Div to escape the axe?
Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:48
All is good for Peter de Villiers's Boks. (c) Gallo
Underfire Springbok coach Peter de Villiers seems likely to escape the axe, despite his team's plummeting form.
The South African Rugby Union indicated on Sunday that De Villiers would face just a "normal review" and "formal discussions" after his recent outlandish comments in the media.
However, the review will take place later this month only - ruling out the possibility that he would be axed this week as some reports suggested.
This soft touch on the Bok coach comes after the worst Tri-Nations performance in recent memory.
A year after beating the British and Irish Lions in a series, as well as claiming the 2009 Tri-Nations title, the Springboks appear to be a team in complete disarray.
South Africa's 39-41 loss to the Wallabies in Bloemfontein at the weekend ensured that they lost another piece of silverware - conceding the Mandela Plate to the Australians, after losing the Tri-Nations and Freedom Cup to the All Blacks.
It was the Springboks' fifth defeat in six matches, and handed them the ignominy of the Wooden Spoon.
However, what is most alarming though is the fact that the side that ran out in Bloemfontein was the most experienced Test side ever fielded by South Africa - a fact trumpeted by De Villiers and his spin doctors - a team boasting 750 Test caps.
And one of the most galling statistics to come out of their failed Tri-Nations campaign is the fact that they conceded 22 tries throughout the tournament, setting an unwanted record.
However, on Sunday SARU played down the reports of an immediate axing of the Bok coach.
They said the annual review of the Springboks' performance in the Tri-Nations would be scheduled as "per normal", with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, for later this month.
"The review will include all aspects of Springbok performance," the statement said.
SARU President Oregan Hoskins commented: "All rugby followers are extremely disappointed with results in the Tri-Nations, as are the Springbok team and management, of course.
"We take the situation very seriously but there is a process in place and we will follow that through."
Hoskins said that there would be formal discussions with the coach about some of his reported comments.
De Villiers caused an outcry last week with his unprovoked statement relating to Blue Bulls prop Bees Roux, who stands accused of having killed Pretoria Metro police officer Ntshimane Mogale.
The Bok coach last week told a media gathering that the Boks were "100 percent behind Roux".
Hoskins said that he had written to the family of Mogale to express the Union's support and condolences at this time of mourning.
SARU said they would make no further comments until the review process had been completed.
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