Baptism of fire fuels De Villiers
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After producing back-to-back impressive performances for the Springboks, Paul de Villiers is eager to continue his outstanding start in the green and gold.
De Villiers couldn’t have asked for a sterner introduction to Test rugby.
Just hours before kick-off against England, the 23-year-old learned that he would start after captain Siya Kolisi was ruled out. It was a baptism of fire that could have overwhelmed most newcomers.
However, rather than buckling under the pressure, De Villiers delivered a statement performance on debut and helped the Boks record a 45-21 win.
He backed that up last weekend against Scotland, with the Stormers flanker – renowned for his work at the breakdown — also proving one of the Boks’ most effective ball-carriers.
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Reflecting on his first two Test appearances, De Villiers admitted having extra preparation time made a difference ahead of the clash against Scotland.
“Obviously, I think the first one got the notice very shortly, so against Scotland I got a bit more prep time, which was good for me.
“Still a lot of nerves, but it was good to almost expect to know what’s coming and be more ready for the game.”
Despite the whirlwind introduction, De Villiers credited the Springbok environment for helping him settle quickly.
“I’ve said it before, but going into this environment and the coaches and all the players around me, that really helps.
“All the players feel comfortable and feel ready to play.”
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The 23-year-old believes the structures within South African rugby have also made the step up to international level a natural progression.
“I think especially because we almost go through stages. You get used to senior rugby, you play a bit of Currie Cup and then you get selected for a franchise to play URC and then obviously you work towards a goal to get into the Springbok squad.
“So everything happens systematically and, as you spoke about the training status, during the week you’re almost prepped for the game and you get used to what will happen on the Saturday.
“But being in camp and experiencing the guys and the coaches and how they see things and how they align our minds towards a common goal is awesome. I thought Wilco Louw said it very nicely last week, and I’m trying to remember exactly what he said, but if I get the opportunity this week, next week there will be someone else.
“Every guy that steps into that role plays towards a common goal, and they’ve created that alignment in the squad, among the players.
“It’s not about the ego or the player himself; it’s more about the team. You push that ego to the side and you play towards a common goal and for the team.”
De Villiers will face another stern challenge this weekend in the form of Wales flanker Jac Morgan.
Morgan has been one of Wales’ standout performers, playing a key role in their victory over Fiji a fortnight ago.
However, De Villiers knows exactly what to expect from the Welshman, having regularly come up against the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship.
“I think because we also play in the URC, we kind of know their players and what they can bring.
“Morgan is obviously a very good player and also a good fetcher. He’s one of their players who stands out a lot.
“But I think for us, a big focus will also be on ourselves, focusing on our own standards and our own goals for Saturday.
“I’m not saying we’re not looking at them, but yeah, he’s a good player.”
