Warrior to the last

SOME things are just not meant to be. Springbok captain Jean de Villiers has been in the national rugby team picture over a period spanning four World Cups. Yet he is returning home this week never having been able to complete one of these tournaments, after fracturing his jaw against Samoa in Birmingham on Saturday.

Like many a top-level player, De Villiers has come back from serious injury several times. And at 34, he has decided he will never again don the Springbok jersey

He played the first two matches at the current tournament, games that have left many followers of the game still wondering whether the national team has it in them to go all the way to the final, and possibly win a third title. Among these fans there are those who felt that De Villiers and other veterans were taking on a battle too far in England and Wales.

On Saturday the team did bounce back well from the shock of defeat to Japan in their opening match nine days ago by running in six tries against the physical Samoans and conceding none.

The captaincy now passes to the oldest player in the Bok squad, 38-yearold lineout supremo Victor Matfield. Under him, there will be the natural reaction of the players to want to “do it for Jean”.

Emotion is one thing, but time will tell if the team has the skill, ability and tactical nous to succeed in the knockout stages, which they should reach.

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