Although the Boks are the best team in world rugby and are possibly the finest Bok team ever, the debate around Peter De Villiers as coach is as polarised as ever, with those who claim him to be the best Bok coach ever and those who hold the view that he has been fortunate to inherit the best Bok team ever.
This has become a difficult subject to get objectivity on as like many other areas of South African life, it has become political.
Furthermore one gets the impression that a lot of observers are avoiding this subject as whatever your view, you are likely to get attacked by those on the other side of the political spectrum. As a result a lot of the comment tends to scratch the surface without taking a deeper look at what the requirements of a modern day coach should be.
When last did you hear a statement from the manager of the Bok team?
Do we even know who the manager of the Bok team is?
The modern day coach is in effect a manager. He needs to assemble a team of specialists around him who effectively take care of most of the coaching from a practical day to day point of view. The coach is therefore the managing director of the company. In managing his team of specialists and players he needs to be the one who has excellent man management skills as well as possesing the vision and direction in order to keep the team moving forward into the future. So although he needs to emply specialists, such as a scrumming coach, he also needs to have a very good tactical and technical knowledge of the game. This is where team selection becomes one of his most important roles and an area where his ability is tested out in the open for all to see. Simply put, the team selection, tactics and adaption on the day fall upon his shoulders.
Peter De Villiers needs to be judged in the light of the above requirements of a modern day coach. There can be no doubt that his attitude today is very different from when he first took on the job of Bok coach. His failure with the press is well documented. His racial statements in defending himself did not help his cause. His romantic view about the number of black players that should be represented in the team and his stated views on playing a brand of total rugby have all been adjusted as he has no doubt come to understand the pressures of being the Bok coach and the absolute importance of winning as a Bok coach.
In short he appears to have learnt on the job, which in itself is something that all good managers are very capable of. It is true that he has had an exceptional group of players to work with and there can be no discounting his passion and commitment to the cause of Bok rugby. He will still be challenged in the months to come and once again, how he responds as a manager to those challenges will determine his continued success or failure.
The harsh reality is that you are only as good as your last game, whether you are a player or a coach. Here is hoping that the Boks go from strength to strength.
TIGHT HEAD
@carol – 296
Very well Carol, except our Proteas are getting a hiding at the moment.
@carol – 296
Good with us but the Cricket looks bad
@grootblousmile – cool…thanks man.
295@Puma – I’ve put bags and bags of sheep manure on my lawn in the middle of August…. one can virtually hear my grass grow…. all green and thick as a carpet now…
Daar groet AB.
Die vet tannie is op die verhoog.
296@carol – Helloooooo Karlientjie
@Puma – Howzit Bud.
Ja, definitely shorter days, but it is still very pleasent, I was at a club at St James square today in the city for a seminar…and at lunchtime to blow the cobwebs away, I took a stroll around the park in the square…most pleasent with lots of pretty girls…made me feel good to be alive.
Where are you at the mo?
@superBul – 290
Hope we do too. We have a good team. Should do better the next time. Also they said because of the season at the moment that pitch really suits Sri-Lanka and its good for spin.
Just think we need to open with Gibbs and Smith. Or like in the 20/20 wc we opened with Kallis and Smith and it worked out great. Smith looked good tonight though.
284 @grootblousmile – ons is altwee verkeerd, dit is 7.57 😉
Proteas welcome back to the real world. Can someone give Steyn a PK by the way. You just dont brag before a tournament. Win it first.
@grootblousmile – If you can lay your hands on chickensh!t…it is much better, lots more nitrates, but not too thick and wet it down plenty or it burns the grass…with all the sheep crapping on your lawn, there must have been lots of Aussies hanging about?
@4man – 307
In Umhlanga. Been here since 1st of August. Had my Scots mates here for 5 weeks too. They went back 2 weeks back now.
Should go back up to Joburg end of the month or early Oct. Just enjoy it here so much more though.
@4man – All well here thanks, have just been enjoying the sunset tonight. The evenings are drawing in now!! Just as these guys think of spring we start to head towards autunm!
@superBul – 310
You are right there super. No bragging before a game. Should be humble. Now look how its going.
@4man – Chicken shit is Sooooo stinky, wouldnt want it on my lawn!! 🙂
@Puma – I’ll be in joburg on the morning of the 7th…will try and organise a collective chibuli…drop me a mail langeraadt@yahoo.com with your e-mail if you’re keen?
GBS…are you around early October?
@4man – 307
Your day sounded great bud. I do enjoy it over there this time of year. Or the summer months are great too. Well any of the months as not bothered about the weather we have that here.
311@4man – Father in Law farms with sheep… not chickens… so I get the sheep kak free… I’m rather proud of the way my garden looks like in the middle of summer…
After these first rains though, the grass will be difficult to keep at bay…
@4man – 316
Will do. Thats if I am back but should be back by then.
@superBul – @Puma –
I thought I was off to a winner doing S.A to win!! 😐
Superbul, my brother in law was going to join us, I wonder if he did?
@grootblousmile – Hello Handsome !!
Have you got your mower serviced yet to cut that bushy grass??
@carol – Yep…I must say I dont really dig the winter weather, but the autumns and mother natures display of colour during autumn is always a worthwhile sight.
We have been stripping and sealing decks the last couple weekends…cant believe I’m swaying it, but I miss Sipho!
Manne moet maar rustig raak en kolf sodat ons darem nie te ver verloor nie. Aan die einde kan dit dalk ‘n verskil maak wie deurgaan na die semi’s toe. Moenie nou paaltjies weggooi deur lopies wildweg te jaag nie.
@grootblousmile – You could always bring a sheep or two home to do the job!!
316@4man – Will just be away for 1, 2 and 3 October…. going away…
@carol – 320
He did Carol. Noticed your surname there thought it was your husband but the name was different so it must be him.
321@carol – I don’t mow… I have Garden Services…
dont know if you guys have the news there, but England will be without Pietersen…his achilles hassle is still with him.
@grootblousmile – Cool, I’ll drop a mail, I’ll be saying with Allan, but might also go to see my mate in Boksburg which is a moer of a lot closer to you…be nice to have our annual beer together…anyway I’ll mail the programme when I actually have it planned.
@bdb – 323
Hope we make at least 200. Need to keep our wickets now. Just knew when GS went out we would fall apart.
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