The De Villiers 'masterplan'
Jean de Villiers is so crucial to South Africa's World Cup cause that his return to full match fitness is a carefully calculated five-match comeback.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, speaking ahead of the international against a World XV at Newlands on Saturday, said De Villiers' comeback from a potentially career-ending knee injury is a real inspiration to the nation.
He admitted there was some doubt in the back of his mind that De Villiers would recover in time for the World Cup, from knee reconstruction surgery – following the horror injury against Wales in November last year.
However, a gruelling regime over the past seven months – in which he put in six hours of work a day – will see the Bok skipper make his return to the playing field at Newlands on Saturday.
"He'll probably only come on in the last 20 minutes [at Newlands on Saturday]," Meyer told a media scrum, adding that they won't push him too hard at this stage – as the coach is already envisaging De Villiers lifting the Webb Ellis Cup at Twickenham on October 31.
The next stage of his comeback will see the Bok centre play in two low-key Currie Cup warm-up games with Western Province.
However, that doesn't mean they are wrapping him in cotton wool. Rather it is all part of the carefully though-out masterplan to get him back to full fitness.
"We must not be stupid, but the plan is that he will [after Saturday's cameo] play for Western Province against the Pumas [in a Currie Cup warm-up match on July 18]," Meyer said, adding that they will be looking at De Villiers playing 50 minutes in that outing.
"I am very grateful for WP for assisting us in this regard. There will be one more game [for WP] after that.
"Then we plan that he plays two full matches against Argentina [the final round of the Rugby Championship in Durban on Saturday, August 8 and a World Cup warm-up match on Saturday, August 15 in Argentina].
"We have been taking him out of some training sessions to relieve the pressure and we will manage him correctly.
"You can't wrap him in cotton wool, as this is a contact sport and you must show your body can take it. However, it is also important that he regains his confidence before we arrive at the World Cup tournament.
"At the World Cup every game is a must-win, high intensity encounter. That is why we have to ensure he has the piece of mind before we arrive at the World Cup that he knows he is ready."
Meyer said it is great just to get him back in the fold and just to have him around.
"It will be special for him going onto the field at Newlands.
"I just hope and pray that his knee can withstand the rigours of this game and then the next two games as well. If he comes through the first three, and we then get him back against Argentina, he'll be 100 percent for the World Cup."
Meyer described De Villiers' long rehabilitation from a total reconstruction of the ligaments in his left knee as an "emotional roller coaster".
"He has been awesome and sharp at training," the coach said, adding: "The fact that he has rested is also a big plus.
"It is quite emotional, as you get quite close to the players. I'm like a father-figure to them.
"Whenever a guy gets injured I get depressed for a day or two, because I always feel as if I could somehow have prevented it.
"With Jean I felt that, perhaps not the end, but a big step back for our World Cup campaign. I was worried that we wouldn't have enough time and thought that maybe we would have him back only for the last game against Argentina [before the World Cup], but now he is here [in the team].
"He has really looked good in training. For me it is what he does on the field and he has really been impressive in training.
"Where I really have respect for Jean is that the team always comes first. Jean said Victor [Matfield] must take the captaincy [against the World XV] and even when he comes on he won't take over the captaincy. He wants to concentrate on his game and get back to form.
"He is a proud player and he wants to get it on merit, not because he is the captain.
"I believe he can definitely get back to his best.
"Jean is a massive asset to South Africa and it's wonderful to know his return to play is progressing so well.
"The mere fact that he is back in shape and ready to play is testament to his incredible work ethic and his professional approach to the game. Jean has really put in hours and hours of extra work to get here and he is a great example for any player on how to put yourself in the best possible position to recover."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
