Not since Cecil Moss in the 1980’s has a coach been given a second term with the Springboks. This is perhaps due to the pressures put on the coach by the South African public. We do love a good lynch mob. When things are going well, you are a hero, if we lose a game, best you stay indoors for a while.
Release the hounds
Pieter de Villiers announced that he will be re-applying for the coaching job once his contract expires at the end of the year. He’s a brave man, I’ll give him that. The response to his appointment in 2008 when he replaced Jake White was not a good one, and the years since have been no kinder to him. While his win rate with the boks (about 62%) is not the worst we’ve seen as a nation, it is a far cry from the other men who have walked in his shoes such as Nick Mallet (71%) and, of course, the legendary Kitch Christie, who never lost a match.
Snor claims that he has “unfinished business” as the coach because he never brought the Web Ellis Cup home and thinks he could if given a second chance. That falls into the same category of logic as letting a drunk loose on your genitals with a pot of wax because he messed up the alphabet song first time around, but everyone deserves a second chance right?
Gee my nog ‘n kaansie asb ouens
De Villiers has a strong team to work with when he took over. Experienced guys who knew what they were doing and could lead when called upon to do so. Most of those players will not be around for the next world cup, hell, some won’t be around for the next test match. So you are asking someone who struggled with a team that was, essentially, running off their own steam for 3 years to now start over with youngsters. Making real executive decisions as opposed to comments in the media about ballet. This chills the innermost arteries of my heart .
Many of the favourites, according to the gospel of the public, have already declared themselves unavailable or unwilling to take the job. The New Zealanders have proven that they know what they are doing when in control of the playbook, but the proudly South African brand runs deeper than just slip slops and rental cars, SARU will want a local boy to take over.
PDivvy was the first person of colour to take the reigns, and SARU will want to keep up the transformation points (I didn’t say brownie points because it sounded a bit racist given the context). Sport and Model Scout Minister, Fikile Mbalula, said in a press release in October this year with regards to transformation in rugby: “…our strategic outlook on transformation is loud and clear: Adapt or die!” (I didn’t make that bold, he did)
Not always an appropriate phrase
I think it is becoming increasing clear that the successor will be Allister Coetzee, despite his contract with the Western Province Rugby Union still having a bit longer to run. The old adage of ‘Your country needs YOU’ will surpass any cries from the blue and white stripes of Cape Town.
The best thing for PDivvy to do would be to step down, write a book of witticisms, and find a job doing voice over work for throat lozenge companies. Allister, if it’s you, I wish you luck, we’re not an easy crowd to please.
xx
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