Peter Div quits after a 'brilliant' Bok ride

10 October 2011 - 02:44 By LIAM DEL CARME in Wellington
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Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and captain John Smit after losing to Australia yesterday. De Villiers revealed that he was giving up the coaching job Picture: MARCOS BRINDICCI/REUTERS
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and captain John Smit after losing to Australia yesterday. De Villiers revealed that he was giving up the coaching job Picture: MARCOS BRINDICCI/REUTERS

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers quit after his team lost in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against the Wallabies.

De Villiers, whose contract expires at the end of December, was asked if the defeat meant the end of his term.

"I think so," he said. "This has been a brilliant journey, something no one of you guys can take away from me."

He said it had been a privilege to make a contribution to the country. "I hope it was a positive one so that South African rugby will go forward and that we are much better next year."

Questions about his successor will intensify over the coming weeks. Among the candidates could be former Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer, Stormers and Western Province coach Allister Coetzee and current Bok team adviser Rassie Erasmus.

Meyer is contracted to the Bulls, but recently declined to rule out making himself available again. He was the favourite before De Villiers was named to succeed Jake White early in 2008. Erasmus will also feature, but he dislikes the publicity the job brings.

Coetzee, White's former assistant, has enhanced his credentials with the performance of the Stormers this year. An outside candidate would be Lions coach John Mitchell.

Asked how he wanted to be remembered, De Villiers said: "I wanted to be the best me I could be. The way I am is the way I want (to be remembered)."

The fact is, his tenure has been a rollercoaster ride. Sometimes misunderstood, often lost in translation, all too frequently pouring metaphors into the mixer, De Villiers was determined to be respected as an independent thinker.

In many ways he was, but when it came to actual coaching the input of others usurped his own. He also - as shown by the team's exit from the Rugby World Cup - tried to achieve the impossible - winning consecutive titles with the spine of the side that won in 2007.

He relied too heavily on the men who won the World Cup for White, especially in appointing John Smit as captain again. Future coaches will view the 836 test caps in De Villiers' Springbok team as a benchmark best to avoid.

It's possible that winning the cup was beyond De Villiers, that he lacked the expertise to build and mould a new team when he took over in 2008.

The Springboks' 11-9 defeat by Australia yesterday equalled South Africa's worst performance at a World Cup. At the 2003 event, they also exited in the quarterfinals.

Wallaby coach Robbie Deans yesterday called De Villiers "a quality man".

"I enjoyed my interactions with him. It's been a pleasure," said Deans.

Bok captain Smit also paid tribute to De Villiers, saying: "We had a great four years together pioneered by Peter. He's not in the usual mould of coaches we have been used to, but he is one we have thoroughly enjoyed.

"His saying from the day he started and, I suppose when he wakes up tomorrow, is that even bad days are good. He has made us enjoy every moment. He has been a great man."

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