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Bok coach Peter de Villiers decision to leave at home some of his best players has been blasted by former All Black skipper Sean Fitzpatrick.
Former All Black skipper Sean Fitzpatrick has condemned Bok coach Peter de Villiers’ decision to leave at home some of his best players for the current Tri-Nations Australasian tour.
Fitzpatrick was highly critical of the South Africans’ performance in Sydney, saying “You might say they battled back at the end. But I would be bitterly disappointed if I was a South African.
“They are going to come under extreme pressure from the South African public, the coach is going to be under extreme pressure and the captain will be under pressure even though he scored a good late try.
“They didn’t give up but the game was well over by then. I think they have missed a trick here leaving all those experienced players at home. Some of them are injured, some need a rest.
“But they have lost a huge amount of momentum here. If they go to New Zealand this week and get another bashing, like another 40 points put on them, they are going to go back to South Africa under extreme pressure only a few weeks out from the start of the World Cup.
“This was a poor South African defence. Australia played well but I thought South Africa were pretty average. They have given Australia and the other teams a glimmer of a hope with regards to the World Cup.”
Just one match into the 2011 Tri-Nations and Fitzpatrick pinpointed New Zealand’s inherent World Cup advantage over their chief southern hemisphere rivals.
Fitzpatrick identified strength in depth as the quality that divides New Zealand from the Wallabies and Springboks.
Not that Fitzpatrick was writing off the Wallabies. “There were things from the Wallabies that will definitely raise an eyebrow or two in New Zealand” he said. “Very much so. If you give them an opportunity, like if you kick badly, you are going to get punished.
“We saw this in Super Rugby and they have carried it over. I think they look quite ominous when they play their best 15. They are quite dangerous. They sent out a warning here. They said, give us an opportunity and we will nail it.
“But as we saw in the second half, their best 15 came off and with different players on, they lack depth. So their best 15 should start week in week out between here and the World Cup. I would be playing the best 15 in order to gain that momentum and confidence.”
Fitzpatrick contrasted the Wallabies and South Africans’ lack of strength in depth with New Zealand’s situation. “Piri Weepu is going to be crucial as part of the squad going forward.
“In terms of Super Rugby form you would go with Sonny Bill Williams (at 12) but it’s crucial, and that’s where I think South Africa has missed an opportunity here, it’s vital to get your 30 key players into an environment where they can operate as an international team. We can see that from the New Zealand/Fiji game. (Ma’a) Nonu looked like a different person because he is in that Test match/All Blacks environment.
“New Zealand has two very very good, world class No 12s. I think he (coach Graham Henry) will start with Sonny Bill and play with Nonu off the bench.
“We are lucky, we have depth to choose from.” - The Star
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jfd, wrote
I liked it whend PDV said "this is the same guys who complained about the first team"... Dont feel bad is normal to complain when your yourself cant make the difference
Zander, wrote
marty, wrote
PDV - probably the 55th best coach in SA. Cannot even spell gameplan and then there is Oregan Hoskins - well what can we say about this incompetent - not much really! good luck guys - your'e gonna need it1
Robert, wrote
As a kiwi, I see much posturing going on before the main event. While I would love to have seen a full Bok side come to NZ for the 3N, many of us still have huge respect for the green jersey. Many of us also know that of all the teams in the world, the Boks are an equal for the All Blacks when it comes to never giving up. Okay, so, you have a rather stupid man as head coach, but your players are outstanding under the right conditions. It must be hard playing for an imbecile like De Villiers but, for me anyway, beating the Boks remains the best result in world rugby, unless it's England at Twickenham.
Dekka, wrote
I read this afternoon in Sydney that the "injured" Springboks are currently attending a training camp in Rustenburg. It is annoying to me that South Africa makes a mockery of the Tri-Nations competition. Playing their best side in the Word Cup will not matter, because they are also going to be flogged irregardless. Resting their best players for Australasia is going to prove to be a waste of time and counter-productive. The Springboks are being coached by an affirmitive action coach, who is clueless and out of his depth. They also employ tactics, which are dumb and outdated. I have been resident in Australia for 24 years now and left, because of Apartheid. Family and acquiantances were rightfully very strident and vocal in their opposition to the Apartheid regime back then. I was, therefore, bemused during my visit earlier this year and on previous visits that these selfsame people are very silent on the current "reverse" racist policies employed by your Authorities. It is very sad and hypocritical I think.
jannie, wrote
Fitzpatrick is right what he is saying but who cares? The All Blacks have more depth, and is on a high again. But not the smartest thinkers on their feet comes the time during a crunch game and that is why they will fail again. Just look how the Reds manage that lot of bruisers in the final...not too smart i'd say.
Anonymous, wrote
Let him keep talking. Time will tell if he is right... The RWC is a knock out competition. It is irrelevant who is the best team year in and year out. What matters is who wins on the day. The ABs have a long track record of faltering when it counts, notwithstanding that they are always the best team. The Boks will win the group and beat Wales, Fiji & Samoa. They are good enough for that. We will get a serious fright against the Irish, but will have enough experience to pull through. Thereafter anything can happen against the ABs. Maybe, just maybe they will falter again. Time will tell...
Anonymous, wrote
Nice people still have hope. I feel even our best "A" side has no chance to beat NZ Aus or England , no matter who the coach is. Best to accept that now and enjoy the WC as a neutral. U can't win them all and this is one of those times. I don't think the boks will make the semis. So what !
ARF, wrote
ABs are presently the best. They will thrash the Springboks even if SA fields 2 teams against them. Any bets?
darkman x, wrote
Howard, wrote
Jake White master chef what has the world come to. It is because of Eddie Jones SA won the last World Cup not Jake White. His record was not that good before the World Cup.South Africans are such pessimists then you want to know why people do not cheer for the Boks. Fitzpatrick is nobody, why would we want to listen to his opinion. Must get that guy to punch him again. Support the Boks, yes they were embarressing but everybody knows they can play 100% better.
RUGBY FAN, wrote
it' s amazing how many people don't want transformation in rugby and the basic feeling xpressd bcause of peter colour ,they keep blaming black players that is one of the reasons the people of colour all over south africa find it hard to totaly support SA rugby pete is not always getting his selection right but lets get behind the coach
RObert, wrote
@ Mick... No, South Africa did not have a game plan. It was a shocking display of rugby, every player doing their own thing. There was nothing freakish about the Aussies! I've seen school boy rugby with a more solid game plan. The Springboks were embarresing!
trevor, wrote
We'll be lucky to make it past the first round in the World Cup. It's a good bet to take...Springboks going home after the first round. Wales, Fiji and Samoa can all beat us on the day.
Anonymous, wrote
@Howard, Jake White is a master cheff and Divv is a kitchen cook. he has no business trying to use the master's recipe, he just doesn't know what else to do...
Anonymous, wrote
last week the Aussie 2nd team got thumped by Samoa...this week Aussie 1st team thumps our 2nd team...what the problem is ?
stephen , wrote
Jay Strydom, wrote
I agree, mind games. South Africans and the world gives the All Blacks far to much respect. SA is the most succesfull World Cup nation thus far
Howard, wrote
Don't read too much into the Tri-Nations coz its the World Cup Div is concentrating. Jake White did it so what is wrong with Div doing it.
mike358, wrote
@Mick ... have you ever played rugby??? Fitzpatrick is spot on the mark, we will have zero cohesion .. zip zero nothing. As for Fitzpatrick like it or not he is one of the greats and as South African I have huge respect for the guy
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