This is still a great team, insists De Villiers

JEAN DE VILLIERS knew he would face one or two major hurdles once he joined Munster.

On the field, the chief ambition was to score a try at Thomond Park as quickly as possible. Off the field the challenge was to down a pint of Guinness and prove to his new colleagues he could enjoy the black stuff as much as any Irishman.

After Saturday’s Heineken Cup defeat of Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park, he was pleased to report that those twin objectives had been achieved. The broad smile he wore as he touched down Munster’s seventh and final try told its own story.

It was in quieter but still lively company that he downed his first pint of Guinness. He reported: “I was with some of the oldies, Woody (Keith Wood), Axel Foley and the Claw (Peter Clohessy). It was fantastic – but it was only two.”

On a more serious note, the 6 ft 3 inch, 16 stone Springbok, believes he is getting ever closer to becoming a central figure in the side. The more demanding members of the Red Army may feel De Villiers has a point to prove but coach Tony McGahan won’t have any of that.

McGahan said: “Jean is a world-class player and he’s here with nothing to prove to anyone in our set-up. He’s making his own way into the side and we’re happy with where he is at this time. He’s a tremendous guy and comes with a huge history of playing well in big sides.’’

McGahan revealed that De Villiers will not be required by South Africa for next month’s Test matches. The new signing makes no secret of his desire to fulfil his responsibility to Munster and do so with a smile on his face.

“What was more important for me was playing at Thomond Park and the team getting the five points rather than (me) the try although scoring that in front of this fantastic crowd was a great feeling,’’ De Villiers said.

“I knew the first game at Thomond would be the acid test. It’s getting better every week. I never expected to slot in from the start and to be magical from the beginning. I knew it would take time and I think we’re getting there.

“I’m getting used to the structures and the players around me, to know their body language and reacting quicker to that. I’m definitely not 100% yet but we’re striving for that. Hopefully by the end of it 100%.”

And what of his try? “It’s just a case of being in the right place at the right time.

“I’m delighted to have got the try, I think I stole it from Paulie (O’Connell), I think he deserved it because he played really well, but then again, the phases we went through before that shows the quality within this team.”

De Villiers regarded the negatives in the performance as the concession of the two early tries and pointed out: “That set us back last week as well. It wasn’t great moves where they scrambled our defence and broke the line and scored beautiful tries. Easy tries are being let in. There’s no problem with our structures. It comes down to every individual working a bit harder.”

Given that De Villiers had been a member of the side that conceded 61 points in their last two matches, you had to wonder how he felt when they fell 10 behind against Treviso. Was he concerned that it might be more of the same? “It was just like any other game, it’s not the first time that I’ve been in that situation and I’m sure it’s not the first time that this team has been in that situation and I think the character shone through by the way we came back.

“A lot of the credit must go to Paul as captain. His leadership is fantastic. He kept the guys together, we stuck to the plan and got the result. It’s all about what happens after 80 minutes and not after 10 or 15 minutes.

“This is still a great team, regardless of the results in the last two matches. They’re still quality players and the quality within this side is fantastic. The form mightn’t have been there for one or two weeks but the class will be there.

“I’m enjoying it. I’m happy with my decision for I believe it is probably still the best club in world rugby. Just look at their record … always made the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, the semi-finals four times, runners-up twice, champions twice. That’s not too shabby.”