Bok coach owns up
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:47
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers finally took responsibility for the Springboks' run of defeats - four losses in five matches, including three in succession.
The Springboks were booed in Durban last Saturday after falling to Australia, 15-27, which eliminated the World Cup champions from Tri-Nations title contention.
De Villiers believes the team was close to nailing his expansive game plan, which has so far produced more errors than tries.
"If a company is doing badly, then you blame the managing director, so it is right and fair that the coach be held responsible," De Villiers said.
"I know people are angry and rightfully so. I am prepared to take all that responsibility for the good of the team. I still back the players. Do they suddenly become bad players or is there something else wrong?"
He said the Boks should have won in Durban and he wasn't going to overhaul the team for their last tournament outing against the Wallabies this weekend in Johannesburg.
"I'm not going to panic because, having watched the video again, I saw how great we played," he said.
"It's just that final thing we are missing, either a pass not going to hand or someone having the wrong body position and losing the ball in contact or not working hard enough in support."
He said his expansive strategy challenged the players to make more of their own calls on the field.
"Decision making in split seconds is new to the guys and it has been a bit worrying," De Villiers said. "The onus is now on the player, but they want to be in a confined group where they are comfortable. But I'm trying to say to them that even if they make a mistake, I still think they are the best in the country."
SAPA
