'Speedy' Jean's Bok dream lives on
Seasoned Springbok Jean de Villiers, playing some of the best rugby of his career, is as determined as ever to be part of the national team set-up.
Speaking on day two of the Bok planning camp in Cape Town, the 31-year-old midfielder made it clear that he is still ‘hungry’ to wear the Green and Gold.
“The motivation is always there,” he said, adding: “Once it is not there anymore then I will hang up my boots … once my body can’t take it or I don’t have the drive to play good rugby and representative rugby then I will quit the game.”
Even more significant is the revelation, by new Bok coach Heyneke Meyer, that De Villiers is “as fast as ever” and contrary to popular belief he has lost none of the pace that made his Boks debut 10 year and 72 Tests ago.
The inspirational Stormers stand-in captain, who is recovering from ligament damage in his hand, said he could be back on the playing field in less than a fortnight.
De Villiers returned home early from the Stormers’ Australasian Super Rugby tour after sustaining an injury to his left wrist against the Crusaders. Some reports suggested he could be in doubt for the June Tests against England, but the Bok stalwart revealed that her may well feature for the Cape Town franchises against the Cheetahs at Newlands on May 12.
“There is still a chance,” he said, when asked about playing next Saturday, adding: “To use a well-versed cliche, we’ll take it day-by-day and see how it [the injury] responds to treatment.
“[Wee will] see how it goes in the training sessions and hopefully it will be ready by next week.”
De Villiers said he was “very excited” about working with the new Bok mentor, Meyer.
“We are very excited to join up with the camp,” he told a media scrum at Newlands.
“It is unfamiliar territory … working with a new coach. It is a learning experience for us as well and it has been very good – the technical side of things, they are very well organised. It is also about getting into the coach’s head and see what the plans are for Springbok rugby going forward.
“We now have some insight into that now and like I said, we are all very excited about it.”
Asked about the comment from the Bok coach that he, De Villiers, was playing some of the best rugby of your career, the midfielder said credit must go to his Stormers teammates.
“As long as the team is winning it is much easier for the individual to perform,” he said, adding: “A lot of credit must go to the [Stormers] team and the way that we are playing.
“I am really happy with where I am … obviously before I got injured. The important apart is now to get back, injury free, and play good rugby again.
“The only way you are going to make the Springbok squad is by playing good rugby and I obviously hope to get selected.”
Meyer also revealed that he might consider De Villiers as an outside centre, even though he mostly plays at inside centre for the Stormers.
And the Stormers skipper is “happy” to play anywhere he is selected.
“Again, the Springbok jersey is a special one and you would play anywhere.
“I am also at the stage where I know I am getting older, but you want to play for the Boks as much as you can.”
Asked about the revelation that he has lost none of his pace, despite being the wrong side of 30, De Villiers said age is not a factor.
“Guys are quick to say you are getting older, and yes you are getting older, we are all getting older.
“However, if the speed is still there and you are still doing your job on the field, then age doesn’t really matter. I tested very well and I had a very good pre-season … the speed is still there, even though it doesn’t look like it.”
He added that the extended break, courtesy of South Africa’s quarterfinal exit from last year’s World Cup in New Zealand, contributed to his improved condition this year.
“The fact that we did have a long pre-season and a good off-season helped a hell of a lot. The focus is there again.
“I had a good mental break. It is strange to say, but getting kicked out of the World Cup early, we are benefiting from that now.”
De Villiers is one of several Bok captaincy candidates being considered by Meyer, but the player himself said he first has to make the team.
“That [Bok captaincy] is something no one will ever say no to,” he said.
“It [leading the guys] comes naturally to me, because we are a Stormers squad basically in different jerseys.
“However, I still need to make the team before I can even think about doing something like that [captaining the Boks].
“At the end of the day that is his [Heyneke Meyer’s] decision and he is going to select someone he is comfortable enough. All I can do is do my best in my leadership role [at the Stormers] and my playing ability.”
He also said he was “comfortable” with the structures Meyer has put in place.
“With him showing us his plan and playing strategy I think it is very similar to Stormers rugby,” De Villiers said, adding: “I think in a way all South African teams play similar … a percentage of their play is very similar to each other.
“We can definitely learn a lot from him. There are some variety in the way that he does his stuff, but it is very similar. We are professional players as well and we know how to adapt. As I said, we are excited and we had a good session yesterday [Wednesday] as a squad – the next thing is to get selected.”
By Jan de Koning, at Newlands
