Peter de Villiers, who on Wednesday became the first black coach of the South Africa rugby team, has already turned the Springboks into world-beaters in his time in charge of the junior teams.
The 50-year-old, who beat off the challenges of three other short-listed candidates -- Heyneke Meyer, Allister Coetzee and Chester Williams -- made clear that merit would be the sole criterion for selection as he was unveiled by his bosses at a press conference in Cape Town.
"Players out there must understand they will all stand an equal chance," he told reporters. "If they are good enough, talented enough and work hard enough they will be part of the squad."
PHOTO: EPA
De Villiers has vast experience in the national set-up, having most recently taken charge of the South Africa Under-21 team. He led the side to the World Championship final last year after winning the title in 2005.
He coached the Emerging 'Bok team, winning an IRB tournament held in Romania last year.
He has also been a successful under-19 coach, leading the national team for two years.
experience
In total, de Villiers has 15 years of coaching experience, but he has never been in charge of a Super 12 or Super 14 team. Domestically, he coached the Valke in the Currie Cup competition for three seasons.
A former provincial scrumhalf for Griqualand West and Boland, de Villiers is a hard-talking man, with plenty of passion, although he may battle to win the support of his players, especially the older, more settled ones, many of whom will know precious little about his abilities as a coach.
A number of emerging players, however, have played under him and with the South African Rugby Union looking to the future, he was perhaps the best suited candidate.
The promising youth coming through the systems -- among them Hilton Lobberts, Waylon Murray, Pierre Spies and Frans Steyn -- have all been coached by the new 'Bok boss.
merit
De Villiers cut his teeth coaching club rugby in the Cape Province for a number of years and knows the game as well as anyone in the country. While keen to see more black representation in the national team, he is also a firm believer in merit-based selection.
A passionate rugby man at heart, de Villiers is also ambitious.
He applied for the job in 2004 when outgoing 'Bok coach Jake White pipped him to the position, but he has always been seeking to improve and better himself within the South African rugby coaching structure.
Just two years ago, he was appointed coach of the now defunct Eastern Cape-based Southern Spears franchise, while on numerous other occasions he has thrown his name into the hat when senior Super 14 and Currie Cup positions have become available.
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
Aaliyah Edwards on Monday pulled off the stunner of the opening round of the Unrivaled one-on-one tournament, beating top-seeded Breanna Stewart 12-0. The tournament to be played over three days featured 23 of the WNBA’s 36 players. A few had other commitments and a couple others were out with injuries. Stewart got the ball first against Edwards and missed a contested layup. Edwards then hit a three-pointer from the corner and a jumper from the elbow to go up 5-0. The player who scores keeps the basketball. Edwards hit two layups and a three-pointer to seal the win. Stewart, a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player,
SPEEDSKATER: Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s run at the Asian Winter Games without a medal since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990 Speedskater Chen Ying-chu yesterday made history as the first athlete representing Taiwan to secure a medal at the Asian Winter Games. Competing at the HIC Speedskating Oval in Harbin, China, Chen clocked 10.510 seconds in the women’s 100m event, finishing third behind South Koreans Lee Na-hyum and Kim Min-sun, who posted times of 10.501 and 10.505 seconds respectively. Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s drought at the Asian Winter Games since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990. This year’s Games mark Chen’s debut at the event. Previously excelling in roller speedskating, she won six medals at world championships before transitioning
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38