Stormers Talisman Geared Up For Full House Against The Sharks
Despite acknowledging his capabilities at the breakdown, rising star Paul De Villiers says there are more elements to his game that he wants to bring to the fore and put on display.
Such is the meteoric rise and prestige of De Villiers that, despite the star-studded players around him, he has managed to cultivate a reputation as one of South Africa’s rising rugby stars, destined for greater heights in the game.
The Stellenbosch University alumnus has crafted his game around being a masterful menace at the breakdown, but the blindside flanker wants to be seen as more than someone who dominates at that aspect of the game.
“I would like people to see me as an all-round player,” said De Villiers.
“I know attacking and defending the breakdown is a huge part of my game, but I like the ball in hand and to contribute at different levels in the match – be it kick chasing or linking up with the backs,” he added.
With four man of the match awards and five tries to his name already, the Stormers number 6 exhibited his value to the side with another stellar all-round performance against Leicester Tigers, where he registered two try assists to go with his insatiable workrate around the ruck.
It’s no coincidence, then, that the Stormers struggled without him the week prior against Harlequins in the Investec Champions Cup.
As attention turns to their next opponents, the Sharks at DHL Stadium on Saturday – the 23-year-old will get to test himself against a side boasting a quality squad including several Springboks, and inspirational two-time Rugby World Cup winning captain, Siya Kolisi, who has been named on the Sharks bench.
Many have built up De Villiers’s prospective tussle with the iconic captain, but the flanker displayed immense maturity and gave credit to the opposition rather than focusing on any individual.
“Any player wants to test themselves against the best, whether it’s Siya or the rest of the team,” De Villiers mentioned.
“They are a team with lots of good players, and we respect them in that sense. I am looking forward to the game, but we’re focused more on our own game rather than the names the Sharks are bringing.”
One individual who is sidelined, who has been a massive influence not only on De Villiers but also on the locker room, is Deon Fourie. True to his character, De Villiers had nothing but good things to say about the man affectionately known as ‘brannas.’
“Not just to myself but to the team as well. He has a massive voice in the dressing room. He helps us in planning, to pick up our standards, and I look at how he operates on the field, but more so off the field,” he said in admiration.
The Cape Town public is renowned for its fervent support and consistently turns out in strong numbers to back its team. After a sell-out against the Bulls three weeks ago, more of the same is expected for the highly anticipated clash against their coastal rivals.
The former 2023 Junior Springbok captain admits that it’s not every day that he plays in front of such massive crowds and seemed in awe of the overwhelming support.
“I haven’t played many games where it’s sold out. I had time to take it in against the Bulls and got to see what the faithful means to the players. They are like the 16th man on the field. It means a lot, and I am very excited.”
The Stormers hold an unbeaten record against the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship, and if the Sharks wish to change that, they will have to neutralise the threat posed by Paul De Villiers.
