De Villiers on fire after coming in from the cold

WHEN Springbok Jean de Villiers was dropped by Tony McGahan for Munster’s Heineken Cup game against Treviso last October, the big question was how would he react to demotion.

Would he behave like a prima donna and sulk – or would he knuckle down and fight to regain his place? The answer came quickly and the sight of the South African great rolling up his sleeves collecting track suits and tending to the water bottles of the match day squad, dispelled any anxieties.

All the time, though, the hurt at losing his place was constant. Getting engaged to Marlie Le Roux on a short trip to Portugal helped. So, too, did some game time for South Africa against Ireland at Croke Park.

Deep down, he knew dedication and a positive reaction to what the coaches were telling him would be crucial.

“It’s the way you approach it, what your attitude is towards the team and I think you learn from those experiences,” he said ahead of tomorrow’s massive Heineken Cup clash with Northampton.

“I’m just happy to be back in the team and hopefully I can stay there because the quality we have here in Munster is fantastic; one bad match and you could find yourself out of the 22 again.

“Having had a chat with the coaches, it wasn’t that I was doing much wrong, it was more a case of not doing what was expected of me. Those were the things I worked at, carrying the ball more, maybe being a bit more selfish and having more of a go myself.

“It’s all part of being a professional rugby player and approaching everything as professionally as you can. Throughout my career, I’ve seen guys respond well to situations and guys who did not respond so well. I just made a conscious decision not to effect anyone else in being down.

“In making my decision to come abroad, I also felt I was in a comfort zone back home. I was captain of the Stormers and in the Springboks set-up and then suddenly I found myself here having to prove myself with a bunch of guys I didn’t know at all. They’re my friends now and my fellow team mates.”

During that difficult period, de Villiers indulged in plenty of self assessment. Top of the list was whether or not he had done the right thing in leaving South Africa to join a club which he knew only by reputation.

“Definitely, there were doubts in my mind that I might not have done the right thing,” he revealed. “No one likes to get dropped. You’re angry at the coach, you’re angry at your fellow team mates, you’re angry at yourself. You blame everybody else. But if you sit down and think about it, it all comes back to you again.

“When I arrived, things didn’t come naturally to me. You were thinking of what to do instead of letting it happen. I started off slowly and was dropped halfway through. But that was probably a turning point. Now I would say I’m at a stage where it happens instinctively and that’s the way I like to play.”

This week’s game is central to why Munster dug deep to sign a centre of Jean de Villiers’ stature. Taking on top English teams in a Heineken Cup decider is nothing new but to win these contests, you need players of the highest calibre. The importance of the game is not lost on the man himself.

“Before I came over, I knew the history of Munster and the success they have had in the Heineken Cup,” he mused. “Leading up to this game, all the guys are saying, ‘this is the best time to be a Munster player’.

“This is do or die with the whole of Munster supporting you. It is just a great game to be part of. Hopefully I can do my part.”

One of the major talking points in Munster rugby is whether Jean de Villiers will be seen in the fold next season. He has an option on his contract to stay or return and fight for his place on the Springboks World Cup squad.

Given the weather he has had to endure here over the past few months and with friends back home texting him about the sweltering summer they were enjoying on the Cape Town beaches, you might think he can’t wait to get out of here.

He’s not saying right now. He will only comment: “That’s coming up in the near future but if I start focusing on that now, I wouldn’t be focusing on the right thing. For me, it’s a case of focusing on this game, playing well and getting the result that we want. Two weeks or so after that, I’ll be making the decision.”

For now, though, he tells you only about the positives.

“I have to say it’s been fantastic. Weather or not, the rugby stays the same. I must say, the professionalism within the squad and the individuals is fantastic. The work ethic of the guys is what got Munster through in those tough times. “It’s a great team to be a part of and I’m just happy to be a Munster player.”