Editorial: Hamilton reception will be wake-up for Boks coach

Opinion

Peter de Villiers' credentials for coaching the Springboks are something of a puzzle. Certainly, an appreciation of rugby history does not seem to be among his gifts. If it were, the lessons of Corsica would have been ringing in his ears as he contemplated the lead-up to tonight's crucial Tri-Nations match in Hamilton.

The French island, where the All Blacks lapped up the warm waters of the Mediterranean en route to their worst-ever World Cup, symbolises the wrong way to go about preparing for a gruelling contest.

So where did the Springboks stay for most of the week? At Surfers Paradise, the closest Australia has to offer to a French holiday resort.

Not only that, but the South African coach managed to offend the citizens of Hamilton in the process. There was nothing in their city, he said, and the South African players could succumb to hotel fatigue and lose interest.

The comment, like many emanating from Mr de Villiers, invites ridicule.

Switching off would be near impossible in a rugby-mad city preparing for the first time to host a test of this magnitude.

Loss of interest would surely be far more likely in the soothing atmosphere of Surfers Paradise amid a people more interested in rugby league and Aussie Rules football.

Mr de Villiers says that only tonight's game will tell whether he did the right or wrong thing.

He is wrong about that, also. Already, we know he has prepared his players in a way that history suggests tends to disorientate, rather than fine-tune and refresh.

In addition, his alienation of Hamiltonians means the Springboks are guaranteed the hottest of receptions tonight. They may feel their coach owes them, as much as Hamilton, an apology. Suddenly, Surfers Paradise will seem far, far away.