The colourful world of South African rugby never fails to entertain; even by the local game’s established standards of melodrama, though, this week has been something quite remarkable. The fallout from the Schalk Burger incident, a furious barrage of exchanges between the two camps, mass changes to a Springbok team poised for a whitewash: the dead rubber is alive and kicking furiously, and for that we have our national coach to thank.

David Berman, the rugby obsessed stockbroker who’s become the unofficial voice of the rugby underground, summed it up best when he sent me an email earlier in the week, enquiring as to whether I was “also anti-De Villiers”. Berman is a firm supporter of the Springbok coach, but in drawing such black and white lines, falls victim to the conundrum that is the most colourful man in rugby at the moment. For given the slew of variables, how on earth to sum the man up?

It’s easy to have a go at De Villiers, who’s become a cartoon figure at press conferences, throwing about mixed metaphor and extravagant allusion with broad, carefree brush strokes. De Villiers and the English language are not natural companions, and he’s an emotional, heart on sleeve guy, fiercely defendant of his players, and not vested of great tact or diplomacy.

That’s been more evident than ever before this week, in his support of Burger; defend the man’s integrity, certainly, but don’t attempt to defend eye gouging, however much the banned flanker didn’t intend to damage Fitzgerald’s eyes. That, and claims that Ian McGeechan didn’t shake his hand after the second Test, have drawn furious response from the Lions, and the IRB felt moved to step in and ask SA Rugby to quieten De Villiers down.

And because the caricature has hogged the spotlight, De Villiers the rugby coach has been somewhat obscured. Professional sport plays out through the media, and more benign comments have cost coaches jobs in the past (ask Nick Mallett), but as a man who’s just won a Lions series, the Springbok coach has a position of strength; had two close Test matches not been won, De Villiers would be in a very tenuous position right now.

He has won the series, however, and for all the question marks over aspects of recent performances — curious substitutions in the second Test, plain daft ones in the first, and an uncertainty as to which combinations work best — the blend of talent has been just about right, and the South African team looks genuinely dangerous. Beating the Lions is a major achievement, and if the Springboks complete a whitewash on Saturday, as they should, then De Villiers will have done the job demanded of him. On the field, at least; off the field, expect at least one final flamboyant press conference after the game...

And that’s why passing judgement on De Villiers is so difficult. Just as Jake White established consistency of selection, surrounded himself with able lieutenants, and managed a World Cup campaign most astutely, so De Villiers has rewarded both form and experience, appointed assistants in Dick Muir and Gary Gold who have performed exceptionally, and produced a team that is winning important matches. Having, in John Smit, the outstanding captain in world sport at the moment, is a massive boon; but just as the coach is the man to go when his side fails, so he deserves credit for the success of his charges.

But to keep firing off at press conferences, levelling bizarre accusations and making outlandish claims, simply cannot continue if De Villiers is going to hang on to an incredibly high profile job. Yes, he’s terribly entertaining, but you wouldn’t be surprised to discover that he has a mild form of Teurette’s, and that’s only going to cause him strife — particularly if and when the Springboks lose a couple of games. Granted, the British media have goaded him expertly, but then that was always going to happen; let this be a weekend where the rugby rather than the press conference holds sway, and Peter De Villiers’ real talent gets the attention it deserves.

  • No rugby for me this weekend, unfortunately; while Darren Scott and I will be at Montecasino hosting Bok TV tonight (SuperSport 1, 8pm), I’ll be on an early flight to Durban to host the Sharks marquee at the Vodacom July. Highlight of the day is always the final race, the mad, drunken nude dash by assorted spectators; defending champion Adrian Garvey is back, but my money this year is on Ryk Neethling, who assures me he’s been training hard for his debut. Garvey will be determined, but I’ll go Neethling by a short head.

  • Contact Dan at dan@metropolis.co.za


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