Peter de Villiers got some tough questions this week. He discusses the “dropping” of Frans Steyn after the Wales Test and his plans with John Smit and Ruan Pienaar.
ASK PETER – 17 June 2010 on SARUGBY.CO.ZA
Question: How you can drop Frans Steyn from your squad based on the assumption that you said he is just not as sharp as Super 14 players? Heinrich Kemp
Peter replies: I also said that I had an agreement with Frans for him to play in one Test and that was the Welsh Test. Frans is a great player and he can have a great future in the game. What I would like to see though is that all of my World Cup squad contenders should play Vodacom Super Rugby in 2011.
Question: What are your plans this year (and next year) with Ruan Pienaar and John Smit? Their versatility hasn’t always helped them in my opinion, don’t you feel it will be beneficial for the players and the Boks if they are allowed to settle at scrumhalf and hooker? Autram Jacobs.
Peter replies: John is a versatile player and is a fantastic leader and person too. He makes sacrifices for the good of the team and we as a country are blessed to have a person of his caliber as our captain. Ruan plans to go overseas so we will have to see how things work out with him.
Question: Do you have to be black to play wing for SA? Gerhard vd Heever proved that he was the best wing in the Super 14, when will you choose on merit alone? Mark Kruger
Peter replies: The Springbok team is chosen on merit. We have some great wings in our country, many of whom performed well in the Vodacom Super 14. We look at all players but the reality is there are only 22 places to fill at any given time.
Question: Will you be using the Italy Test to rest some key Springbok players that played throughout the Super 14 and to give the fringe players more game time to further test our depth before the world cup next year? Greg Martin
Peter replies: We have given Danie Rossouw, Jaque Fourie and Wynand Olivier a break and John Smit is also resting with a hamstring strain. We will never put a weakened team in a Test or pick a so called B team and we will never disrespect our opposition. This is a great opportunity to look at players and we have to make use of it.
Question: What do you think of the Azzurri team? Will they ever rise to the status of Argentina? What would you do if you were asked to lead the Azzurri team for the next five years. Marco Visentin
Peter replies: Italy are amongst the top teams in the world and they have made great strides over the past few seasons. They have a great pack and strong scrum and will be tough opposition for us. As for the future, my focus is on the Boks and getting ready for 2011 but I am sure there will be some new challenges in the years ahead.
Vraag: Ek is ‘n groot fan van jou tipe spel ek dink jy doen ‘n ongelooflike job. Ek dink die spelers geniet ook jou volwassenheid van die spel. Ek het gewonder of daar gekyk sal word na Deon Stegmann as fecther vir die span. Gerhard Barron
Peter antwoord: Ons kyk na alle spelers in ons land. Op die oomblik kies ons spelers wat ons dink kan bydra tot hoe ons will tans speel, maar dit kan gou verander en deure oopmaak vir ander spelers.