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
Thank goodness play has stopped because of rain. Think thats it over. They will feel relieved its over. A bit of a mess up tonight with our team.
Although Parnell got 3 wickets he was very expensive. Still a really good bowler he will be back.
@Puma – 384 The RAF collect us farmers in the helicopters and take us to The Officers mess where they wine and dine probably 250 of us to thank us for letting them use our land!!
It is a wonderful day out, the helicopter ride is the best bit!!
@grootblousmile – So what happened to the bloke that didn’t really follow the cricket? Hahahah
@carol – 385
Your afrikaans is getting good Carol. Have you been doing more lessons with GBS?
@carol – We had a “know one another” type function at my daughter’s new school that she will be attending next year in Paarl. (Does that make any sense?)..anyway…Myself and a few other dads got to know one another pretty well since 6:00PM over a few bottles!.
@carol – 392
Actually it sounds really like a really great day out.
@Puma – I need more skype tuition!! I may have to book a session with GBS sometime!! My pronounciation leaves much to be desired by all accounts!! 😆
@Polla – 395
Sounds good, hope you enjoyed the wine.
393@carol – I did not say I did not follow ANY cricket… will probably watch the SA games, but not more than that…
@carol – We used to call the Alluette choppers a “kotskoets” in my days in the army..maybe GBS will be able to translate!
Well my first time on SuperBru and I really, really got it wrong.
Hope my prediction for the next game is a bit better with Pakistan and WI.
@Puma – Yes Puma, coz more than half the fathers are winefarmers!..and they are not stingy!
@Polla – 395 I have been ‘near’ Paarl….The Pearl of Paarl…it all comes to life…The Wine Tour!!
Having kids seems to be a great way to make new friends!! Sounds like some more ‘bonding’ sessions may be in order!
397@carol – Rrrrrrolling “R’s” and Gutteral “G’s” Carol…. very important.
Puma… she pronounces Koos as “Koes”… I explained to her it’s “Quiz”
@Polla – 402
Wine Farmers!! Now thats great friends to have especially if they not stingy with their good wine..LOL. Enjoy.
400@Polla – “Puke Charriot”… hehehe.. that’s about the closest translation
@Polla – 400 Hope GBS can translate because my translation service can’t do that word!
@grootblousmile – 😆 She will get it right. You a good teacher GBS. I would never have thought to say “Quiz” to make the sound of Koos. You spot on there teacher..hehe.
@carol – Paarl is a beautifull town…My son is at boarding school there and now my daughter is going next year as well. The “bonding” takes place next to the sports fields and at the braais afterwards. Most of the folk is waht we call “platteland” or farmers. The salt of the earth!
@grootblousmile – Rrrrrrrright on Ggggggrrrrrrrootblousmile……!!
Puke Chariot, no wonder that wasn’t listed!!
I have to do food now, catch up soon. I will get that next lesson booked in!! 😉
Puma, Polla till another time….
Goodnight All
@grootblousmile – Yep GBS..thats about the closest you can get to the translation!..Sounds better in Afrikaans though!..lol
@carol -G’night Carol..Say hi to Jeremy for me…
@carol – 411
Carol you both eat far, far too late. I would be starved by now.
411@carol – Cheers Karrrrrrrrrlien !
Ggggggggggoooooooi Mieliessssssss !
@Polla – 409
Paarl is just beautiful then the whole of the Cape is actually. Just don’t like the winter weather there but the summer is brilliant.
@Puma – 416. I love the Cape winters as well. Red wine, curry stews and logfires! But when summer comes, it’s cricket season and I love that as well!
412@Polla – Like I always say, Afrikaans is the best descriptive Language in the world….
If you tell somebody to “Gaan Kak”, he knows exactly what to do!
@Polla – 417
Red wine my favourite especially in the cooler weather. I have a sister and brother that live in Fish Hoek. Just that they always come to visit me here in Umhlanga in the winter so have not been to Cape Town in about 5 years. Need to make a plan to visit down there sometime again. Its a beautiful part of SA especially the summer months.
@grootblousmile – 406
Luke maried in a skirt never new he had a coach too. 😆
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