O’Connell salutes de Villiers

MUNSTER’S Springbok centre Jean de Villiers and Australian forwards coach Lawrie Fisher have endured some heavy criticism over the past few months but captain Paul O’Connell was quick to praise the duo after Sunday’s remarkable Heineken Cup hammering of Perpignan at the Stade Aime Giral.

Second half replacement De Villiers silenced his critics with a brilliantly timed run that carried him through a barricade of Perpignan defenders and over the line. As he picked himself up, he was almost knocked back down again by an avalanche of team-mates anxious to add their congratulations. !

“Everyone was delighted for Jean,” said the captain. “He’s an incredible guy … he got dropped and his reaction to it was to carry water bottles and spare jerseys for everyone.