Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers has made it clear that overseas-based players who harbour international ambitions will stand little chance of playing for South Africa under his reign.
The Times reports that De Villiers also said he wanted to take rugby “back to the people� and that the players must feel joy at the prospect of playing for their country and not take it so seriously.
His occasionally bizarre comments were made during an hour- long studio appearance on Superrugby programme on kykNET on Monday night.
De Villiers leaves for Europe later this week where he will watch Wales and Italy in Six Nations clashes and meet various International Rugby Board officials.
Last week he denied he’d meet any players, making it clear that World Cup winners such as John Smit and Victor Matfield would have little chance of making his first Bok side of the year.
“I hear the argument that it’s a professional sport and that players have the right to play where they like,� De Villiers said. “That’s fine, but every person must take responsibility for their decisions and I’ll definitely be looking within South Africa first.
“The final decision on whether overseas-based players can represent the Boks still has to be made.
“I believe the president’s council will make the right decision and then we can take it further. But as Bok coach my feeling is that a guy playing in South Africa will have the inside lane.�
“ If a guy is playing overseas, he’ll have to be way better than anything we have here ,� he said. “First , he’s not contending with his direct opponents for a position, and second, we don’t see him.
“The little we see — and I don’t mean me because I’ll see videos of players — but the general public, the less they identify with the player. I’d like South Africa fans to cheer for real South Africans.�
Is De Villiers suggesting that public opinion is one of the criteria for selecting Springbok players?
He also felt that players would become less brutal if they developed friendships with international opponents while playing overseas.
“The fact that some players are based overseas means that they might become a bit more friendly with our international opponents and I feel that the pride and will to win might wane.�
Tell that to Percy Montgomery, who returned a better player after two seasons at Newport.
He also wanted the players to interact with the public more often. “I’d like to make the players more involved and then, and this is the most important thing, I’d like to give rugby back to the people.�
February 7th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Is this the same Guy who lost the world under 21 championship when he turned Keegan Daniel into an eightman in the final game and used some plodder to mark their flyhalf who then had a blinder thanks to his brainless tactics
February 7th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Hey Donner or anyone, do you have any feedback on Pierre Spies’s results? It’s supposed to be out today. Please assist.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:26 am
So it would seem Smit, Matfield, Butch, Percy are probably out. By my reckoning Watson will be selected. If bakkies goes accross and he’s not selected, get ready for a kiwi mauling.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Oi Pieter Oi!
Shit I understand why this guy was so successful with age group teams but that same strength I fear will be his downfall in senior rugby.
His Stephen Brink vocal tone does not help either.
But I still think he can be OK once year 1 has bliksemed his naivety out of him.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
So what are we looking at:
1. Guthro (Heinke) 2. Rallapelle (Bismarck/Smit) 3. EA/Mujajti (CJ/BJ/Jannie)
4. Lobberts (Bakkies) 5. Becker (Matfield)
6. Watson (Spies) 7. Juan 8. Burger
9. Ricky/Delport (FdP/Pienaar) 10. Dolly/Rose (Butch/AP)
12. Julies/Adi (JdV/Steyn) 13. Murray (Fourie, Jaco P)
11. Habana 14. JP 15. Jantjies (Percy)
Cant wait for the first test team selection.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Here we go AGAIN! Good heavens Pieter!
February 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
1. Guthro 2. Rallapelle (vc) 3. Mujati
4. Bakkies 5. Lobberts
6. Watson (c) 7. Juan 8. Burger
9. Delport 10. FdP
12. Steyn 13. Murray
11. Habana 14. JP 15. Jantjies
9 POCs’ + 1 honorary, gives 10.
we must count carefully, thats the best team i can think of that meets the race reservation, no foreigners criteria and LW selection critera.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Hey Donner or anyone, do you have any feedback on Pierre Spies’s results? It’s supposed to be out today. Please assist.
Comment by onerb — February 7, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Yes, all the Bulls will probably hope the steriods is out of his blood by now.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
He also felt that players would become less brutal if they developed friendships with international opponents while playing overseas.
Oh yeah of course
We saw just how Bryan Habana held back when he played against Bok team mate Percy Montgomery in the S14 final last year
How Fourie Du Preez tried not to tackle the wee out of Frans Steyn in that final
How JP PIiteresen tried to fluffily herd Habana into touch
Oh yeah, playing together in the same league really makes players less brutal towards each other
I warned and I reiterate
Pieter De Villiers is not equipped to do this job.
He’s a yes man to the politicians
And he has zero media skills
The Australian media are going to eat him alive and he won’t be able to play the standard card as there is none of that in Australia
February 7th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Hey Donner or anyone, do you have any feedback on Pierre Spies’s results? It’s supposed to be out today. Please assist.
Comment by onerb — February 7, 2008 @ 11:24 am |Edit This
I will follow up with the Bulls and let you know
February 7th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
cab
Mujati is a Zimbo – doesn’t qualify for SA yet.
Lobberts as a jumper – what are you smoking?
February 7th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
shields
he’s too self centered and locally focused to learn
Welcome to SAFA
February 7th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Comment by DavidS — February 7, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
ja i know, but one has to speculate, how else you going to meet all those criteria and still call it merit.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
u could understand sweeping changes were it not the small matter of a world cup winning team who are all in their prime barring Os. Their win must have put a tremendous spoke in the works with all the plans being cooked up.
Its one thing to drop half of your world cup stars if the team carries on winning, but if the results dont go to plan, some ppl are going to look pretty damn stoopid and one wonders who the poor scapegoat will be.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Surely by now PdeV must know that you cant please all the people all the time and that if you try to do that then you will eventually piss all the people off. Please someone save him from himself, select a team, deliver the team to him and then say to him, “now its your turn, coach them”.
I wonder if someone is playing devils advocate with PdeV, setting him up maybe?
February 7th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Bob,
I don’t think they need to set the Bok coach up, him breathing is enough reason for SARU to fire him adhoc.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I’d like South Africa fans to cheer for real South Africans.�
Implying that guys who choose to pursue a career in rugby overseas are not real South Africans
Stupid tosser IMO
The more his mouth flaps the less respect I have.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Butch, John, Victor et al you are not real South Africans , thanks for the WC and DCM
February 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
WTF this guy has clearly been given his orders of late by his masters… he makes skopskiet sound logical…
Lobbers at lock… bwhhahaha… what’s that cab this oke is only a few cm’s taller than Puke Watson…
February 7th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
There are tow comments that made me sit upright.
1. “I’d like South Africa fans to cheer for real South Africans.â€?
What are his criteria for – real – South Africans
2. “I’d like to give rugby back to the people.â€?
Back implies it was theirs and were taken away ???????????
Who are – the people – he is talking about??????????
Don’t the current supporters fit the criteria?????????
February 7th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
“I’d like to give rugby back to the people.â€?
The you’d better farkin get out there and speak to the supporters who pay your wages and see what they think about your plans… you’re taking the game away from ‘the people’!
February 7th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Brand
Valid comment
Guess?
I think that if you frame your thought processes correctly you will be able to ascertain what the outcome is
They I assume means black spectators and fans
The people is black people
real South Africans are those who stick around and don’t follow their purse strings to Europe and other climes
February 7th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
The Boks won the RWC for two reasons (and a bit of luck)…
They played 100% for their coach and their ‘people’ (us all the supporters)…
IMO this guy is fast losing the first 50%… before the season has even started!
February 7th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
What the f@%K…all of a sudden I am missing Yeye’s press releases!!
This guy is a plonker. Spent too much time coaching young boys. This kind of talk might go a long way at that level, but you are now with the big dogs! It would almost seem as if he likes his own voice (but that just can not be). He speaks like a politician, not a respected coach – wants to carry favour with everyone.
But then again what would I know. I am just a Bulls supporter with an agenda…….
February 7th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Hey Donner or anyone, do you have any feedback on Pierre Spies’s results? It’s supposed to be out today. Please assist.
Comment by onerb — February 7, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Here you go, from yesterdays Interview on the bulls site with Wynand Olivier.
Question asked by : Jan
Hallo Wynand, weet jy wat is die nuutste nuus oor Pierre Spies. Kan ons hom in aksie verwag?
Answer
Hy sien more die spesialis
Ons verwag hom so middel Maart terug.
Player Name – Wynand
February 7th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
[MySQL server has gone away]
Perth ? London ? Auckland ?
February 7th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
let’s hope Spam doesn’t get this one.
Hey Donner or anyone, do you have any feedback on Pierre Spies’s results? It’s supposed to be out today. Please assist.
Comment by onerb — February 7, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Here you go, from yesterdays Interview on the bulls site with Wynand Olivier.
Question asked by : Jan
Hallo Wynand, weet jy wat is die nuutste nuus oor Pierre Spies. Kan ons hom in aksie verwag?
Answer
Hy sien more die spesialis
Ons verwag hom so middel Maart terug.
Player Name – Wynand
February 7th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Yoss
Also getting it quite a lot this morning
February 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
DavidS
Did reply earlier – then – all tech-hell broke lose.
Seems others had same challenge.
Ha ha ha – - – “I think that if you frame your thought processes correctly you will be able to ascertain what the outcome is” – - –
February 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I’ve been sooooooooooo pissed off this morning already with the Internet as a whole….. seems that Helkom ADSL ISP has had a number of hickups……… I could get into certain sites, but not others……. also got the error described above…
Voldy’s site is freegin freegin freegin freegin (enough freegins, you catch my drift) SLOW !!
February 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Wasn’t a Telkom prob… I have super duper quick Bigpond cable over here and the same prob on RW… the RW server went down for a few minutes… I blame it on the ‘third force’…lol!
February 7th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
GBS
Is jy nou weer ok?
February 7th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
AB, ek is ALTYD OK……..
Jong die Internet is nou reg, behalwe kkkkeeeooo se site, mens wag vir ewig om daar in te kom, hy refresh woesssssssss stadig.
February 7th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Ek het nog nie vandag daai probleem gehad nie! Seker maar die 3G!
February 7th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Ta KSA!
So the MySql thing wasn’t just with me
Thank heavens
February 7th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I like it, still don’t have any major qualms about anything this guy has said so far, he echo’s most of my sentiments, he’s a down to earth no nonsense rugby man, prima donnas beware, go hook up with Jake or Saracens, but here we want SA grafters and punters first and foremost, bread buttered every which way is for Hollywood or Premier League soccer, just cos you fluked a no contest WC under Eddy Jones (Jake tugging at his sleeve) don’t mean you next best thing to marmalade coated sliced bread.
Yes you had your hour in the sun, you want to keep it that way, you better be a whole lot better and on form compared to the locals busting their gut week in and week out in the S14 etc.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Which people is that huh Bryce, you lily livered lot that want it every g’dam way you choose, you made your stance took your picks and your chances, now you got another citizenship you root for them, we don’t want nor need aristocrats baying from over yonder, stay put where you laid your bed, now sleep in it. Otherwise root for Jake and England, leave us snot nosed mongrels to run our affairs, you run yours, we see who comes out trumps in the end.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
February 7th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Howdy my TARA escapee friend…
It might pain you but I’m still a RSA citizen, I still contribute financially to the country… I ‘foster’ 2 ‘orphans’ that your ‘mates’ in govt have dismally failed… and I have been an avid supporter of the most successful Bok team, coach and captain in the history of the game… I’m a ‘people’
Oh and I just happen to live in the best country in the world… go figure!
February 7th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Comment by skopskiet — February 7, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
LMAO, do you really want that?
some criticism against your man which you tell us we cant handle with jake and then its an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ situation. Be careful what you hope for you might just get it.
Alot of skills are being lost from SA unecessarily, you adopt that line and there’s little hope imo. No-one is irreplaceable but dont marginalise ppl just to try and prove a point, since it very might not be proved like JW and the RWC.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
and since when did south africans become mongrils and expats become aristocrats, as far as i know we all come from and are interested in the success of the same place?
February 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Hey Cab, if Skopskiet wants to give away/boast about his pedigree then let him.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
lol Bob, ok, but this trueblue battler routine is also getting a bit much.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Cab if its getting a bit much for us consider how much harder it is for him, he now has a reputation to keep up and anything mildly toned down will be seen as him becoming a softy. The crusade must continue!!
February 7th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I dont think this “freezing” will last long!
February 7th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
AB
They could maybe be serious about (I don’t agree with it). This could explain why PdV went overseas.
Maybe he is giving the players advance warning that he will not be able to choose them.
February 7th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Choose – you’re either an us or a them, you had it both ways too long, now make your choice and stick by it.
You and your glory boy coach made it quite clear who the us’s were and who the them’s were, back in the glory boy’s heyday, then they promptly got whacked 49-0, and the rest.
Now decide if you’re on the bus or on the sidewalk throwing stones at the new brigade, otherwise go shack up with the old boys at sarries or in the ‘old’ new ‘White’ regime.
Take your position but we ain’t going backwards for the likes of you dinosaurs, you had your chips now regurgitate them well.
February 7th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Shields,
When I read this, my reaction was the same.
Oi. Not good. He needs to concentrate on the job.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
i have chosen, i support whatever action i believe is best for SA as a whole.
I am against ‘quota’ player selections and against ‘honorary’ player selections that byapss the selection panel and against ppl that say merit is the criteria when it is not.
on overseas players, well its really up to PdV if he wants to leave out talent like Matfield, Smit, Butch, Percy or even Bakkies. Its his chop on the block and will stand or fall by those sort of decisions.
personally for me it really makes no difference if i support england or france, but i’d prefer not to, since i am south african.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
skopskiet,
the only possible reason i would come back to SA would be to try and help it. Thats it. I personally would get nothing out of it other then possibly trying to help and uplift it.
Bar 2 family members who love SA like I do, most of my family are gone. I now have far more friends and family in england and oz. I would never get paid the salary I do in europe nor have to worry about crime etc. I am not home-sick either, i found the english culture very enjoyable and easy to fit into. they like a joke, a drink and are generally a fair bunch.
Its a shame cos i never ‘left’ south africa, I wanted to live in a few places and come back and contribute, but i watch what is going on and listen to family members who did far more than you mr skopskiet back in the day, and i’m pretty sure that the next year or two and SA’s policies will ultimately determine her success or failure.
The election of zuma is the wrong way and the bleatings of Stofile about merit and racism are nonsense, the boot is on the other foot, which is fair enough, but it needs to be wielded carefully not to repeat the past and marginalise another group and its looking very close to that from where i stand.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
skopskiet
I think that listening to many people talking it would appear that expats are still loyal to their home nation.
And in that respect I think it’s wrong to question people who choose money and pure merit above the sordid race politics that imbue local rugby with its current issues.
If one were to for instance look at the football team – the national one – and even some of the local Premiership sides, one would be amazed to see that many many players are from other countries.
By this token, I must ask, is Didier Drogba a traitor to Cote Ivoire?
What about Michael Essien?
What about the likes of Ru Radebe and Chippa Masinga?
Are they traitors?
Should they be overlooked for putting their own well-being above that of a system that does not value their skills?
What about Shaun Bartlett and Mark Fish?
Do those criteria apply to them?
Yeah….
Right