'He's a warrior': Rassie Erasmus and Stick back Paul de Villiers
SPOTLIGHT: Paul de Villiers has gone from being a late injury replacement to one of the Springboks’ most trusted young forwards in the space of a few weeks. Now, the 23-year-old loose forward faces the biggest assignment of his career – replacing captain Siya Kolisi against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick have no doubts the Stormers flank is ready for rugby’s biggest stage, describing him as a player with maturity beyond his years and the mentality of a warrior.
Kolisi’s latest hamstring injury has opened the door once again for De Villiers, whose rapid rise has been one of the success stories of the Springboks’ international season.
At the start of the campaign, De Villiers was not even included in the matchday 23 for the opening Test against England. But when Kolisi pulled up injured during the captain’s run, the youngster was thrown straight into the starting side.
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He grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Kolisi’s injury kept him sidelined for all three Nations Championship Tests, allowing De Villiers to start each match and produce performances that quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff.
Now comes Test number four and his first against New Zealand.
“This will be Paul’s fourth Test and first against the All Blacks,” Erasmus said. “I’m sure he won’t just go into this match without having any problems.”
The Springbok coach admitted facing New Zealand is a completely different challenge, especially so early in a Test career.
“It takes about six or seven Tests for you to sleep easier on a Friday before a game and the nerves aren’t that heavy,” Erasmus said.
“But the way Siya, Marco [van Staden] and Brannas [Deon Fourie] have helped him over the last few weeks, I think he knows his job and he is not overconfident.”
Erasmus believes De Villiers has the physical tools and rugby instincts to handle the pressure.
“He is sharp and really fit, and those are things that can potentially bail him out when things get too tough,” he said.
“He’ll steal possession at the right time, he’s a great ball carrier and he cleans the breakdown well. His task will be difficult because New Zealand go in there rough at the breakdown, so it will be a big challenge.
“Luckily he is a great all-round player and he has different skills.”
For Stick, De Villiers is exactly why the Springboks continue investing in young talent before they desperately need it.
“Not having Siya, our captain, will always be a big loss for us,” Stick said.
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“We didn’t know that Siya wasn’t going to be ready for this game. But the opportunities we’ve given Paul from the beginning, against big teams, have prepared him for this moment.”
Stick said the loose forward’s biggest strength is not just his work rate, but his rugby intelligence.
“One thing that I enjoy about him is the maturity at that age. He understands his role in the team very well,” Stick said.
“Irrespective of your age, if you take full ownership of what needs to be done, you are a leader in your space.
“And I must say that boy is a very, very smart one.”
The assistant coach knows Saturday presents a different level of examination.
“I know it’s a different beast, playing against the All Blacks. It’s one of the toughest games you can ever play in your career,” Stick said.
“But I think he’s the right person. He’s a warrior, he doesn’t stand back for anyone, and that’s exactly what we need for this game.”
After earning the Stormers’ faith and quickly winning over the Springbok coaches, De Villiers now has the chance to show he belongs in rugby’s greatest rivalry.
