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De Villiers under pressure to stay on as coach
Source: Agencies |
September 8, 2010, Wednesday
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SOUTH Africa coach Peter de Villiers is facing a battle to keep his job after five losses in six Tri-Nations games and reports linking 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White with a return to leading the Springboks.
De Villiers has made controversial headlines off the pitch, having faced a SANZAR disciplinary hearing for questioning the honesty of referees and later claiming his team supports a rugby player accused of murdering a policeman with his bare hands.
The South African Rugby Union said on Sunday that it would hold its annual review of the Springboks' performance in the Tri-Nations with De Villiers later this month. The defending champion lost 39-41 to Australia in Bloemfontein on Saturday in its last match of the season.
"The review will include all aspects of Springbok performance," the statement said, alluding to De Villiers' role being closely scrutinized after a disastrous tournament for the Boks.
De Villiers may also have more to answer for than just a poor run of results. Although he was cleared of wrongdoing in the referee saga, comments from the 53-year-old coach that the Springboks support Bulls prop Bees Roux "100 percent" after the Super 14 player was accused of beating to death a traffic officer, may have more serious repercussions for De Villiers' future.
SARU president Oregan Hoskins said there would be "formal discussions" with De Villiers about his "reported comments."
Hoskins also said he had written to the family of Johannes Mogale, the policeman Roux is accused of killing, to "express the union's support and condolences at this time of mourning."
South Africa's defeat to Australia on Saturday condemned the Springboks to last place in the Tri-Nations only 12 months after they had easily won the title.
The Times newspaper in South Africa reported that White has contacted Hoskins about leading the Springboks to next year's World Cup in place of De Villiers.
"I'm ready to do a hospital job ... if the South African Rugby Union wants me," The Times quoted White as saying. "I've already made contact with SARU president Oregan Hoskins, but he keeps telling me he has to run the idea past the executive council.
"I'm saying I'm available because what we've seen with the Springboks in the past 10 months is worrying. I can't bear to watch the Springboks playing like this anymore."
In an interview with the supersport.com website, White said he would link up again with former Australia coach Eddie Jones, who was on White's technical staff in 2007.
De Villiers has made controversial headlines off the pitch, having faced a SANZAR disciplinary hearing for questioning the honesty of referees and later claiming his team supports a rugby player accused of murdering a policeman with his bare hands.
The South African Rugby Union said on Sunday that it would hold its annual review of the Springboks' performance in the Tri-Nations with De Villiers later this month. The defending champion lost 39-41 to Australia in Bloemfontein on Saturday in its last match of the season.
"The review will include all aspects of Springbok performance," the statement said, alluding to De Villiers' role being closely scrutinized after a disastrous tournament for the Boks.
De Villiers may also have more to answer for than just a poor run of results. Although he was cleared of wrongdoing in the referee saga, comments from the 53-year-old coach that the Springboks support Bulls prop Bees Roux "100 percent" after the Super 14 player was accused of beating to death a traffic officer, may have more serious repercussions for De Villiers' future.
SARU president Oregan Hoskins said there would be "formal discussions" with De Villiers about his "reported comments."
Hoskins also said he had written to the family of Johannes Mogale, the policeman Roux is accused of killing, to "express the union's support and condolences at this time of mourning."
South Africa's defeat to Australia on Saturday condemned the Springboks to last place in the Tri-Nations only 12 months after they had easily won the title.
The Times newspaper in South Africa reported that White has contacted Hoskins about leading the Springboks to next year's World Cup in place of De Villiers.
"I'm ready to do a hospital job ... if the South African Rugby Union wants me," The Times quoted White as saying. "I've already made contact with SARU president Oregan Hoskins, but he keeps telling me he has to run the idea past the executive council.
"I'm saying I'm available because what we've seen with the Springboks in the past 10 months is worrying. I can't bear to watch the Springboks playing like this anymore."
In an interview with the supersport.com website, White said he would link up again with former Australia coach Eddie Jones, who was on White's technical staff in 2007.
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