Bok legend: Le Roux is underutilised
The Springboks face Wales in a World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday and Le Roux will be one of the two-time world champions' key attacking threats at Twickenham.
However, De Villiers, who played 14 Tests for South Africa between 1967 and 1970, believes the current Springbok game plan is stifling Le Roux's strengths.
"Le Roux is probably one of the most dangerous players in our side," De Villiers told rugby365.com.
"I don't always think we play a game that allows him to express himself and sometimes I think he is underutilised.
"He [Le Roux] has exceptional skill and an incredible change of pace and he reads the play exceptionally well as do those other two buggers [Israel Folau and Ben Smith].
"I will probably put Le Roux and [Ben] Smith in the same category because of their size. All three of them got exceptional pace and they are not easy to play against.
Despite Le Roux's obvious strengths on attack, De Villiers says fullback does have a few flaws in his game, which puts the Boks at a disadvantage sometimes.
"I don't want to criticise Le Roux, but sometimes I prefer that he does not do those little chips, which he can do perfectly and has worked on many occasions. But my opinion is that if it’s 50/50 then he should not do it.
"But that is entirely in his head which he reads in the split second of the moment. With ball in hand he is a far greater asset.
"I am obviously biased in that aspect of the game. If you got possession and if you can retain possession you are ultimately going to win that game.
"Why kick the ball away? You are only giving the opposition a chance to put you under pressure again. Rather keep the ball and recycle," said De Villiers, who would play Jesse Kriel at fullback should Le Roux pick up an injury in the play-offs.
De Villiers was not prepared to say who he thinks will win this year's World Cup, but he does believe the tournament's Southern Hemisphere teams hold all the cards at the moment.
"I would say any of the Southern Hemisphere sides could go all the way. I personally think France are not going to come up to scratch against the All Blacks and I think South Africa will have a reasonably comfortable win against Wales. The one tough game will be Ireland against Argentina and Australia should beat Scotland comfortably.
"The Southern Hemisphere sides have a very strong hand at the moment."
By Warren Fortune
@FortuneWarren
@rugby365com
