SARU backing for De Villiers

South Africa coach to attend talks over poor performances

Last updated: 28th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

SARU backing for De Villiers

De Villers: Position not at threat

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Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has received a vote of confidence from the South African Rugby Union following his side's dismal start to the Tri-Nations series.

De Villiers has had to fend off intense criticism after his side kicked off their title defence with three successive defeats.

After two losses to New Zealand and another against Australia, the defending champions lie bottom of the Tri-Nations table without even a bonus point to their name.

Ill discipline has marked each of their defeats, with the Springboks suffering from four yellow cards in the three matches.

Although SARU say they will hold talks with De Villiers to discuss the recent disappointments, the governing body have given their full backing to the coach.

Wrong

"There is a lot of wrong that needs to be made right after the bad start to the Tri Nations," SARU president Oregan Hoskins told Business Day.

"But that doesn't mean that we don't support the coach. We are meeting the coach to hear what went wrong and what needs to be done going forward.

"But again, he has our full backing."

Meanwhile, the world champions have been hit with an injury blow ahead of their next Tri-Nations match against the All Blacks on August 21 with the news that second row Andries Bekker is likely to miss the rest of the season.

Bekker has been forced to undergo surgery after aggravating a back problem and joins scrum-half Fourie du Preez and flanker Heinrich Brussow on the long-term injury list.