De Villiers hails 'greats' Smit and Matfield

2011-10-10T17:30:21Z

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers hailed veteran forwards John Smit and Victor Matfield Monday as the outgoing Rugby World Cup champions arrived home to an enthusiastic welcome from several hundred...

De Villiers quits as Springbok coach

2011-10-09T16:30:14Z

Peter de Villiers called it quits as South Africa coach after the reigning champions lost a World Cup quarter-final to Australia here on Sunday.

"It was a brilliant journey," said de Villiers, who took over from Peter de Villiers called it quits as South Africa coach after the reigining champions lost a World Cup quarter-final to Australia here on Sunday.

"It was a brilliant journey," said de Villiers, who took over from John Smit will captain the Springboks against Australia in a World Cup quarter-final here on Sunday, but lock Bakkies Botha misses out after injuring himself in training.

Smit is one of three changes to the team th...

Springboks count injury cost of Samoa win at Rugby W.Cup

2011-09-30T20:30:23Z

Defending champions South Africa were left counting the cost in injuries following Friday's bone-crunching 13-5 win over Samoa which booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Almost certainly out of the rest of the tournament with a badly injured shoulder is

South Africa announce team to play Samoa

2011-09-26T18:30:13Z

South Africa named their strongest available team, on Tuesday making seven changes ahead of their Rugby World Cup Pool D game against Samoa in Auckland on Friday.

Barring the injury to lock Bakkies Botha

87-0 but Boks not perfect, says De Villiers at rugby World Cup

2011-09-22T19:30:32Z

Coach Peter de Villiers has shrugged off South Africa's sloppy start and revelled in the defending champions' 12 tries in swamping Namibia at the World Cup.

The outcome was never in doubt as the Springboks hoisted a record 87-0 victory over the largely amateur...

Boks coach says haka 'over-used'

2011-09-19T06:30:16Z

New Zealand's famous haka war dance is in danger of losing its impact because it is being performed too often during this year's Rugby World Cup, outspoken South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said Monday.

But his criticism was immediately dismissed by...

All Blacks' famous Haka 'over-used', says Boks coach

2011-09-19T05:30:26Z

But his criticism was immediately dismissed by...

'Over-used' haka losing potency, says Boks coach

2011-09-18T20:30:23Z

New Zealand's famous haka war dance was in danger of losing its potency because it was being performed too often at this year's Rugby World Cup, South Africa coach Peter de Villiers warned Monday.

The eye-rolling, foot-stomping Maori challenge, ent...

Bakkies back but injuries force Springbok changes

2011-09-14T18:30:15Z

Injury-hit South Africa made six changes to the team that will face Fiji in Wellington on Saturday but received a boost with veteran lock Bakkies Botha's return from an achilles tendon strain.

Botha missed the Springboks' opening South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said Monday that hosts New Zealand remain 2011 Rugby World Cup favourites despite suffering two consecutive Tri-Nations defeats this month.

The

Defence praised as Springboks thwart All Blacks

2011-08-20T17:30:13Z

South Africa's resolute defence was hailed as the difference between the teams after the Springboks beat the New Zealand All Blacks 18-5 in a Tri-Nations Test at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadi...

Coach Deans praises Wallaby resilience

2011-08-13T17:30:13Z

Australia coach Robbie Deans praised the resilience of his team after they overturned a 6-0 half-time deficit to defeat the most capped Springbok team of all time 14-9 in a Tri-Nations Test at Kings Park on Saturday.

With the South Africa added forwards Ashley Johnson and Ryan Kankowski to a constantly changing squad Monday amid injury and illness concerns ahead of Tri-Nations Tests against Australia and South Africa skipper John Smit does not accept he is leading a 'B' team to Tri-Nations slaughter in Australia and New Zealand this month.

Injuries have ruled 21 mostly first-choice Springboks out of the away leg ...

Rugby scrum-half Januarie quits Test scene

2011-06-24T08:30:28Z

Western Stormers scrum-half Ricky Januarie withdrew from the South Africa 2011 Rugby World Cup preliminary squad Friday and announced his retirement from international rugby union.

The 29-year-old was a surprise inclusion at the expense of Sarel Pr...

Springboks coach upbeat ahead of World Cup

2010-12-04T19:30:57Z

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers feels his side's dreams of retaining the World Cup in New Zealand next year have been given a big lift by their hard, if only half successful, campaign in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Springboks boss was upbeat and ce...

Boks worried by England

2010-11-29T15:00:22Z

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Embattled Springboks coach De Villiers faces probe

2010-09-05T12:20:15Z

A disastrous South Africa Tri-Nations campaign and controversial comments by embattled coach Peter de Villiers will be reviewed this month, a statement said Sunday.

"Rugby followers are extremely disappointed with results in the Tri-Na...

Springboks must improve, warns skipper Smit

2010-08-29T00:15:38Z

Skipper John Smit says reigning world rugby union champions South Africa must improve if they want to retain the title next year in New Zealand.

"That was not a good performance and certainly not rugby that will win us another World Cup," he admitted after a 44-31

Springbok's Matfield seeks end to 100-cap curse

2010-08-27T20:15:28Z

Legendary lock Victor Matfield wants to end a 100-cap curse when struggling South Africa tackle Australia at Loftus Versfeld here Saturday in the Tri-Nations championship.

The ...

Steyn not ready for Test, says club coach Berbizier

2010-08-24T10:16:15Z

Francois Steyn, who has been called up for South Africa's Tri-Nations match against Australia, is "not ready" for Test rugby, according to his Racing-Metro coach Pierre Berbizier.

"I don't thi...

SA rugby team make two changes for Australia

2010-08-24T06:15:37Z

Struggling South Africa have made two backline changes for a Tri-Nations Test against Australia at Loftus Versfeld here Saturday.

France-based fullback South Africa hope to start repairing the damage of a disastrous Tri-Nations championship away leg when they host New Zealand before a sell-out 90,000 crowd at Soccer City Saturday.

The Springboks defeated bitter rivals the Springbok coach Peter de Villiers suggested his team were the victims of a conspiracy to help the All Blacks has been dropped, rugby officials said Tuesday.

"A claim of alleged misconduct against Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has been dismissed by Springboks rugby coach Peter de Villiers faces a misconduct charge following his outburst suggesting a conspiracy theory to help the All Blacks ahead of next year's World Cup.

A SANZAR (South Africa, Springboks coach Peter de Villiers remained loyal to his side hammered 32-12 in the first Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks, making only two enforced changes for Saturday's re-match.

Veteran tighthead prop Ireland take on world and Tri-Nations champions South Africa here on Saturday in what is essentially a mini World Cup final two years away from the real thing in New Zealand.

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Ireland right to drop O'Gara says De Villiers

2010-04-16T08:51:47Z

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has said he too would have dropped Ronan O'Gara in favour of Jonathan Sexton for Saturday's game between Ireland and South Africa here at Croke Park.

O'Gara, Ireland's 93 times cap...

South Africa rugby team relieved to be back on track

2010-04-16T08:57:53Z

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers and captain John Smit agreed that the world champions were back on track following their 32-10 win over Italy here.

The Springboks had lost their previous three matches, including two against English club sides and a 20-13 defeat in

Du Preez looking forward to baptism of fire

2010-04-16T08:58:44Z

Loosehead prop Wian du Preez will make his South Africa debut against Italy here on Saturday with Leicester Tiger Martin Castrogiovanni's snarling teeth ready to welcome him.

As international star...

Former 'Bok Hougaard drops compatriots in the mire

2010-04-16T09:04:49Z

World champions South Africa suffered their third successive defeat on their European tour as Saracens fly-half Derick Hougaard kicked a late winning drop-goal at Wembley on Tuesday.

Sarries were 18-6 down at the break but they recovered thanks to early second-half tries by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has defended a decision to take his jaded stars on a three-Test tour of Europe that starts on Friday against France in Toulouse.

Some South African medical experts believe the world and Springboks have work to do on their scrum as they close in on this year's Tri-Nations against the Wallabies next weekend, coach Peter de Villiers says.

The world champions paved the way for their first southern hemisphere championship in five sea...

SAfrica seek home rugby Tri-Nations clean-sweep

2010-04-16T10:55:59Z

South Africa aim for a home clean-sweep when they tackle Australia in the Tri-Nations on Saturday having comfortably disposed of the All Blacks with back-to-back wins.

But the world champions know that Robbie Dea...

Boks retain Steyn for Australia rugby Test

2010-04-16T10:59:49Z

South Africa have retained the team that outplayed New Zealand for a Tri-Nations Test against Australia at Newlands on Saturday.

There had been widespread media speculation that coach Peter de Villier...

Boks retain Steyn for Australia Test

2010-04-16T11:00:01Z

South Africa have retained the team that outplayed New Zealand for a Tri-Nations Test against Australia at Newlands on Saturday.

There had been widespread media speculation that coach Peter de Villier...

All Blacks grip on rugby Tri-Nations under threat

2010-04-16T11:17:17Z

Southern hemisphere rugby is set for a shake-up in the Tri-Nations series kicking off Saturday, with confidence high in South Africa and Australia and a question mark over powerhouse New Zealand.

New Zealand and Australia launch the tournament in South Africa play the British and Irish Lions in the third and final Test here Saturday with the series already sewn up and seeking a first-ever whitewash in 118 years of fixtures between the two sides.

The Springboks won the first Test in Durban 26-21 and the second in International Rugby Board (IRB) has vowed to "eradicate" the "particularly heinous" act of eye-gouging.

Wednesday's announcement by the global governing body comes following the controversy caused by Springbok back-row Schalk Burger's eye-gouge on

Rowntree slams de Villiers comments

2010-10-22T07:52:42Z

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Riki Flutey's finally ready to roar into Test action

2010-10-22T07:52:46Z

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Springboks say sorry for controversial eye-gouging comments

2010-04-16T11:34:52Z

South African rugby officials on Monday apologised for comments after the Springboks win over the British and Irish Lions that gave the impression that they condoned eye gouging.

Springbok enforcer Schalk Burger was earlier in the day banned for eight weeks for gouging Lions winger Springbok enforcer Schalk Burger has been banned for eight weeks for eye-gouging British and Irish Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald in his country's dramatic second Test victory on the weekend.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has named 12 players with Test experience in a South African XV to face a Namibian Invitation XV in Windhoek on Friday.

The match serves as the Springboks only warm-up match before going into a three-Test series next month with the

De Villiers queries Lions' selection policy

2010-04-16T13:38:25Z

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has questioned whether the British and Irish Lions were right to pick a squad designed to match the world champions' renowned forward strength.

The Lions travel to South Africa next month for a 10-match tour which features three Tests against the Spri...

De Villiers 'surprised' O'Connell is Lions captain

2010-04-16T14:44:11Z

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said he was "surprised" by the choice of Ireland's Paul O'Connell as captain of the British and Irish Lions squad that will face the world champion Spr...

Springboks eye England win to get back on track

2010-06-11T22:19:36Z

South Africa captain John Smit has no truck with the 'f word' - fatigue - as the world champions eye a sixth straight win over England later Saturday which they hope will kickstart a return to the top of the game.

Since beating England 15-6 in last year's World Cup

Lions feel the pinch as England face up to World Cup worry

2010-04-16T14:19:47Z

The effect of a sobering weekend for British and Irish rugby was duly confirmed by the latest edition of the International Rugby Board world rankings yesterday. Having slipped from fourth to fifth following their 14-point defeat to Australia, South Africa coach Peter de Villiers fears "mental fatigue" could lead to a lack of motivation for the world champions when they face England at Twickenham here Saturday.

Since beating England 15-6 in last year's South Africa and England contested the World Cup final in Paris. They meet again at Twickenham on Saturday and quite ...

Springboks warned: beware England rugby backlash

2010-04-16T14:23:25Z

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers warned his side to gear up for a fierce England backlash after watching the Springboks struggle to get the better of a spirited Scotland outfit 14-10 at Murrayfield on Saturday.

England's defeat to

South Africa remain focused in the face of off-pitch storms

2010-04-16T14:23:57Z

Peter de Villiers, as a former science teacher, is not one for reckless experiments, and so at Murrayfield this afternoon, South Africa's coach sends out the side that narrowly beat Wales in Cardiff last weekend. It seems like a logical selection and the world champions should register...

Rory returns hoping to try to sullen Springboks' patience

2010-04-16T14:28:39Z

Scotland's try drought in front of their own supporters has lasted nearly 14 months and, not surprisingly, they today turned to the wing who crossed the line in the last game at Murrayfield when they breached a visiting defence. Rory Lamont steps up to play on the left wing against South Africa this Saturday, the Sale player winning his...

Boks boss goes experimental for UK tour

2010-04-16T12:43:34Z

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has selected an experimental squad for next month's UK Tour, leaving out World Cup winners Butch James, CJ van der Linde, Jannie du Plessis and Johan...

Springbok coach denies sex blackmail claim

2010-04-16T13:28:56Z

The South Africa Rugby Union (SARU) denied Saturday a report claiming national coach Peter de Villiers was the victim of sex blackmail.

A Johannesburg newspaper said an unnamed rugby official and a Bok squad member threatened to release a video allegedly showing De Villiers involved in sexual activities if the play...

Springboks coach De Villiers refuses to brand Kiwi Dowd racist for 'puppet' jibe

2010-10-21T10:18:22Z

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Gatland is the best in the world, warns South Africa coach de Villiers

2010-10-21T10:14:52Z

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