PdV - So where does he stand?

[milomak]

In 8 Bok visits to the House of Pain, first Bok coach to win there.
Hands England their biggest loss at Twickenham.
Maintains winning streak against non-Sanzar teams.
Record win against Aussies.

 

[DJ...]

He's in my good books based on Bok performance - a few shock selections IMO but the team are playing well together and that's what we want to see more of. The England game made me proud to be a Bok supporter, and hence proud of the coach as well. The only thing is I never know what the guy is on about in his interviews because I always watch them on mute...

 

[Gothan]

He's ok, especially with the new "winning style". Good on him for eding the year with a high profile win.

He should just stop tapping girls in his ford cortina

 

[Sneeky]

The man must not talk to the media, get a mouthpiece rather, he sucks at it.

He also took over a world cup winning squad, of which 90% of the players would still be in the mix for the next world cup, what an excellent foundation to work off hey. He could not have had it better than that.

It has become more evident that the Northern hemisphere sides are not up to it when you look at SANZAR teams.
We really need to win a Tri Nations. Granted a spirited performance in Dunedin but the rest was shocking. Would rather loose at the house of pain and win the tri nations.

I don't care how he wins, as long as we win and with the team and the players he took over and that are at his disposal, there are not many excuses available for loosing.

I wish him good luck and hope he continues the winning form.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

It depends on if he wants to go back to his "screw the old style of play, we play my way now" ..... we beat England convincingly because we reverted to the style of rugby that we know, not PdV's style after all.

 

[Devill]

He's in my good books based on Bok performance - a few shock selections IMO but the team are playing well together and that's what we want to see more of. The England game made me proud to be a Bok supporter, and hence proud of the coach as well. The only thing is I never know what the guy is on about in his interviews because I always watch them on mute...

Watching with the sound on might just leave you more confused

It depends on if he wants to go back to his "screw the old style of play, we play my way now" ..... we beat England convincingly because we reverted to the style of rugby that we know, not PdV's style after all.

I do not think that was 100% old school springbok rugby... I think it was a mixture of old and new,.

O and PS the only way of beating the all black on a regular basis is to learn from them, and that seems to be what PDV has in mind.

Do not get me wrong he has his bad features as well, as in I canjust not see him and his high pitched voice inspiring the boks to secure a win against any team except maybe Kenia. Also I think that his support staff is very good (and that he is to some extent at least being played as just another political piece).

But in the whole I am happy with SA's performance under him so far

 

[Sneeky]

But in the whole I am happy with SA's performance under him so far

Yup!

 

[stix]

Well 9 out of 13 is his first years record - not to shabby.

A lot of people complain about the Tri Nations - but the reality is bar 2004 and 1998, we normally win one game or two at a stretch.

I like that he said to Ruan play 10 and make it yours - i think it shows great promise

Adi Jacobs has been a revelation - no other coach backed him

If i was to have a gripe against Div - it would be the persistence with Spies in place of Kanko

And at a real stretch making space for Steyn - IMHO the only place he could have filled in would be for Habs - but how do you leave him out?

* Worth noting in 2004 we only won two games - and won via bonus points

 

[James]

Not convinced at all, neither am I a fan.

 

[zanyboy]

The team is going through a very fortunate time at the moment and PdV is looking good because of this. Remember that the games we lost was when he was trying to completely change the way we play.

Some of his selections are still questionable and though the team is performing well with these players, I don't believe we are fielding our best potential yet. I.e. Spies is a damn good player, but I still can't see him as first choice of Kanko. Steyn needs a spot in the team...this boy has such unbelievable talent and it is sad to see him spending all this time on the bench. Though it's not an easy choice as to who should be dropped.

PdV? Not convinced either. He is fortunate imo.

 

[DJ...]

Watching with the sound on might just leave you more confused

Confused, but pain-free - no problem with that...

 

[Gothan]

You know what I am actually very easy to please, if we win, I am happy, if we lose I am not. See as long as me and Div work within this framework, life will be good

 

[FnuckNut]

PDV? Like hell, what did he bring to the party? It was all Smith's doing. The two prior games we were very lucky to win. The England clash, well, lets just say I never saw the SPRINGBOKS so motivated for a very long time. With 14 players against 16 (one with a whistle) we still managed to outplay them. Good for Smith, Fire PDV and appoint Smith, I say.

 

[Devill]

You know what I am actually very easy to please, if we win, I am happy, if we lose I am not. See as long as me and Div work within this framework, life will be good

That is very true.

We can not really complain if while we are winning

 

[Albereth]

PDV? Like hell, what did he bring to the party? It was all Smith's doing. The two prior games we were very lucky to win. The England clash, well, lets just say I never saw the SPRINGBOKS so motivated for a very long time. With 14 players against 16 (one with a whistle) we still managed to outplay them. Good for Smith, Fire PDV and appoint Smith, I say.

+1

 

[Sneeky]

Smith?

 

[Sneeky]

Well 9 out of 13 is his first years record - not to shabby.

A lot of people complain about the Tri Nations - but the reality is bar 2004 and 1998, we normally win one game or two at a stretch.

I like that he said to Ruan play 10 and make it yours - i think it shows great promise

Adi Jacobs has been a revelation - no other coach backed him

If i was to have a gripe against Div - it would be the persistence with Spies in place of Kanko

And at a real stretch making space for Steyn - IMHO the only place he could have filled in would be for Habs - but how do you leave him out?

* Worth noting in 2004 we only won two games - and won via bonus points

Fair comments indeed, but let us not slip into ANC type mode where mediocrity prevails over progressive achievement and accept that just because we only won x and y because of z in the past that this is now suddenly going to be acceptable norm forever. HOGWASH man.

Jake White built up a fantastic team, a group of players rich in their youth, talent and experience at the highest level of the game. So much so that rugby scholars will say that we have never ever had it better.
It is perfectly rational to expect the Boks to do better than the past with that foundation is it not?

 

[zanyboy]

Smith?

Clearly they meant Smit

 

[Devill]

Fair comments indeed, but let us not slip into ANC type mode where mediocrity prevails over progressive achievement and accept that just because we only won x and y because of z in the past that this is now suddenly going to be acceptable norm forever. HOGWASH man.

Jake White built up a fantastic team, a group of players rich in their youth, talent and experience at the highest level of the game. So much so that rugby scholars will say that we have never ever had it better.
It is perfectly rational to expect the Boks to do better than the past with that foundation is it not?

New caoches bring new ideas... the rules have changed and if you cannot adapt you will lose.

I like the idea PDV is trying to bring to pass, RUNNING RUGBY. Not 10 man rugby.

It will take time and yes as with any other team in world rugby we will have a bad game or two, but to beat the All black 50% of the time you have to start playing running rugby. And isn't that what it is all about? Being the best? Well if the Bokks beat NZ 50% of the time I would say that we could start claiming to be the best

 

[Zyzzyva]

I think his overal running rugby concepts will be good for us in the future, but i do sometimes feel he just doesnt have thee tacticle astuteness i would expect from a coach who is coaching a team which is second best in the world.

Sometimes when we play our gameplan is clearly wrong. This is unforgivable in my opinion. How can someone who is not a tactical genius get the job.

Now overall we have done quite well this year, but thats not saying much when you consider our talent pools, and the preeminent position this gives us in world rugby.

We have much better players than coaches. Overall the coaching in this country needs to improve. If our talent was fully used, we would be unbeatable.