De Villiers speaking at his final World Cup press conference. Themba Hadebe/AP/Press Association Images
Confusion
Turns out De Villiers didn’t resign after all
The South Africa coach claims the speech he delivered following the Springboks’ quarter-final loss to Australia definitely wasn’t about his resignation. Whatever gave you that idea?
THIS MIGHT COME as something of a shock to anyone who saw footage of Peter deVilliers’ post-match press conference on Sunday, but the Springboks coach insists he hasn’t resigned.
After watching his side lose 11-9 to Australia, the South African appeared to deliver what amounted to a combative eulogy on the subject of his tenure in charge of the 2007 World Cup champions.
“It’s been a brilliant journey and one that none of you [the media] can take away from me. There’s a time to come and a time to go. The journey is over.”
De Villiers has since told a news conference that he intends to “live and die by” his four-year contract, meaning that he wouldn’t leave his role in the Springboks set-up until December at the earliest.
“No, I never resigned, I was just saying it was the end of the road. It’s logical, I have a four-year contract and I’ve known all along that this day would come. I will live and die by that contract, which ends in December and then I won’t have a job.”
Quite how the South African Rugby Union intends to reconcile De Villiers insistence that he has nothing left to give with his commitment to keep cashing pay-cheques is as yet unclear.
Turns out De Villiers didn’t resign after all
THIS MIGHT COME as something of a shock to anyone who saw footage of Peter deVilliers’ post-match press conference on Sunday, but the Springboks coach insists he hasn’t resigned.
After watching his side lose 11-9 to Australia, the South African appeared to deliver what amounted to a combative eulogy on the subject of his tenure in charge of the 2007 World Cup champions.
“It’s been a brilliant journey and one that none of you [the media] can take away from me. There’s a time to come and a time to go. The journey is over.”
But according to Rugby Heaven, the journey is anything but over.
De Villiers has since told a news conference that he intends to “live and die by” his four-year contract, meaning that he wouldn’t leave his role in the Springboks set-up until December at the earliest.
Quite how the South African Rugby Union intends to reconcile De Villiers insistence that he has nothing left to give with his commitment to keep cashing pay-cheques is as yet unclear.
Read more on this story from Rugby Heaven>
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Confusion Peter de Villiers resignations Rugby Rugby Union Rugby World Cup 2011 RWC2011 South Africa Springboks