Jean's appetite is insatiable
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers may still have a bit to go before he is back to his best, but he is making great leaps.
De Villiers, who played a full 80 minutes for Western Province in the 21-18 win over the Eastern Province Kings at the weekend, looks set to make his first Test appearance in more than eight months when South Africa play Argentina in Durban on August 8.
This follows his knee reconstruction surgery in the wake of the horrific injury against Wales in Cardiff last November.
De Villiers, after his 20-minute cameo in a non-cap international against the World XV at Newlands earlier this month, continued his comeback with two appearances for Western Province in Currie Cp pre-season friendlies.
After playing 60 minutes against the Pumas, he got an invaluable 80-minute run in the nailbiting win over the Kings this past weekend.
WP coach John Dobson said that De Villiers, by his own admission, still has "a bit to go" before being back to his best.
"To be brutally honest, if you looked at that game [against the Kings], you wouldn't say he is a world class centre," Dobson told a media briefing in Cape Town on Monday.
"However, every week the progression is such that next week he could be there [back to world class].
"From where he was [against] the World XV, the World XV to the Pumas and the Pumas to this [match against the Kings] was a great leap every time.
"What isn't in doubt is his appetite, his energy and his bravery."
Dobson also revealed that in his drive to get back to his best form, De Villiers insisted on playing the full 80 minutes against the Kings.
"He said he would play flank if he had to," the WP mentor said, adding: "So he went to wing at about the 60-minute mark.
"What he was really chuffed about was that he could accelerate – he is definitely sharper this week."
Dobson confirmed that De Villiers has left WP to rejoin the Boks – ahead of the final round in the Rugby Championship.
"The plan was always that he would play against Argentina," Dobson said, adding: "I presume he is in the frame for that [Test in Durban]."
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