South Africa coach Peter de Villiers promised to “try to behave” and live up to the honour bestowed on him after being declared an honorary Maori when the team received their official welcome to Wellington on Monday.
He and the team were made honoured guests of the local Taranaki Whanui, meaning their hosts were now traditionally obliged to cheer for them – but with the quietly spoken caveat that all bets are off should they happen to come up against New Zealand during the latter stages of Rugby World Cup 2011.
“Not only am I an honorary Maori, but I’m an honorary citizen of Wellington,” de Villiers said.
“I’ll try to behave myself in the manner that people can be proud of.”
The South African players walked to the Powhiri (welcome) from their team hotel along the Wellington waterfront in bright sunshine, escorted by a waka, a Maori canoe.
Come in peace
Before entering the Te Raukura hall, they were confronted by kaiwero (warrior) Toa Waaka, who laid down a piece of vine or rau for captain John Smit to pick up as a signal the team had come in peace.
After the welcome speeches, each player was presented with his Rugby World Cup cap and a gift of a green stone amulet in a small woven bag.
Responding to the welcome, de Villiers said the team were “humbled” by the reception and asked the audience to remember the people of Christchurch still recovering from devastating earthquakes.
“They were terrible circumstances. But we all know there’s a greater hand that will take the bad and find the good in it,” he said.
“Your character is bold, as it should be, and we are grateful you could still have us in your country.”
As far as I’m concerned he can become an honorary Lapswaaier, for all I care… as long as he does his job well for a change and inspire the Bokke to the heights they deserve in this World Cup!
PdV is nie ‘n faktor nie. Hy’s maar net die arme sot (en ek bedoel dit in ‘n mooi manier) wat out of sy depth is. Moenie hom krediet gee nie, en moet hom nie die skuld gee nie, want hy het geen invloed op enige iets nie. Besef dit asb.
@ Rugbyprof:
Eish julle kan hom maar nie aanvaar nie. Maar nou ja oor minder as 2 maande gaan iemand “pies” moet eet.
Moet se met die Springbok send off het hy beslis baie meer steun gehad as hier op Rugby-Talk.Daar is baie mense wat darem positief op hom reageer. Ek sal hom onthou en dankbaar wees omdat hy die kwota gemors goed gehanteer het. Die feit dat hy nie van die tradisionele afrigter korps af gekom het nie het die druk op die span baie verlig. Die Regering het hom toegelaat om op meriete te kies , terwyl daar voorheen baie meer klem was op die getalle wat reggetrek moes word, al het dit beteken dat dit nie noodwendig die heel beste speler in die posisie is nie.
Die wind wat hy van die span afhaal maak dit dalk moontlik dat ons op die regte tyd kan konsentreer op die groot stryd wat voorle.
Ons wen so min daar in New Zealand dat dit in elk geval n wonderwerk sou kos om met die beker huis toe te kom.So al die support wat daar vir Peter gegee is voor hul vertrek daar op Nelson Mandela plein kan dalk tog net die regte doepa wees vir die manne om saam te staan en die een sy 3de wen in NZ te maak teen die All Blacks.
Ek hoop jy’s reg Superbul. Ek sal met graagte humble pie eet!
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