For backing Roux, De Villiers may be sacked on Sunday
By David Beniuk, 3 Sep 2010 David Beniuk is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Peter de Villiers, Rugby Union, Springboks, Tri Nations
Speculation is growing in South Africa that Springboks coach Peter de Villiers could be sacked as early as Sunday. Local media are reporting the outspoken de Villiers will be hauled over the coals after comments he made about supporting accused murderer and Bulls prop Bees Roux “100 per cent”.
Some reports say the consequence is likely to be the removal of the first black man to coach the Boks, regardless of the result in the team’s Tri-Nations Test against Australia in Bloemfontein on Saturday (0100 Sunday AEST).
SARU officials are refusing to comment on de Villiers’ latest controversial remarks until after this weekend’s match, South Africa’s last of the series.
But the rugby body’s president Oregan Hoskins told the Cape Argus: “We will definitely look at his statements after Saturday.
“I don’t want to call it disciplinary action – it may not be. Instead, it will be an assessment.”
Several reports say senior rugby officials and even government figures are incensed by de Villiers’ backing of Roux, who was charged with beating a black police officer to death last week.
The timeslive.co.za website quoted an unnamed rugby official as saying: “We are not only unhappy with what he said regarding the Roux incident, but also over his previous comments.”
Last month de Villiers escaped penalty at a SANZAR disciplinary hearing after appearing to suggest the New Zealand team had received preferential treatment from referees in their two Tri-Nations series home wins over the Boks.
In 2009, he appeared to condone eye-gouging and in 2008 responded to criticism by asking if rugby should be given back to whites in South Africa.
At a press conference in Bloemfontein on Monday, he said: “We definitely talked about Bees in a team context.
“We feel for all South Africans, and especially rugby players, because a situation like this can happen to anybody. It is a tragic situation and we wish it on nobody.
“The team supports him 100 per cent, not on the deed but rather on the circumstances that led to the situation developing.”
One report compared de Villiers’ long list of embarrassing comments to the sacking of former Boks coach Nick Mallett for merely complaining about ticket prices.
“Regardless of what happens in the final Tri-Nations Test on Saturday, Peter de Villiers can no longer be tolerated,” blogger Jon Cardinelli wrote on the respected keo.co.za website.
“The Boks are the world champions and the South African community should accept nothing but the best.
“It’s been obvious from day one that de Villiers doesn’t fit the criteria, and he’s consistently proved it over a three-year career.”
© AAP 2012Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby Union articles
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (178)
- Will South African rugby force a Super 21 by 2018? (171)
- Brumbies 2012: New coach, new players, new attitude (128)
- Pocock set to be named new Force skipper (56)
- Can the ‘Tahs win the battle after losing the Waugh? (51)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
- Wales and France the early stars of the Six Nations (48)
- Wales’ Davies banned for ‘tip tackle’ (2)
- Graham Henry’s rugby future confirmed (12)
- Barnes to lead Waratahs in first hitout
- Harris and Lucas in Reds No.10 audition (3)
- Wales show Southern Hemisphere how to play running rugby (18)
- Dan Parks and the unsolved questions of expat rugby (61)
- David Pocock: a skipper my Force teammates will fight for (21)
- Wales show Southern Hemisphere how to play running rugby (18)
- What opening matches of Six Nations taught us (16)
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (198)
- Clinical Chiefs cost rusty Rebels in Corio (9)
- Six Nations shows rugby is a parochial game at heart (5)
- Goose’s Super Rugby up-and-comer XV for 2012 (29)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
- Explore:
- Peter de Villiers, Rugby Union, Springboks, Tri Nations
Mike said | September 3rd 2010 @ 7:26am | Report comment
Nooooooooooooo! For the sake of the Wallabies and ABs – SA need to keep him in charge.
CK said | September 3rd 2010 @ 8:33am | Report comment
Just another example of rugby running and hiding from players in trouble. Whilst I don’t condone the players actions of beating a man to death, he has not been tried and convicted, and must be supported by SARU until such time that he is convicted. Whatever happened to “innocent until proven guitly”?
I think de Villiers is right on this one. It’s about time rugby learnt to support it’s players in the ugly times.
Australian Rugby ran from Wendell Sailor the minute he tested positive and didn’t support him. They brushed Tuquiri for even less. Cameron Shepard jumped on the bonnet of a car years ago and NSWRU flicked him. What about some councelling and support instead of treating the players like dirt the minute they’re in a spot of bother?
Jiggles said | September 3rd 2010 @ 8:50am | Report comment
can any of our south african roarers inform us of the situation? I have only heard bits and bobs.
I do not condone violence of any sort, on or off the rugby pitch, but i do believe in a ‘inocent until proven guilty’ and ‘right to a fair trial’
it seems this bloke is getting a trial by media however
Lee said | September 3rd 2010 @ 10:26am | Report comment
I would be surprised if he goes, it is only really websites like keo that are suggesting he will be gone on Sunday and Hoskins has even signalled that it is not even considered a disciplinary hearing yet.
Jiggles said | September 3rd 2010 @ 10:34am | Report comment
cheers Lee,
I have to say (and I never thought i would) I’m with PDiv on this one. what is wrong with showing support for a person, but not his actions, through a tough period? let the courts decide if he is guilty or not.
nicksa said | September 5th 2010 @ 12:44am | Report comment
Jiggles
it has come out now that the police stopped bees for drunken driving. It is said that the police were corrupt and were trying to get bribes. Bees credit card was used while he was in custody. It is also said while bees was throwing the policemen around he was saying ‘u think ur going to take my car’. The other strange thing is that there were 3 police men, 1 got into the car with bees to drive home while the other 2 went in another direction! how was the officer with bees supposed to get home?? Its a terrible thing that some 1 was murdered but its also shows what a joke the south african police are, corruption and then getting into a car with a drunk suspect alone.
SteveDarke said | September 3rd 2010 @ 10:04am | Report comment
Media storm in a teacup. PDV will keep his spot.
Mungehead said | September 3rd 2010 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
Agree 100%
sixo_clock said | September 3rd 2010 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Realistically whether PdV is there or anywhere will not affect this team, he is coach in name only. I doubt whether apart from his association with one of the greatest Rugby nations we will ever hear of him again once he has gone. Will he be involved with another Stellenbosch, will he be hired by any competitive franchises outside the RSA? Not at all.
The sooner he is gone the sooner the next political appointee the sooner the next round of humour. The Saffies should appoint black assistant coaches and train them rigorously for the eventual takeover. That is how it works everywhere else.
Jetta said | September 3rd 2010 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
How hard is it for him to refuse to comment until there are actually charges? On top of that he could just refuse to comment at all, because sure he’s a rugby player but it’s not like he’s a springbok, does PDiv hav any association with him? On the other hand what would we do for fun:p
mattamkII said | September 3rd 2010 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
I dont get it…player is accused and coach supports him…isn’t that a good thing?
Lets say the guys self defense claim is true and the rugby community had already turned its back on him…then they would cop it for other reasons….
nothing to see here..move along.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels said | September 3rd 2010 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Brendon Canon raised his pay cheque the moment he aired his views on Foxsports Rugby program. Everytime PDV’s name is mentioned the camera zooms in on Canon and he grins. Vindication without opening his mouth.
iggles said | September 3rd 2010 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
in all honesty i really fear for south african rugby long term. It seems that white south africans are being marginalised to such a degree that they will all soon enough pack it in and move to england, australia and nz, much like lots of white zims.
As much as it fantastic to see more coloured rugby players, i believe that sporting skill in ingrained in your DNA (think brazil soccer, nz rugby, australia cricket etc.) and loosing large chunks of the white population can only be bad long term. Can some south african roars tell me if i am way off base with this?
sixo_clock said | September 3rd 2010 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
iggles,
The injection of the home grown blood into the sporting mix has been good for the US, Oz, NZ, France etc. Athleticism is a transportable commodity as the number of cross sport multiple medal winners attests. To even think that there is a DNA link with sporting prowess is a racist thought. If one day an entirely black Springbok team take to the field they will acquit themselves with the same pride and love of the sport as the former and current ‘Boks have done. If their coaches grounded them well in the basics then they will continue the tradition. If indeed that happens it will be a testament to all those Saffies who have embraced multiculturalism and all those far sighted Zulus, Shona and Bantus etc who are willing to forgive and move on.
Hoy said | September 3rd 2010 @ 6:24pm | Report comment
“To even think that there is a DNA link with sporting prowess is a racist thought”
Surely there is a massive link with genetics and sporting prowess. Genes are a massive part of what makes good sporspeople. For instance, black runners over the 100 metres are simply faster, more powerful.
I would agree with you that it is definitely wrong that saying black South Africans can’t play rugby well simply because they are black. That is a ridiculous thought process.
What is also wrong is politicising sport, and on that train of thought, the quota systems of selection is simply racist as well.
And Iggles, the white South Africans are already leaving in droves.
sixo_clock said | September 4th 2010 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
In an individual, yes, passed intermittently through genes, yes, but not an entire race. Diet, culture etc are much more influential. Absolutely nothing to do with the colour of eyes, skin which is where the post was going and why it got a serve.
nicksa said | September 5th 2010 @ 12:38am | Report comment
Iggles the african americans are very good at sports simply because during the slave ships only the strongest survived.
The afrikaaners had to do a great trek through south africa were only the strongest survived, i do believe afrikaaners are very gifted sportsman. If u live in south africa u can see it for urself, the afrikaaners are massive! sixo_clock did u know that only 1 white athlete has run under 10 seconds? all other athletes that have run under 10 seconds have been of WEST AFRICAN descent with the exception of an australian who was half irish and half aborigani. if thats not genetics then hell the west africans must just be really lucky…
sixo_clock said | September 5th 2010 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
cheers Nicksa,
Really you are not saying anything that is not common knowledge. But I stand by my point that within any ‘race’ there is a very very wide spectrum of genes. For every elite athlete there will be another 10,000 also-rans. To somehow attribute an arbitrary genetic advantage in a few individuals to their race is the forethought to racism. As I said Culture and Environment are much bigger contributors and without those two the genetics component is wasted.
mattamkII said | September 3rd 2010 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
I am still confused by this…
A white South African rugby player bashes a Black Cop.
The white guy says it was self defense.
PDV, a black guy, says he supports the player 100%
There has been no trial? no conviction?
I really don’t get it.