With the Tri-Nations now over for South Africa, iafrica.com caught up with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers for an 'exclusive' tete-a-tete...

Dan: It's been a tough introduction for you Peter — a great win to finish, but a difficult run before that...
Peter: It has been challenging Dan. When you walk through the shadow of the valley of death, sometimes it's difficult to know which side your bread is buttered. But ultimately our strengths have allowed us to go the extra mile, and our weaknesses have not caught us short.

Dan: You've faced a lot of criticism during your tenure as coach. How have you dealt with that?
Peter: I have always believed that people who live in glass houses should not throw rocks, as you can see through the walls if they are glass, so you know who is throwing the rocks. But you cannot shut the door after the horse has bolted — you must catch the horse, and take it to water, to see if it will drink. That is all you can do.

Dan: I see... You've had a lot of faith in certain players, with Percy Montgomery reaching his hundred caps under you.
Peter: I have always liked Percy. I said at the start, when I was still in Cape Town, that if I cannot bring Montgomery to Table Mountain, then I must take Table Mountain to Montgomery. Just as Michael Owen took goals to Newcastle, so Percy has hit the nail on the head for me. And he has wonderful hair.

Dan: How important have your assistants been?
Peter: Gary Gold also has wonderful hair. I always tell him he has a golden touch, because his surname is Gold, which always makes him laugh. Laughter is very good as medicine, especially if you do not have medical aid. Dick Muir doesn't have such nice hair, and he gets upset when I make a joke with his name. But they are ivory towers of strength. Without them, I am like Samson after getting a haircut.

Dan: How did you rate the All Black and Wallaby sides this year?
Peter: I think you can try to turn water into wine, but sometimes that wine is corked, and then you have made a difference, but not the one you wanted. Then have you succeeded? That is the question for Australia. The All Blacks have made a good wine, but they must not drink too much of it, because sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is a train, and if you get off track, your chickens will be counted before they have hatched, leaving your eggs in different baskets. That is what New Zealand must understand.

Dan: There's been talk of resting players for the end of year tour...
Peter: It is a long walk to freedom, and also a long flight to London, so I must ask myself, where do I draw the line? And what do I draw it with? Also, which players most need to get duty-free shopping for Christmas? These are important questions; sometimes the answer lies therein.

Dan: Will you be getting a break before the tour at the end of year? Peter: I will be spending some time away from myself, relaxing, and reading my book of quotes from George Bush, which I always find inspiring. I also like watching the hotel documentaries of Mr. Basil Fawlty, another great man. It is very important to have role model