Lions in SA
Div: I don't give a damn
2009-06-29 16:45
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You can have your opinion
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Johannesburg - Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Monday described himself as "a God-given talent" in reply to a question on how he viewed the increasing media criticism.
Near-antagonism in recent weeks against De Villiers culminated in a mandate to SARU to meet with the coach about his attitude towards the media.
When told at Monday's media conference that many people regarded him as the weakest link in the Springbok team set-up, De Villiers answered : "I'm not disappointed in them. I don't need to react to opinions, but if I am the weakest link then we are bloody strong.
"I'm a God-given talent. I know what I am and don't give a damn what other people think."
Early on in the interview, De Villiers defended Springbok flank Schalk Burger who has been suspended for eight weeks following an eye-gouging incident in the second Test at Loftus.
He said he knew Burger's nature and character and that the suspended flanker was more physical than any other rugby player but wouldn't go to those lengths (of eye-gouging).
"I don't think he did it," he said," and I don't want to say anything (outside what they had decided as a team).
"It is not something (the eye-gouging) that he did on purpose, when he saw it he was like 'ooh, aah'. He had never intended to go into the eye."
He said the Springboks will wait for the judicial report, and "dissect the whole thing, come to you with the facts", adding that he knew Burger and that what the footage showed was not worth a card.
Once the report is received, the Springboks will decide as a team what is best for them (regarding a possible appeal).
When asked whether he condoned eye-gouging, De Villiers said: "You must understand clearly rugby is a contact sport. If you really know the game and dissect it you'll see all sorts of malicious and off the ball incidents. In this game, people sometimes get away with it.
"If you're not up to the contact why not go to a ballet shop and buy a tutu?
"In this game there will be collisions, and the guys who're the hardest will win the collisions and will be selected."
De Villiers said that no matter how much people now focus on the negatives of the match, South Africa have won the series and "no one can take it away from us."
Injuries On the injuries front, utility forward Danie Rossouw's knock to the head is being monitored. Meanwhile, Sharks' lock Johann Muller has been called to replace Andries Bekker who suffered a cartilage tear in the knee at Loftus.
Jean de Villiers and scrumhalf Fourie du Preez have been cleared for selection after seeing a shoulder specialist.
There has been no feedback on Ryan Kankowski, injured some three weeks ago, who is a present member of the squad.
The selection of a replacement for Burger is an easy one. Heinrich Brussow should have been there last Saturday after Burger's disappointing form in this year's Super 14 and his injury that kept him out of the first Test in Durban.
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