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Fans jump to Peter de Villiers' defence
South African fans have defended former Springboks coach Peter de Villiers after he had to reveal on Twitter that he had a level three rugby coaching certificate.
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The 62-year-old had applied to be the head coach of the Southern Kings, the maligned PRO14 outfit, but it was reported in the newspaper Rapport and on the 702 radio station that he was under-qualified.
De Villiers has since shown his coaching qualification on social media, saying: “I would never have coached the Boks without it”.
He added that these are “lies designed to malign me and prevent me from being hired by The Kings”.
Although this ordeal may have been demeaning for the coach, it looks as though he has the backing from the South African public on social media, who feel that this attempt to slander him has gone far enough.
@Radio702 reported that I don't have a Level 3 rugby coaching certificate. For the record I attained it in Wale's in 1997. I would never have coached the Boks without it. It's all lies designed to malign me and prevent me from being hired by The Kings, regards PDV @TandoManana pic.twitter.com/zrrRmFVEp4
— Africalegendsleague (@Africanlegendz) July 29, 2019
One fan highlighted the ‘vendetta’ that the South African Rugby Union seems to have with de Villiers, while others have pointed out that the media in South Africa seem to target him.
This probably stems from his time with the Springboks between 2008 and 2011 where he was known to be a prickly character who said some controversial comments. Furthermore, since leaving his post with the national team, he has been critical of the SARU.
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This is turning into quite a mess. https://t.co/QyNLO3qn8c
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 30, 2019
But a lot of fans have said that not only has de Villiers got the qualification, but his time with the Springboks speaks for itself.
During his four years in charge, he guided the team to a Test series victory against the British and Irish Lions in 2009, won the Tri-Nations that same year and had a 47 per cent winning record against the All Blacks. But he has still been criticised for his time in charge with the Boks.
Regardless of what happens with his future, de Villiers has the support from large swathes of fans. This is what they have said on Twitter:
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So they say Peter de Villiers is "under-qualified" to coach the Kings? The man who won the B & I Lions series, Tri-Nations, double over the All Blacks, no. 1 ranking. Then they spin that he doesn't level 3 coaching, and he does. Can the Sharks please go for him
— Ndani Sitole (@ndani14) July 29, 2019
People at SARU need to drop this silly vendetta they have on him. Its too old now.
— Such Is Life…. (@EnslinMavunga) July 29, 2019
What the hell does everybody have against him?
— HansieSlim (@notatrainsmash) July 29, 2019
What does PDV have to do to be given a chance on SA Soil again?
— The 8 / 9 Combo (@the8_9combo) July 30, 2019
This is just sad and wrong
— Sne Ndimande (@SneNdimande) July 29, 2019
Don't these people get tired of trying to discredit the man?
— uNyambose (@BaloKaMthethwa) July 29, 2019
This man just not have to prove or show anything! ?. No idea why media is crucifying him honestly pisses me off!!
— Lee-X (@JustLee_XS) July 29, 2019
The treatment of Peter De Villiers in this country, after everything he achieved, is nothing short of an absolute disgrace. It's scandalous. Calling the man's qualifications into question? Massive low blow, and sadly, a situation that faces many coaches of colour, STILL.
— Jade Manasse ? (@Jade_Manasse) July 30, 2019
Only in this country will you find a whole sporting body use all its machinery, such as media and cronies to discredit and keep a qualified coach from finding employment! Despicable from @sarugby and the media.
— FREE_or_DOM (@FREEorDOM1) July 29, 2019
Radio702 reported that former Springboks coach Peter de Villiers doesn't have a Level 3 rugby coaching certificate. Apart from it being a lie, PDV
would never have coached the Boks without it. How the story was even commissioned is truly beyond me. https://t.co/vDd1PqS0fH— MTNWinner ??????? (@Dr_PooneGreen) July 30, 2019
This is the latest episode in a tough few weeks for de Villiers after current Springboks prop Tendai Mtawarira was highly critical of him in his recently published autobiography, calling into question his coaching credentials and methods.
While this is unlikely to be the end of this saga, the coach can know that although he feels the media and the SARU are against him, the majority of fans are not.
WATCH: The latest RugbyPass documentary, Foden – Stateside, looks at how ex-England international Ben Foden is settling into Major League Rugby in New York
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments