Div backtracks on 'bias' remarks
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:39
Coach De Villiers ponders his next move. (c) Gallo
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has been the subject of derision and ridicule after comments surrounding a conspiracy to favour the All Blacks ahead of next year's World Cup, and the Bok coach has since moved to clarify his latest remarks.
SANZAR, the governing body of the tournament, has said it would investigate the comments made by De Villiiers that his side's two recent losses to the All Blacks were brought about by a conspiracy to generate more interest in rugby in New Zealand ahead of next year's World Cup.
The Bok management, meanwhile, have also demanded an apology for De Villiers being labeled "a clown" by Rugby Club pundit and former Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon (on live TV), but the Springbok coach has also tried to clarify his remarks.
"I have stated many times during the past weeks that the All Blacks were better than us in their victories in Auckland and Wellington.
"Whilst I have also expressed unhappiness over some refereeing issues, this is a separate matter altogether and has no bearing on what I said.
"My comment during the Rugby Club interview was based on the general view that part of the success of any World Cup event rests on the fact that the host nation has a winning team," said the Bok boss via a statement on Friday.
"This view has been misinterpreted and I wish to make it clear that I had no other intention than to make that specific point. Nevertheless, I regret that this may have created the wrong impression and raised undue concern for SANZAR and the RWC 2011 organisers.
"I also want to assure all Springbok supporters that we will continue to strive for success. We are proud South Africans and we will always do our best for our country."
Even before those comments, De Villiers had gone on record as saying referees and judiciary officials were biased against the Springboks.
In the first match against New Zealand, Bakkies Botha was sin-binned for a professional foul and later was suspended for nine weeks for an earlier head-butt on All Blacks scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan.
In the second, Danie Rossouw - Botha's replacement in the No.4 shirt - was sin-binned for apparently raking Richie McCaw across the eye.
Div - as some people refer to him - has questioned how South African players could be sin-binned for infringements at the breakdown in both losses to New Zealand, yet McCaw could be penalised repeatedly for infringements at the breakdown... and also remain on the field.
He said the Springboks were playing by the same rules they had encountered in the Super 14 competition - in which two South African teams reached the final - and was dismayed that the interpretations in the Tri-Nations, under Irish referees, could be vastly different.
De Villiers has suggested the Springboks may have to bend the rules, or be "street smart," to get around the rule interpretations in Saturday's match against Australia at Brisbane, where South Africa have not beaten the Wallabies since 1971.
Contact Us | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Advertising
