Rassie Erasmus Singles Out Springboks Star As World Class in 3 to 4 Key Areas
- Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus spoke at length about what makes flank Paul de Villiers stand out from his peers
- De Villiers is set to start at No 6 for South Africa against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday
- Erasmus described De Villiers as above average across the board, with a handful of areas where he reaches world-class level
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Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has offered a detailed assessment of flank Paul de Villiers ahead of Saturday's Test against New Zealand, pinpointing what makes the loose forward a cut above his contemporaries.
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De Villiers is named in the No 6 jersey for the match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, one of the most anticipated fixtures on the rugby calendar. The selection has drawn attention to the 25-year-old, and Erasmus has left little doubt about the confidence he has in the player.
Erasmus breaks down De Villiers' strengths
The Springbok coach was clear in his assessment, highlighting De Villiers’ remarkable consistency and ability to contribute across several aspects of the game.
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Erasmus noted that the flanker performs above average in most areas while possessing three or four attributes that place him among the world’s best.
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De Villiers faces All Blacks Test at Ellis Park
Saturday’s clash at Ellis Park gives De Villiers an important opportunity to justify the confidence shown in him by his coach.
Matches between South Africa and New Zealand are among the biggest contests in world rugby, while the Springboks’ No. 6 position requires a player to combine physical strength with accuracy at the breakdown, in the lineout and during open play.
With Erasmus having publicly backed him, De Villiers will be one of the players attracting the most attention when the starting XV takes the field.
Springboks star celebrates after hitting 50th cap
Briefly News also reported that Springbok speedster described reaching the 50-Test milestone as a dream come true after helping South Africa to a convincing 45-21 victory over England on Saturday.
The electric winger celebrated his landmark appearance in style, scoring a try and adding five successful conversions as the Springboks opened their Nations Championship campaign with an impressive bonus-point win.
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Source: Briefly News
