Tri-Nations
De Villiers set to learn fate
Scrum.com
August 3, 2010
South Africa coach Peter De Villiers casts an eye over training at Ballymore, Brisbane, Australia, July 22, 2010
Peter De Villiers has been under increasing pressure © Getty Images
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Springbok coach Peter De Villiers will learn his fate at a SANZAR hearing in Cape Town on Friday after being charged with alleged misconduct.

De Villiers is in the dock following his conspiracy theory claims on Australian television programme The Rugby Club, where he alleged that the All Blacks' recent wins over South Africa had been assisted by officials in order to build momentum prior to next year's Rugby World Cup.

"I've got my own observations about the last two tests [against New Zealand], and I can't say it in public," he said on July 21. "But we do have a World Cup in New Zealand next year, and maybe it was the right thing for them to win the games so they can attract more people to the games next year."

The Springboks currently sit bottom of the Tri-Nations table after back-to-back defeats to New Zealand and a Brisbane loss to Australia, while their discipline has been brought into focus by lock Bakkies Botha's nine-week ban for headbutting All Black Jimmy Cowan.

De Villiers' latest outburst has put further pressure on his position, but officials at the South African Rugby Union (SARU) pledged their support to him last week following a meeting.

"He has our full support and we are confident that we can quickly be put back on track," SARU technical committee chairman James Stoffberg said in a statement. "We had a very productive meeting and there are areas where Peter will present us with his plans for the future, and we will offer our support in realising them."

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