prime example. Bryce was dreadful and almost exclusively favored Kiwi teams.”.
well he did a tremendous job of disguising it, then.
Bryce refereed the S15 Final between Crusaders vs Reds, only a few months ago, controlled the breakdown exactly as he did yesterday with exact the same ‘free-for-all’ comments made thereafter.
The Reds won.
“almost exclusively favoured the Kiwi teams” ?
10 Oct 2011, 02:50 am
there is no conspiracy, Bryce Lawrence is just a terrible, terrible referee.
10 Oct 2011, 02:55 am
@fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell)-654: A very sensible assessment. Any other conclusion will only get you angry and achieve nothing else.
10 Oct 2011, 02:58 am
Also, often thought a bit about the bile you South Africans hold towards Australians (its all over this site) and, it seems to me its because you often recognise the worst of yourselves in the other.
10 Oct 2011, 03:01 am
@fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell)-654: That’s probably true but I’m sticking with my theory.
653.Black Panther: The reds won despite Bryce. Look at the Tahs / Blues game and the infamous “dangerous play” call on the sharks scrum before they engaged. He is a disgrace to the game and the fact that he remains a referee should raise all sorts of questions as to Paddys motives.
I will never trust a country that has everything invested in a game like Rugby – it means too much to kiwis for them to be objective.
10 Oct 2011, 03:22 am
@jeest(jeest)-657:
So,Bryce is a cheat, POB is a cheat and you will never turst a Kiwi again.
lol you are blaming everyone else on your loss, just cope and accept like we were told in 2007.
We were told by most of you in 2007 ,NZ should have won but you were not good enough to,accept it,man up and carry on.
Practice what you preach i say.
10 Oct 2011, 03:40 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-658: Like I said – our fault we lost. I certainly haven’t blamed anyone else in any of my posts.
Aussies made 3 times as many tackles…by right they shouldn’t have been able to walk let alone defend but they somehow dragged themselves up and held us out. That’s just gutsy play from them and attacking deficiency from us.
You guys didn’t exactly “cope and accept” your loss in 2007. There were non stop media articles complaining and blaming the ref and your country went into depression, the economy dropped and the government had to hire psychologists to help out the distraught fans.
Bryce is probably just an abysmal ref, but there is enough evidence to suggest a Kiwi conspiracy and having just spent 3 weeks in NZ seeing what terrible fans you all are – I’m going with that. A lot of Kiwis are just way too serious. I couldn’t believe some of the stuff I saw, admittedly most directed towards Australians but it put a lot of other fans off too.
10 Oct 2011, 03:44 am
“lol you are blaming everyone else on your loss, just cope and accept like we were told in 2007″.
Hmmm… what about the famous accusation that “Suzie the waitress poisened the All Blacks before the final” story after the 1995 Worls Cup?
10 Oct 2011, 03:52 am
@boksfan(boksfan)-660: Kiwis would never make up a story like that…haven’t they told you how “humble” and “reserved” they are. All other nations are “arrogant”, “unsportsmanlike”, “loud” and “cheats” but fortunately New Zealand is a shining example of how sport should be played and how fans should behave.
On a serious note, Kiwis don’t ever see their own faults. They are too insular.
10 Oct 2011, 04:22 am
@jeest(jeest)-659:
try not to let your team being not-good-enough to progress with your touring experience then. Try reeeeeeeeal hard.
What an incredibly Poor Loser.
I met some incredibly gracious Pumas supporters immediately after the QterF vs ABs last pm and they couldnt have been more glowing about NZ and its people and the warm way they have been welcomed. Perhaps they were able to have greater clarity of their touring experience than you given that they never had such huge expectations of victory.
On my own journeys throughout NZ for 9 matches, the one set of supporters who seemed almost resolute in their determination to appear grim-faced and humorless were the Safas. They went everywhere en masse in their Bokke team kit, long coats as if marching to The War in the Arctic, I never once saw them wearing silly self-effacing outfits, and their attitude has been nothing shy of Us vs Them. At Albany during the Samoa match, they even managed to fight amongst themselves with 2 groups of Safas having to be escorted from the stadium, 1 of which was started by women. Maybe SA – and you seem to be a wonderful example – “are just way too serious” ?
On a Poll taken before the RWC, 67% of NZers voted that it was far more important that the RWC was a success than it was for the ABs to win the RWC, thats how “insular” they are. And it seems to have been a resounding success to date, given the International reaction.
Next time you go to a RWC, why dont you pack your bag with a silly joke moustache in honour of your favourite rugby comedian. And learn to not take rugby, and life, toooooooo seriously.
10 Oct 2011, 04:39 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-662: You are so insular you have just put together a WC wrap from your own point of view.
Let me tell you a couple of things from a group that included 3 Aussies, 2 Irish and 2 South Africans.
Firstly, Aukland is a **** hole and the people there are idiots. Some of the worst behaviour i have ever seen was directed towards the aussies in our group at Eden Park and it continued into the next day where they were abused by some idiots while we sat and had breakfast in a cafe.
While Wellington is a beautiful city, the supporters there continued the trend. Apparently there was a Rugby League game that a Kiwi team won that night so the supporters decided that was an excuse to go out and abuse Australians again. I’m told it had nothing to do with international rugby league so I’m not sure what they were going on about. In any case there were a lot of people from a lot of countries who were seriously unimpressed with the behaviour of the New Zealanders. And this wasn’t just “banter” plenty of it got abusive and violent.
The problem seems to be that, you go out and ask to host this international tournament, but you seem to think that you don’t need to be good hosts. I can assure you that the last two major events hosted by SA were nothing like that.
And while you call me a poor loser, I give full credit to the Australians for their victory – something I have stated on several occasions but that you have chosen to ignore. Much like a toddler does when it throws a tantrum. My advice to you and to most of your countrymen is simple…just grow up. It’s an international game and if you are going to play with the rest of the world then you need to learn how to behave. Still as someone pointed out to me on tour “what can you expect from a trailer park off Sydney’s Eastern Coast”.
10 Oct 2011, 05:08 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-662: THere will be instances of pockets of good or bad behaviour from any supporting country. I heard of instances of kiwi’s spitting on and burning the Australian flag. If it were true, it would be crazy to suggest that you were supportive of this just because you were Kiwi. Don’t be ridiculous!
10 Oct 2011, 05:08 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-662:
Yes, I agree, NZ is a model nation.
10 Oct 2011, 05:21 am
@jeest(jeest)-663:
Well said bud
I also saw first hand some very disappointing keewwwee behaviour. Support the underdog, like Nam, Samoa etc in the games v the Boks, no problems, but the worst sports and the most poison came out of these so – called neutral mouths when it turned out Sa was going to win.
Pathetic narrow minded little f u k pigs these blokes……………just like wet pantie
Unfortunately a larger % than some Keewees will acknowledge
10 Oct 2011, 05:22 am
@BillMcConnell(BillMcConnell)-656: I am truly sorry that you feel that way. On behalf of all the Saffas, allow me to apologise. I really believe that good behaviour brings out the best in all of us. Please pray for us and don’t forget to whip yourself senseless.
10 Oct 2011, 05:39 am
I think the word I’m looking for is…anywaaaaaay. Who do you think will be the new coaching team?
Head Coach:
Forwards Coach:
Backs Coach:
Technical Analyst:
Kicking Coach:
Skills Coach:
10 Oct 2011, 05:44 am
gold and muir to share primary responsibilities, PdV assistant coach 50% of time allocated to the backs and 50% to the forwards.
10 Oct 2011, 05:56 am
@BillMcConnell(BillMcConnell)-656: Well I’m not sure who you are referring to but personally I don’t have a problem with most Aussie supporters. You carry on like idiots during most matches (like we all do) but generally after the game, especially if you have lost, you quickly forget about the result and get on with your lives. In fact I’ve noticed that most of you start talking up the next match within an hour of a defeat.
I certainly don’t see the hatred you believe we hold for you in our fans. Which is in contrast to your Tasman cousins who really seem to have a massive problem with you. Probably due to the fact that their happiness depends on how 15 people play a game every week.
10 Oct 2011, 05:56 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-668: Sorry for the sarcasm, still recovering from the defeat. You seem to be able to look forward quite quickly. I’m out…
10 Oct 2011, 06:13 am
Not to keen on Rassie and Alistair …. i wonder what Graham Henry or Warren Gatland are doing after the WorldCup
Nah John Mitchell is the way to go
10 Oct 2011, 06:20 am
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-665:
tell me, because I am really genuinely interested
the only thing I really said that was ‘pro-NZ’ was that 1. Argies had a good time and 2. NZers wanted a successful RWC above all else
so WHY have you interpreted that as me saying ‘NZ is a model nation’ ?
Ive visited many many countries on this incredible planet and Ive yet to strike a ‘model nation’ myself, incl NZ.
But Ive lost count of how many “you think your country is the best” chippy comments here. Why IS that ?
And tell me that the reply from Jeest @ 663 is not based on childish paranoia written in the wake of bitter defeat ?
10 Oct 2011, 06:30 am
Why isn’t that co-ck sucker Vickerman cited for dropping a knee on Brussow’s head and then going in with the shoulder at the ruck? What a load of horseshit.
I hope Vickerman and his family suffer a nice house invasion from a 5 foot 3 street native with aids. A nice raping will be just deserts,
10 Oct 2011, 06:33 am
@jeest(jeest)-663:
Your reply is hilarious and Im somewhat embarrassed for you.
Just so you know, your wee pitbull in support, aka the sexist racist bottomfeeding-pondlife SCUM trading under the name of ‘Whatever’, actually lives in this wee ‘trailer park’.
And should you want to critique the locals who dressed up their houses in flags of all supporting nations, who flew them from their cars, who delighted in all kinds of fancy-dress on matchday, and who had sold out crowds in the isolated towns of Palmerston North, Napier, Whangarei and Nelson – for neutral matches between minnow nations – and compare them to the crowd shots from the 1995 RWC, where the crowd seemed to come alive but only when the Boks were on the field, and not a neutral flag in sight, then I can only assume that you toured this country with your eyes firmly closed shut. Perhaps you should exercise the same instruction to your mouth.
Ever been to a cricket match in Australia ?
*chortle*
10 Oct 2011, 06:36 am
@jeest(jeest)-670:
Enjoy the post from your countryman, KKK, at 674.
10 Oct 2011, 06:40 am
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-674: That’s just sick mate.
10 Oct 2011, 06:42 am
@bokgat1(bokgat1)-664:
The suburb of Mt Eden, the home of Eden Park and my very own residence, has adopted Australia as its ’2nd team’. The street and shops are lined with Australian flags, as is my childrens school. My kids classes are lined with drawings their created of Australian players.
I havent seen any burnt flags yet tho, but I’ll be on the lookout.
10 Oct 2011, 06:44 am
@jeest(jeest)-677:
you make a lovely couple actually.
10 Oct 2011, 06:44 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-675: Be great if you actually read my post you idiot.
You will see I was critical of Auckland and Wellington only – not of any other places. When you put on an event like this, you need your major population centres to behave, something you haven’t done.
So, for the second time, you have responded to an argument I haven’t made. Obviously you have no retort to my comments so you have to pretend I said something that you can argue with.
And as far as Kobus goes, look back at my responses to him in the past in a number of articles. I don’t agree with that **** but every country has idiots…yours just has more than anywhere else.
10 Oct 2011, 07:00 am
@jeest(jeest)-680:
how odd that your bitterness only surfaced after your teams defeat.
Personally Ive never visited a country I didnt like. I suppose its all in the attitude.
There are 20,000 Safas who choose to live in NZ. So maybe theyre not all negative miserable b@st@rds like you.
10 Oct 2011, 07:04 am
At least some good news, PdV we’ll never miss you, and please, never try to come back, ok?
I realy hope sarugby officials change their minds about this quota and political **** and starts to think more about rugby itself.
What so wonderfull AC has done at ct? nothing, but at least he knows more about rugby than pdv. Rassie its a good name and so its Brendan Venter. But why it can’t be a non sa born? Eddie Jones it would be perfect.
Schalk has prove he can still play 80 minutes and deserves to be named capitain. Juan Smith is also a good name while he is able to play for the Boks. I hope he at least continues to be used as a bok as far as he can do the job. Big Vic has done an excelent job at his last game and i’ll miss him. I can’t say the same about smit and Spies.
This bullshit about chiliboy as hooker and capitain can’t be serious. He’s not at international level even as a replacement.
Andries Beker and Duane Vermeulen could have really done a good rwc if feat.
Gurthro did an amazing rwc, i hope the new coach don’t forget him. Bakkies should be named at some games, at least half time or 30 minutes just to balance youth and experience and help the next Boks generation.
we have the best human material in rugby, we just have to use it wisely.
10 Oct 2011, 07:19 am
@jeest(jeest)-680:
“I was critical of Auckland and Wellington only – not of any other places.”
Once I “read your message”, again, I STILL failed to see ONE positive comment from your stay in NZ. And, in fact, just so you made it abundantly clear, the “trailer park off Sydney” summary seemed to encapsulate the whole country of NZ rather succinctly. Unless Im mistaken.
Personally this is my 6th RWC and as Ive returned to NZ after 16yrs living away have been able to view it with a more objective eye than many. The RWCs held in UK (’91 and ’99) were the absolute worst without any ‘rugby fever’ outside of the stadiums themselves, and where most of the population didnt even know it was taking place (other than in Cardiff). Australia in 2003 was fun but outside of Sydney and Brisbane, it may as well have not been on and even then R.League or Aussie Rules was the main focus for most. It was more a ‘sporting event’ than a true Rugby Event. 2007 was wonderful as France is 1 of my favourite countries but, then, it had sold itself down the river with high profile matches in French towns such as Cardiff, London and Edinburgh. And the Final in Paris was merely a curiosity for the locals, most seemed as aloof as only Parisiens can be. I didnt manage SA in 1995 as I was already elsewhere on Honeymoon, but coverage of it was enough to illustrate the almost complete lack of local support for any other nation bar SA. It is, nevertheless, a country Im desperate to visit and have promised myself to 1 day.
Its odd that your comments seem greatly in contrast to every other visitor I have met and the tone seems oddly close to that currently being directed at the referee of yesterdays match. Just a coincidence, Im sure.
10 Oct 2011, 07:37 am
Good for SA rugby – Pdivvy brought nothing to the boks
10 Oct 2011, 07:42 am
Good luck Peter. You exhibited a lot of admirable qualities as a human being, especially honesty, candour and wit. Alas as a coach you brought nothing new to the Boks and we spent the last four years effectively spinning our wheels. I wish you well for the future.
10 Oct 2011, 08:02 am
Candidates for Head Coach
Allistair Coetzee
Heyneke Meyer
Rassie Erasmus
John Mitchell
John Plumtree
I think Allistair will take it.
10 Oct 2011, 08:09 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-686:
Of course he will. The Springboks will more than likely never again have a white coach.
10 Oct 2011, 08:21 am
@Kobus
So, without looking at Allistair’s merits, you are implying he doesn’t deserve the job?
Who would you pick?
10 Oct 2011, 08:45 am
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-687: Who gives a **** what colour the coach is? We need to get the best coach available.
10 Oct 2011, 09:20 am
Hallelujah, this is the best news I’ve had in ages, pdiv finally gone, it makes yesterday’s loss just a bit easier to take.
Now I just hope the next coach is appointed on his rugby acumen and not “non rugby related reasons”
10 Oct 2011, 10:05 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-647: Yeah likewise. The way Samo fell yesterday was very dangerous too but had much more to do with his supporters but yeah Danie did have his hands around the lower leg by the end. Didnt think he pulled at all buthe just shouldnt have done it in the first place.
10 Oct 2011, 12:37 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-678: Haha shame on you for blaming innocent children on flag-burning.
10 Oct 2011, 13:10 pm
The best news I’ve read since the devastating loss on Sunday.
Everything is looking up already.
10 Oct 2011, 13:30 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-381: Post after post you come across as bigger and bigger fool.
A repetitive fool is the worst fool.
10 Oct 2011, 20:59 pm
Oh ja PDivvy had to go eventually but the real rot is around and above him. SA officials and administrators are pathetic. I’m none too hopeful of an improvement based on the lack of any sign of management skill, accountability, leadership or standing up for the Boks by our gravy train riders. We have the players; management is non-existent and that is why klowns like keo and oberholzer can promote their own agendas.
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