Which came first – the chicken or the egg? What to order on the plane – beef or chicken? How to coach the national side – pick players that can play the style you want to play, or play the style that best suits the players available to you?
Just some of the questions Peter de Villiers has had to answer in his life, with most answers recently having to focus on the way his side is playing. Or rather not playing!
JJ Harmse writes on News 24 that De Villiers is between a rock and a hard place at the moment. He inherited a star-studded side that entered the World Cup final as the most capped Springbok side of all time. The starting fifteen had no less than 668 caps between them.
Injuries, retirements and personal selection meant De Villiers’s first selection, against Wales, took to the field with only 318 caps between them! No matter how you look at it, that is one hell of a difference.
True, that stats looked a bit better once Percy Montgomery and Victor Matfield were brought into the starting line-up, but the fact remains that it would never be the same side that took the field in Paris on that memorable day.
So what were De Villiers options? He picked a few form players from Super 14, a significant number of players of colour, and most of the available stalwarts from the World Cup team.
Huge letdown
Nothing wrong there. He should have picked more fetchers, with the likes of Cobus Grobbelaar and Heinrich Brüssow inexplicably left out, but overall his side seemed to have the right mix.
They started well too, although the rollover of the Welsh in Bloemfontein was a huge letdown. The visitors did much better in Pretoria a week later, but ran into a red-hot Jean de Villiers.
Italy was a washout, but the inability of the Springboks to play constructive rugby in wet conditions was there for all to see.
The Tri-Nations provided the final analysis. Although the Boks held their cool and – to quote the national coach – “Lady Luck certainly did not ignore us in Dunedin” – we lacked the final touches in Wellington, Perth and then again in Cape Town and Durban.
The lack of finishing proved a killer, the inability to dominate the collisions cost us the Tri-Nations.
How much of that is the fault of the coach and his staff and how much is to be blamed on the players?
Public is right
Popular opinion seems to blame De Villiers and he is now really in the hot seat. De Villiers has always maintained that he has the stomach for this type of pressure, but he will now be judged.
The fact of the matter is that the public is right to demand answers from De Villiers.
Harvard Business School (HBS) recently published a study on Black and Decker, the tool company. They were losing customers to a cheaper and better product from the Far East and asked HBS to help with some market research. They found that Black and Decker had a big decision to make – keep delivering what they offered at the time, or shift their focus to produce what the public wanted. And if they could not give the public what they wanted, they would have to suffer the consequence and lose market share.
It is pretty much the same with De Villiers. He can change the way he wants to play and commit more players to rucks and collision points. Or he can change the squad he has picked by bringing in whoever he believes will help the team finish off the scoring opportunities, be it Earl Rose at flyhalf or Luke Watson at eight.
The fact of the matter is that he needs to win Test matches. The reaction of the crowd in Durban was a true reflection of how they were feeling. And they were right – after all, they were the ones paying the R425+ for the Test match ticket. Not to mention the replica jerseys, plane tickets and hotel accommodation.
How De Villiers will return to winning ways will be up to him. My team will never play, just as my preferred choice of coach did not make the final cut. But that is not what matters. All that matters is for the Springboks to return to the winning trail. That is what the public expect and that is what they deserve.
A good win on Saturday, no, just a win on Saturday, will again lift the spirits of the South African rugby supporter. Rugby is an emotional business and the Springbok has a proud, proud tradition when it comes to winning test matches.
Losing again on Saturday will cost De Villiers huge market share amongst the rugby shareholders. But then, I am sure he would not need Harvard Business School for that analysis. The Jo’burg locals will make that apparent in no uncertain terms.
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Dare I say it? Other than the odd pot shot at PDV, I also have the same thoughts.
Should he get new players or a new gameplan?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : A bit of both. I wonder if the real problem isn’t that he needs a better forwards coach
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
I think you are right.
The backline seems to be doing OK even though our halfbacks are shite at the moment.
JDV and Adi and playing well…
Damn, just realised that they are the only two back line players who are playing well. 😯
I think he probably based the gist of his article after spending a day or two on this site, so much of it has been said on here already.
@Salmonoid (Comment 4) : strange – he hasn’t sent me any mote fanmail 😉
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
Yu’ve got mail..
Vis are top joernalis
@Pienaar die Blou Bul (Comment 7) : is that cos he supports the Bulle and Oom Heyneke???
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 6) : classic. I actually saw some guys doing those moves in Cannes… flipping amazing stuff.
@robdylan (Comment 9) :
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 10) : yes – but it’s actually more a freestyle dance thing than really about fighting
@wpw (Comment 3) : And they surely look good in a team that seems to struggle currently… 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 11) : you guys watching capoiera clips?
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 13) : indeed
” freestyle dance” until you take a blow to the side of the head dude, alot of power is generated in that dancing motion.
Abada abada capoeira bada 😎
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 16) :
The guy dealing the blow in that clip sure as hell looked like a dutchie from Christiana in a bar brawl..no free style dancing moved there!!
Maybe I should swop my Hip Hop dancing for Capoeir – dan sk*t julle almal op die blog!
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 17) : Best workout you will ever get, thats if you can survive the damned warmups.
Boot camp se moer!
Is Capoeira like karate with music?
@McLovin (Comment 19) :
Can you send me a mail addy – I will forward the clip..?
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 20) : Thanks, but I can’t access youtube or my yahoo/google mail at work. blerrie nazi’s. 👿 I’ll have a google when I get home. 😀
You can send you mail address to [email protected]
Found a clip. 😎 I think I’ll pass.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Agree… bit of both…
@Charlie (Comment 12) : Can you imagine how good they would look if the rest of the team was actually playing?
@McLovin (Comment 23) :
Scared of Stalkers?? 😈 😈
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 25) : Pass on the Capoeira. 🙂
But I am also somewhat paranoid. 🙄
… and claustrophobic.
@McLovin (Comment 28) : Ice is very little
@McLovin (Comment 28) : hypochondriac ?
@blackshark (Comment 24) : If the bits and pieces of the puzzle comes to a complete then we will see what PDV change of plan had produce… 😉
@McLovin (Comment 26) :
Ohhhh…
@blackshark (Comment 30) : I never go to the doctor unless in an ambulance.
@robdylan (Comment 29) :
lil’ Ice 😎
@McLovin (Comment 33) : You or the doctor ? 😆
I’m bit disappoitned that JJ didn’t credit us in the article after using our ideas so blatantly…
@VinChainSaw (Comment 36) : I would never say a bad word about JJ, ever
Well personally i think the players are more to blame, they can’t seem to do the very basics properly, Its hard to critise Div’s game plan – when your players don’t catch, can’t pass and have a Captain who is more inclined to recline on the ground next to rucks and wait for the ref to blow his whistle so he can have a chat.
I think more effort from the players and little more of a solid base from Div and the rest of the staff before unleashing running wild.
Long Basil Rey article up on r365…
@Sauce (Comment 38) :
Players dont pick themselves. Buck stops at the top.
@blackshark (Comment 39) :
Never heard of him… 😎
@VinChainSaw (Comment 40) : Very true Vin….
But at the same time, one doesn’t expect the quality of a player like Matfiled to not really deliver 5 weeks in a row
@Sauce (Comment 42) :
That fair enough Sauce and I agree some of the senior players haven’t fronted up.
But this weekend again Matfield will be captaining the side, a situation he is obviously not suited for… if your top players don’t deliver you need to be able to unearth replacements or tailor their training so that they do deliver.
Shape up or ship out.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 43) : pee or get off the pot 😉
@robdylan (Comment 44) :
Exactly. Puff or pass, dont hog.
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 22) : You sending out invitations or what Blond one? 😈 😈
@VinChainSaw (Comment 45) : Better analogy…
@Silver Fox (Comment 46) :
Hahahaha…read the thread, Silver Pup! 😈
oh – you missed out on Give Ice Sheit hour…. 🙄
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 48) :And there I was hoping you invited me to chat!! 😯
About me trying to conquer the Ice Queen? He he hee…
Icy, the phrase try to conquer is applicable only where there is a token of resistance. 😎
@Silver Fox (Comment 49) :
I was just looking forward to the challenge…turned out the bloggers on this blog has been weighed and found wanting… 😈
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 50) : You’re like a jack-in-the-box? Popping up everywhere,making me dizzy, sheesh!!!! 😈
But granted Ice, they are clearly not of my calibre!! 😈
@robdylan (Comment 44) : dude,read what you just typed,seriously.
Looks like it’s Milissa’s birthday today.
Happy birthday !!!
@Silver Fox (Comment 51) :
granted….
Who in SA are doing or have done the EMP501 returns?? I need HELP – Pleezeee!!! 👿
Or izzit only IT Boffs around this valley…actually I need help in submitting my file – so it is rather an IT question…and SARS HELP DESK aint answering the phones.. 🙄
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 54) :
Good luck. Iv’e done them many years ago and seem to remember it wasn;t fun.
Havent dealt with a emp501, it(3)b, IT12, IT14, IRP5 or any similar letter combinations for many a year and dont really miss it one little bit…
@VinChainSaw (Comment 55) :
Vin – its mos the new blooming system ook nog… 🙄 🙄
sars e-filing
I’ve never fillied in one of those forms, but it does seem rather taxing… 🙄
fillied = filled 😳
I haven’t really had a chance to form an opion on them.
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 57) :
PJLD – I have done all the stuff – but when submitting the folders are empty… 👿 👿 so SARS told me to back-up, delete application reinstall and try again…!I have a very very nasty word I wanna shout out loud now.. 👿 👿 👿
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 61) : Any chance that you are over taxing yourself?
@Silver Fox (Comment 62) :
SF – are you the same person that goes by the same mociker on the HCR website?
@VinChainSaw (Comment 63) : No. What is he like that you ask?
HCR? Do I have an impostor to deal with? 😈
@Silver Fox (Comment 62) : That’s very funny, almost as funny as post 58. 😀
@Silver Fox (Comment 64) :
Just wondering. The silverfox on HCR has some dubious bed-fellows who I defintiely wouldn’t be keen to see on this site.
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 61) : i sympathise , had my own issues with that damned system
@McLovin (Comment 65) :
Sorry, first off I’ve seen only the mistake you made, you kinda highlighted that. 🙂
@Silver Fox (Comment 68) : That spelling mistake kinda killed the joke. 😕
Income tax-time is when you test your powers of deduction.
😛
@VinChainSaw (Comment 66) : I will choose not to take that as an insult. 😛
If anything I said made you wonder, feel free to tell me. 🙂
@VinChainSaw (Comment 66) : You’ve got me curious now anyway. Care to give me the link? ❓
what’s HCR?
@Silver Fox (Comment 71) :
No worries chum – it’s not like you can help it.
@Silver Fox (Comment 72) : @robdylan (Comment 73) :
Dont have a link per se – just go to homecomingrevolution.co.za and click on the forum.
some rabid dogs on there though – you are fore-warned.
I’ve also seen silverfox pop up on a forum called http://www.x-za.com or soemthing.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 75) : you thinking of joining the Revolution, Vin? 😉
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 67) :
HEEEHAAA!!!!!! Its DONE!!! 😀 😀
@McLovin (Comment 58) : @Silver Fox (Comment 62) :
I dont get it…
don’t talk to me about tax. Ugh
HCR, home coming revolution and I was thinking the High Commission for Refugees – where Im sure there are also a few dubious charachters.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 74) : Gee, okay I checked it out. They are much cleverer than I am….. also more boring.
And yes: I is what I is
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 78) : You would not. Like you always say Ice, your looks excuse you.
@Silver Fox (Comment 81) :
Taking Ice to the Cleaners hour is LONG GONE…you missed it – you cannot make up for it now! 👿 And flattery will get you nowhere.. 😛
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 82) : not even flattery from me? 😉
@robdylan (Comment 83) :
Well now -that might be a different situation all together… 😉
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 84) : Objection yeronner!!!My smileys are gone but I’m sure you understand me by now…
@Silver Fox (Comment 85) :
Just because i am in a good mood – Objection sustained… 😉
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 86) : Friday? Good mood? 😀
Smileys are back.
@Silver Fox (Comment 87) :
Change of attitude… 😉 G’ morning!