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'What a stupid bugger I was' - De Villiers

2009-07-03

'What a stupid bugger I was' - De Villiers

July 02 2009 at 01:59PM

By Kevin McCallum

A decidedly subdued Peter de Villiers announced 10 changes to the Springbok starting XV on Thursday afternoon, before admitting he had been a "stupid bugger" this week.

De Villiers has been at the centre of a storm of controversy after his comments on the Schalk Burger eye-gouging incident that has cast a cloud over the Springboks clinching a series victory over the British and Irish Lions in Durban on Saturday.

On Thursday he was asked what he had learnt from this week and whether it would change him.

'Then I would have to tell God that he made a mistake'
"I won't change my style, if I change my style I will change Peter de Villiers, and then I would have to tell God that he made a mistake when he made me," said De Villiers, who said he believed he had allowed himself to be sucked in by the "negative" British press.

"They did it in 1974 and 1980 and I let them do it again in 2009. What a stupid bugger I was for doing that."
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On Wednesday the Lions refuted De Villiers allegation that Ian McGeechan had not shaken his hand and congratulated him on the Springbok victory in Durban on Saturday. Asked on Thursday who was telling the truth, De Villiers sighed with no small amount of exasperation: "A lot was said this week, I think too much was said.

"It is one person's word against another. Our media have already called me a liar so we'll wait until after the third Test and I will go across to him."

There are some who would suggest making 10 changes for the final Test against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday was a bit stupid but De Villiers justified his selection by saying that he wanted everybody in the 28-man squad to get a chance to play against the Lions.

'I get goose bumps when I think about that back three'
"We respect the British and Irish Lions so much, and we want to give everybody a run against them. If they miss out on this opportunity, then they might not play against them again in their lifetime," De Villiers said.

Those changes include a forced one at lock after Bakkies Botha's appeal against a two-week ban for charging a ruck dangerously in the second Test was unsuccessful. Sharks lock Johann Muller will replace Botha while Heinrich Brussouw comes in for the banned Burger and Ryan Kankowski earns his eighth cap at eighth man.