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
#85 Stan, the first step in the art of reading demands that one keeps one’s eyes open. Have you read all the posts on this thread? 😉
@smallies72 – #89 Who dat? Mr Strotocaster?
@Tripples – 87
Will keep you updated.
@smallies72 – 88
Okay but we can speak about the Sharks on the weekend 😀
Going to watch the cricket.
Cheers all.
@Tripples – mr fender stratocaster
Dale Steyn gets the first wicket after 2.2 overs. Go Proteas.
Hi Smallies,
What can you “tune” me?
@fender – no not mutch the sharks broke my strings over the weekend
100
@fender – have gotten into a band lately called blue october,very nice
@smallies72 –
Im more into blue bulls.
@Supa Die Bloubul – Ja julle lyk goed op die veld, ma kan julle sing?
Shot Smallies!
Is it a regular gigging band? How are the rehearsals going? Original or covers? What style?
@smallies72 –
Blykbaar kan Bakkies n goeie bas gooi en Fudge sing baie hoog!
#Supa
What? Higher than Victor?
@smallies72 –
Is jy self in die band, of hou jy net van n band met die naam blue October?
@fender –
Ja, baie higher!
@fender – no man like into as in dig the band.anyway they are a rock band from amerika google the video ,hate me, nice
You know where the name Blue October comes from, dont you?
Its because the CC trophy will be blue in October.
@smallies72 –
I thought thats what you meant. But you know fender, he gets carried away with music, he especially digs the Backstreet boys, Boyzone, Britney and Steve. 😉
@smallies72 – #101 Hate me today….they are awesome!!!!!!!
@Supa Die Bloubul – @Supa Die Bloubul – Post 109
@Supa Die Bloubul – As hy goed geknyp word?
@Tripples –
So you and Smallies are both into Brandon October…
@Tripples – They are cool ne
@Supa Die Bloubul – ek dag die bulle is in steve in moftus het dit dan altyd gesing
What can I say Smallies? Supa is right – I did get carried away – thought you had joined a band. Sorry julle…
As long as their songs are as evocative as “Die Bloubul song” I’m happy – an absolute masterpiece that. Apparently Steve can sing that song with his eyes closed…
@fender – i heard it is the editor of huisgenoot,s fafourite song
@smallies72 –
Ja we are…die bloubul eet nie van die vloer af nie…die bloubul weet nie van verloor af nie…come on Smallies…sing saam!
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