De Villiers cleared over bias comments
Source: Agencies |
August 11, 2010, Wednesday
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SOUTH Africa coach Peter de Villiers has been cleared of misconduct relating to comments allegedly criticizing referees and implying a conspiracy to bolster next year's World Cup in New Zealand.
Jannie Lubbe, a Cape Town-based judicial officer for SANZAR, which sanctions international rugby tournaments involving Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, released his ruling yesterday.
De Villiers' comments in a July 21 Australian TV interview seemed to imply that Irish referees Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland favored New Zealand in its two Tri-Nations wins over South Africa this year, and somehow this would increase interest in the 2011 World Cup.
Lubbe said de Villiers had not specifically mentioned referees or match fixing and, therefore, had not breached the code of conduct.
The Springboks, the World Cup and Tri-Nations champion, lost its opening two Tri-Nations tests in New Zealand by 12-32 and 17-31, then lost to Australia in Brisbane before returning to South Africa to prepare for three home matches.
The misconduct charge was laid after de Villiers appeared on a Fox TV rugby program.
"I've got my own observations about the last two tests, and maybe I can't say it in public, but we do have a World Cup in New Zealand next year and maybe it was the right thing for them to win the games so they can attract more people to the games next year," de Villiers said.
He questioned how South African players could be sin-binned for infringements at the breakdown in both losses, yet All Blacks captain Richie McCaw could be penalized repeatedly and cautioned for infringements at the breakdown and remain on the field.
He said the Springboks were playing by the same rules they had encountered in the Super 14 competition, in which two South African teams reached the final, and was dismayed that the interpretations by the Irish officials could be vastly different. Two days later, de Villiers sought to put his comments in context.
"My comment during the Rugby Club interview was based on the general view that part of the success of any World Cup event rests on the fact that the host nation has a winning team," de Villiers said in a statement. "Nevertheless, I regret that this may have created the wrong impression and raised undue concern for SANZAR and the RWC 2011 organizers."
Jannie Lubbe, a Cape Town-based judicial officer for SANZAR, which sanctions international rugby tournaments involving Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, released his ruling yesterday.
De Villiers' comments in a July 21 Australian TV interview seemed to imply that Irish referees Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland favored New Zealand in its two Tri-Nations wins over South Africa this year, and somehow this would increase interest in the 2011 World Cup.
Lubbe said de Villiers had not specifically mentioned referees or match fixing and, therefore, had not breached the code of conduct.
The Springboks, the World Cup and Tri-Nations champion, lost its opening two Tri-Nations tests in New Zealand by 12-32 and 17-31, then lost to Australia in Brisbane before returning to South Africa to prepare for three home matches.
The misconduct charge was laid after de Villiers appeared on a Fox TV rugby program.
"I've got my own observations about the last two tests, and maybe I can't say it in public, but we do have a World Cup in New Zealand next year and maybe it was the right thing for them to win the games so they can attract more people to the games next year," de Villiers said.
He questioned how South African players could be sin-binned for infringements at the breakdown in both losses, yet All Blacks captain Richie McCaw could be penalized repeatedly and cautioned for infringements at the breakdown and remain on the field.
He said the Springboks were playing by the same rules they had encountered in the Super 14 competition, in which two South African teams reached the final, and was dismayed that the interpretations by the Irish officials could be vastly different. Two days later, de Villiers sought to put his comments in context.
"My comment during the Rugby Club interview was based on the general view that part of the success of any World Cup event rests on the fact that the host nation has a winning team," de Villiers said in a statement. "Nevertheless, I regret that this may have created the wrong impression and raised undue concern for SANZAR and the RWC 2011 organizers."
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