News

De Villiers won`t make it personal

Sunday 06th July 2008

Peter de Villiers: Not best pleased

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers tasted defeat for the first time in his position on Saturday in the Tri-Nations defeat to New Zealand, and is struggling to keep himself detached from the shock.

South Africa stayed true to playing a more expansive brand of rugby, but could not cope with the power of the All Blacks in the second half, eventually succumbing to a 19-8 defeat.

"If I make it too personal, then it will rub off on the players and they won't have belief in themselves," he said after the match.

"But I believe there is too much talent in this team for them to just lie down."

Key players Butch James, Victor Matfield, and John Smit were all playing under the ELVs for the first time, and admitted that the increased pace of the game had taken them by surprise.

Matfield said he needed one or two more games to be fully up to the pace of the game, while Smit said he would have preferred to have played a couple of warm-up friendlies first.