By Willie Jackson

Sorry, who's mad?

I've been monitoring the views of Kiwi critics who think South African rugby coach Peter de Villiers is.

I wondered, too, if he had a screw loose when he said: "If I change my style, I will change Peter de Villiers and then I will have to tell God that he made a mistake when he made me!"

Now I don't think that comment confirms he's insane. Entertaining yes, but a madman, perhaps not. Well, not yet!

But if de Villiers is a madman, then so are some of his critics, like Murray Deaker who, if you listened to him for too long, would have you believe there's no talent in New Zealand rugby.

Deaks, who I have listened to for many years, has made some of the worst rugby predictions of any sports broadcaster I have known.

Before the South African series, Deaker was adamant we didn't have a hope and posed the question: "Was this the greatest Springbok team of all time?"

Well, we all know what happened don't we?

The Boks were thrashed. But does that make Deaker mad? Well, possibly not – but entertaining? Absolutely.

And what about his mate Andy Haden?

He swears the Canterbury Crusaders aren't allowed to select more than three Pacific Island bros each year, though he presents no evidence to back up his claim.

So does that make Haden a madman? Well, definitely, as far as Crusaders' supporters are concerned!

But to many Kiwis, straight-shooting Haden is their man.

Then there are the strange views of Herald columnist Chris Rattue, who would have you believe former Crusaders coach Robbie Deans was God and walked on water.

Rattue said Deans would be the saviour of Australian rugby.

But within two years Deans had stacked up the worst record of any Australian coach for the past 25 years.

Like Deaker, Rattue totally wrote off Graeme Henry, who he said didn't stand a chance against his beloved Robbie.

And the score between Deans and Henry before last night's game? 7-1 to Henry.

But that's why we read his columns isn't it? Because we don't know what the heck he's going to write next.

Rattue's not mad, but like Haden and Deaker, he's tremendously entertaining. Ironically these are the same people who say Peter de Villiers is nuts.

Maybe it's time they cut him the same slack the NZ public cuts them.

Sunday News, 1st August 2010.