Peter de Villiers called it quits as South Africa coach after the reigining champions lost a World Cup quarter-final to Australia on Sunday.

“It was a brilliant journey,” said de Villiers, who took over from Jake White following the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup win.

“There’s a time to come and a time to go and I think the journey for me is over,” he added following South Africa’s 11-9 loss to Australia, that saw the ‘curse of the champions’ strike again, with no team yet to win back-to-back World Cup titles.

Turning his gaze on assembled journalists, de Villiers, who has been much maligned for some of his selection policies and public gaffes, added: “It’s something you guys can’t take away from me.

“It was incredible, and I’m proud to have been in a position to make a contribution to my country.”

When South Africa captain John Smit, retiring from international rugby as a player, was asked to say a few words about de Villiers, his coach jumped in and joked: “It’s not a funeral, eh!”

Smit said the Springbok squad had enjoyed life under De Villiers.

“We’ve had a really good four years together. That’s been pioneered by Peter,” he said. “Even the bad days are good “He has given us leeway and space and tightened that space when we took advantage of it.

“I’m disappointed to end it like this.”

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans added: “Peter de Villiers is a quality man, I’ve enjoyed the interactions I’ve had with him.”

The 54-year-old De Villiers became a likeable but rather enigmatic figure in world rugby, often better known for bizarre utterances and actions rather than tactical master strokes.

De Villiers placed a lot of faith in the 2007 Cup-winning squad, choosing 18 of the 30 and 11 of those were in the squad that lost 11-9 to Australia.

‘Div’ upset many with his talk-now-think-later approach which peaked when South Africa flanker Schalk Burger eye gouged British and Irish Lion Luke Fitzgerald.

The incident at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria two years ago overshadowed a last-minute, series-sealing triumph for the green and gold, and triggered global fury.

Instead of offering sympathy to the injured Irish wing, de Villiers defended Burger and committed one of the worst gaffes of an often troubled four-year reign.

“Why don’t we go down to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going?,” de Villiers said.

His public support last year for Bees Roux after the Blue Bulls prop was arrested for the alleged murder of a Pretoria policeman also severely embarrassed rugby officials.

The 54-year-old native of Western Cape wheat town Malmesbury was a controversial choice as successor to 2007 World Cup winner Jake White.

South African Rugby Union boss Oregan Hoskins admitted rugby was not the only factor considered before de Villiers became the first black Springboks coach as the country tried to overcome the racial inequalities of the apartheid era.

Critics pointed to his inexperience — two seasons at Currie Cup minnows Valke (Falcons) and a spell in charge of a national age-limit team.

A poor first Test season brought only two wins in six Tri-Nations outings, but 2009 produced a dramatic improvement.

Victory in New Zealand sealed top place in the southern hemisphere championship and the large cherry on top was revenge for a 1997 series loss to the British and Irish Lions.

De Villiers failed to maintain the momentum, though, and 2010 was an ‘annus horribilis’ with five Tri-Nations reverses, including home defeats by New Zealand and Australia.

This year was no better with a ‘B’ team humiliated in Sydney and Wellington during July before a loss to the Wallabies and a win over an All Blacks ‘B’ team at home.

Apart from a dismal win-loss record, de Villiers has not delivered on promises to get the Springboks playing more expansively and speeding up transformation to increase the number of non-white players in the team.

The sayings of Peter de Villers:

During his three years in charge he became well-known for a vivid turn of phrase and below are some of de Villiers’s more memorable quotes:

“If I am the weakest line then we are bloody strong. I am a God-given talent. I am the best I can ever be. I know what I am and I don’t give a damn.”

“I am going to pull a rat out of the hat.”

“Why don’t we go to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going? There will be no eye gouging, no tackling, no nothing, and we will enjoy it.”

– Reacting to Springbok flanker Schalk Burger eye gouging British and Irish Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald

“There is little difference between winning and losing except you feel better after winning.”

“Graham Henry is a good coach, but he is like me, he has a big mouth.”

– Commenting on the current New Zealand coach

“No one is born a rugby player. You are born a person who becomes a rugby player and I can enhance this with warmth and reach your soul and make you realise there is life after rugby.”

“I always knew I was destined for something big — but I did not realise it would be this big (Springbok coach). Whatever job I did I always excelled at it, and quickly. Time is not a concern to me and I will work 24 hours to get a job done, knowing hard work is always rewarded.”

“I will not change my style. If I change my style I will change Peter de Villiers and then I would have to tell God that he made a mistake when he made me.”

“We are very organised at the moment (after winning 2009 Tri-Nations). We do not want to become a fruit salad.”

“I have got a job to do. I think I am a strong individual, a strong character. I do not care what people think about me. I do not care what people say about me. It is what I think about me and myself — and I love myself a lot.”

“It was a brilliant journey. There’s a time to come and a time to go and I think the journey for me is over.”

– Announcing his resignation as South Africa coach following the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Australia.

AFP