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
@Supa Die Bloubul – bliksem dis n rukkie ne
Happy Happy KP. Hello manne dames en bulle. 😆
@Supa Die Bloubul – ek was da en ek was ok da toe jaco reinach die 400m rekord gebreek het
Middag.
152@Ed_the_Lion – Jou Leeus ongedierte !
@Ed_the_Lion – 152
We won the toss this morning Ed and decided to bowl. Now looks like Sri-Lanka on their way to a huge total. GS should have batted first. Think its going to be tough to chase a huge total at Centurion at night.
149@smallies72 –
Ek se weer. As al die spelers beskikbaar was in die CC was dit n ander storie. Ek wil FDP, Steyn, Wynand, Habana en Spies sien speel. Nie Adams, Francis, Watermeyer en Mametsa nie. Nee wat, ek verkies rugby op sy sterkste nie, die n opgehefte Vodacom Cup nie.
152@Ed_the_Lion –
Dag.
@Morné –
Exactly 100% on the money Morne.
It is this type of real understanding of rugby that makes this blog different from others where one eyed men are kings in the land of the blind!!
@grootblousmile – Hello GBS jou ou, of moet ek sê stok-ou gedoente. 😉
@Puma – I was watching some score updates. Think Steyn took an ealry wicket, but then things went all pearshaped.
156@Puma – Pitch looks like a belter… Centurion is reknowned for belter pitches…
Remember, the Proteas have successfully chased 438 there already…
@bdb –
Middag.
158@Supa Die Bloubul – Kawabanga dude.
@bdb – Hi.
Ek sê: MIDDAG !
165@bdb – Helloooooooooooooooo
@Ed_the_Lion –
Turtle POWER!
162 & 164: Dis beter 🙂
@Supa Die Bloubul – Turtle power Leonardo. hehehe.
@bdb – Is jy kwaai??
Ja ja dag almal nou kan ek en supa bietjie rus
@smullies72 – Nou hoekom wil jy rus. Is jou vingers moeg?
Its actually interesting issue. Puma, Tightead, Ed etc. Id like to hear from you guys as well. I seem to be the only one…
If your team could win only one trophy next year. Which would it be:
CC or s14?
@smallies72 –
Ja, ons werk hard. Maar onthou comment 30 000 kom nader!
@grootblousmile – 161
No that was at Wanderers. This is Centurion. Just hope it does not suit the spinners later tonight there. They have a great spinner in their side. Think it was a mistake by GS to bowl first. Hoping not.
166@grootblousmile – hallo GBS.
Sien die Proteas het weer baie gepraat voor die reeks begin het. Steyn meen niemand gaan hul klop nie. Dinge lyk nie te goed nie. Hulle kolf teen meer as 6 per beurt, en kan dalk eindig met ‘n 7 of selfs per beurt.
172@Sapu Die Bloubul – I will be happy with the Vodacom Cup. I guess I will pick the S14. There are 10 strong sides and the Cheetahs, Lions, Highlanders and Reds who could upset on some days.
Daar val ‘n Srilankaan se paaltjie… uit-fokken-eindelik
175@bdb – “of selfs per 8 per beurt.”
@bdb – bwahahaha, fok maar jy sukkel. 8 per beurt. Daarsy.
176@Ed_the_Lion –
Wie is SAPU??? hehe
Same as me. I prefer Vodacom Cup, s14 and CC though…hehe But only one, id go for s14.
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