The cup is coming home

The South African Rugby Board has today said it has confidence that its beleaguered Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers can get things back on track after his team’s three successive defeats in the opening TRI-nations matches against New Zealand and Australia.

de Villiers - safe for now

De Villiers met senior members of the South African Rugby Union in what was described as a “scheduled” meeting called by the SARU vice-chairman and chair of its technical committee, James Stoffberg.

“We had a very productive meeting and there are areas where Peter will present us with his plans for the future and we will offer our support in realising them,” Stoffeberg said. “[De Villiers] has our full support and we are confident that we can quickly be put back on track.”

Meanwhile, SANZAR has issued a notice of alleged misconduct against de Villers following his comments on Australia’s Fox Sports Rugby Club programme where he expressed the view that referees were biased in favour of the All Blacks.

Following the broadcast of de Villers’ observations SANZAR wrote to the SARU seeking an explanation and on only after receiving a response decided that the comments may constitute a breach of the SANZAR code of conduct and warrant further consideration. A SANZAR judicial officer is expected to hear the matter next week.

To add to their distractions, media reports have emerged alleging splits within the Springbok management team.

Citing a source with “impeccable” connections to the Boks, British rugby columnist Peter Bills says there are significant differences between assistant coaches Dick Muir and Gary Gold; one wants to play an attacking game similar to the All Blacks and Wallabies while the other wants to concentrate on the more traditional style of Springbok play. De Villiers is apparently wavering in between.