Jean de Villiers cancelled a coaching session, a TV session and a drinking session to join up with South Africa this week in Dublin – but he couldn’t be happier ahead of their clash against Ireland.
Rugby365
The 54-times capped centre thought he’d pulled on his last Boks shirt in September, when he helped the world champions win the Tri-Nations title.
He signed for Irish province Munster after that victory and thanks to the Springboks’ policy of selecting only home-based players, he’d given up hope of representing his country again until after his Irish adventure.
But following an injury to Adi Jacobs, South African coach Peter de Villiers decided it was wiser to call up an Irish-based player “who knows everything, and played with the Boks just a couple of months ago” than fly someone half-way across the world.
“I’d be in the local pub having a Guinness obviously, that’s a stupid question,” de Villiers, joked when asked what he’d be doing if he was not in the 22 at the squad’s hotel in Dublin on Thursday.
“I was actually meant to do work with [former Ireland hooker] Keith Wood on Friday evening and then I had a function for [Irish club side] Garryowen on Saturday.
“Then I was supposed to be doing a broadcast for the BBC. I had quite a full schedule but I had to put that on hold unfortunately – or fortunately rather,” the 28-year-old added.
“It’s fantastic to be part of the squad, I’m really surprised but it’s great to be back.”
De Villiers made his decision to move to Ireland in the full knowledge that he would not be selected by South Africa.
Although he struggled to watch his former teammates lose to France and English clubs Leicester and Saracens on this tour, he insists he never once doubted his decision.
“I made my decision knowing that I wanted to come to Munster and make a success of that,” he said. “As it worked out here I am again getting the opportunity to represent my country.
“Really it’s one of the games I will treasure for the rest of my life.”
With his fellow Irish-based players BJ Botha (Ulster) and CJ Van der Linde (Leinster) in the squad, the Boks could benefit from some insider knowledge.
“I don’t really think there’s any secrets,” smiled De Villiers.
“When you analyse games and players you get so much and you can’t really add much more.”
The centre does though know a fair amount about Munster and Ireland stars Keith Earls and Ronan O’Gara, both of whom could be crucial, in their own way, in Saturday’s clash.
“He [Earls] is a great player, a great guy, a great youngster and a fantastic player,” said de Villiers, who has seen Earls excel at wing and fullback for Munster.
O’Gara won’t be starting on Saturday for the Six Nations champions after Ireland coach Declan Kidney dropped the flyhalf in favour of Jonathan Sexton after the latter’s impressive debut in last week’s win over Fiji.
But de Villiers, who will be on the bench, is well aware that O’Gara could yet play a key role on Saturday.
“I’ve sent a text already to Rog [O'Gara], because I think I’ll be No.21 and he’ll be No.21,” he said.
“So we’ll definitely be swapping jerseys afterwards.
“Luckily for Ireland and unfortunately for us they have the quality of Rog on the bench so they can call on him at any time.
“It’s a great position to be in for Ireland.
“It was a massive call for Declan Kidney to start with Sexton and we’ll have to see what Saturday holds.”
November 27th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I wish Pierre Spies was there, O’Gara would be having Lions Tour nightmares of playing, even as a replacement.
RoG is like Adi Jacobs, an absolute liability on defense.
Jean de Villiers / Wynand and Jacques Fourie together with Schalk and Brussouw must be licking their lips for that 10 channel, specially when no 21 appears, but probably also for this new youngster.
November 27th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Reply to welshbok @ 9:47 am:
I hope this new Irish wonderkid gets the same treatment a certain talked-up ‘Capriati’ got a year ago from the Boks.
November 27th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Reply to Morné @ 9:59 am:
Was that Jenny or Danny?
:snor: has actually been legend at times!
To think that Tiger nogal taught him a lesson, and since then, neither of them have been the same
November 27th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Ek sou ook ophou drink vir die Bokspan.
Mind you : Ek het!!
… en dit het nie gewerk…
Wel, in daai geval: “Barman maak dit n dubbel. Met BAIE ys en jy hoef nie so rof oppie Coke te wees nie!!”
Chorts!:beer:
November 27th, 2009 at 11:07 am
November 27th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Reply to PietPloos @ 11:00 am:
Glo my, as jy warm bier moet drink saam met die vuil eilandbewoners, sou jy ook oorweeg om op te hou drink.
Ek’s soos Morne, ek vat my Roodebergie BAIE ernstig. Jy koop hom hier by die cash and carry vir £4.60 ‘n bottel.
KWV Roodeberg, die beste waarde vir geld vir GOEIE WYN
November 27th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Reply to welshbok @ 11:11 am:
Partykeer drink ek hom so baie die berg raak n koppie!!!
November 27th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Reply to Morné @ 11:49 am:
Ek sien Checkers adverteer
hom vir R59.
November 27th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 11:58 am:
Bargain, ek is daar, gaan sommer n kis koop nou, ek werk in anycase net half dag vandag!
Cheers!
November 27th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Reply to Morné @ 12:01 pm:
Onthou jy skuld my ‘n bottel.
November 27th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Of topic (if you consider 2 hours of no activity as an ongoing topic)
I’ve just watched the documentary of the B&I Lions tour, BOD is conspicuous by his absence from the day to day stuff that is in the DVD.
the only time you really see him is revving the team up just before leaving the change rooms to play.
November 27th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
November 27th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 4:35 pm:
Yes:
November 27th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
stem
November 27th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
OK, nou is hier al drie
Miskien wil iemand ‘n topic
begin?
November 27th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I thought I did, with post 11
November 27th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Letter in a paper:
Someone who recently
visited Durban suggests
they should also change
it’s name, since name changing
is so in vogue.
He suggests it should be
renamed to DIRTBIN.
Goes for most SA inner city’s
I suppose.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 5:26 pm:
Unlike John Smit, who is
coach, motivator, spokesman
for the Boks?
November 27th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 5:30 pm:
Speaking of JS, I received his book 2 days ago. Just a few pages to go in JW’s book and then I start on it
November 27th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
OLLIE -
New thread that may get us
going. Check.
I’m still hoping to win Smit’s
book in the RW competition.