Coach Stick: Why Paul de Villiers is 'the right person' to face All Blacks

Paul de Villiers will start for the Springboks in his first game against the All Blacks, stepping in for talismanic leader Siya Kolisi as the Springboks take a cautious approach to the captain’s return from injury.

But De Villiers’ selection wasn’t entirely a health-based decision. Springboks coaches backed the 23-year-old’s form, allowing them to give Kolisi an extra week’s rest.

De Villiers has started the Springboks’ season, his first with the team, as the starting openside flanker, and has retained that jersey in every Test since, except for South Africa’s most recent, a low-scoring win over Argentina.

Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said the situation highlighted why it is so important for the Springboks to select the country’s rising stars, with the minutes De Villiers now has under his belt putting him in good stead to step in again for Kolisi.

“Not having Siya, our captain, will always be a big loss for us,” Stick told reporters in Johannesburg on the eve of the match. “We didn’t know that Siya was not going to be ready for this game. But the trials that we’ve given Paul de Villiers, from the beginning, against big teams — we gave him an opportunity. Everyone is talking about him now.

“One thing that I enjoy about him is the maturity at that age; he understands his role in the team very well. Irrespective of your age, if you take full ownership of what needs to be done, you are a leader in your space. And I must say that boy’s a very, very smart one.

“I know it’s a different beast, playing against the All Blacks. It’s one of the toughest games you can ever play in your career. But I think he’s the right person. He’s a warrior, he doesn’t stand back for anyone, and that’s what we need for this game.”

Fixture

Internationals

South Africa

08:10

22 Aug 26

New Zealand

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The Stormers star has been thrown in the deep end to begin his Test career and has thrived thus far, and coach Stick says his fellow flankers have been working closely with him to put him in the best possible position to succeed.

One of those men helping De Villiers is stand-in captain Pieter-Steph du Toit, who will start in his familiar No.7 jersey against New Zealand.

The 34-year-old has played the All Blacks 17 times in his career, losing the first four against his nation’s famous rivals but winning five of the last six. Having experienced both sides of the rivalry, Du Toit says he is excited to take it to the next level with the coming four-Test series.

“I’d say it’s a really different tournament,” the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year said when asked what his message was for his team. “It’s the first time I’ve played in a tournament like this. Especially to host New Zealand in South Africa for three games is a massive honour and a privilege.

“We know New Zealand’s going to bring the intensity. We’re going to have to perform well in the lineout and the scrum; they’re going to try to test us.

“We know they’re quite fast and really skilful players, so they’re definitely going to try and exploit us and come with plans as well. I would say it’s probably to try and stay awake; don’t get caught out.”

The closest piece of experience the pair said they could draw on is the 2021 Lions tour, which South Africa won 2-1. But unlike a Lions tour, De Villiers and the Boks will begin each game facing the haka.

“It’s a young boy’s biggest dream to stand there, especially at Ellis Park with a Springbok jersey on, and face New Zealand and the haka,” De Toit said. “And the older you get, the biggest dream is to keep doing it. As soon as it’s gone, it’s going to be something you’re never able to do.

“At the moment, I’m trying with everything I can to keep that dream alive, to be there, add value, and contribute to the team. Hopefully I can do that on Saturday.”