Paul de Villiers' meteoric rise has sparked debate over the Springbok captaincy after former England international Stuart Barnes questioned whether the World Cup-winning skipper Siya Kolisi might be phased out.
The 21-year-old Stormers flanker seized his opportunity during July's Nations Championship fixtures, with Kolisi sidelined through injury. De Villiers featured prominently in the number six jersey as the Springboks swept past England, Scotland and Wales, earning lavish praise from Barnes.
"Have we seen the end of Siya Kolisi as Springboks captain? A giant of the game, an all-time great, but all good things come to pass," Barnes said. "Has Rassie Erasmus found the man to take South Africa to the next level in Paul de Villiers? We haven't seen Kolisi, what we have seen is his replacement, a young man, come on and be as good as Ruben Kruger and Heinrich Brussow were."
De Villiers' rapid ascent has surprised even those closest to the programme. Less than 11 months ago, a Stormers assistant coach suggested the Oakdale College product was not quite ready for a breakthrough season, despite impressing in the latter stages of the previous URC campaign. Yet Erasmus has accelerated his development, handing him six Test caps among 49 players blooded during the July window.
Barnes credited the Springbok coach for seamlessly transitioning to the next generation. "It's almost as if Erasmus has seen this opportunity to just slide through the next generation," he added, suggesting De Villiers' emergence could spell trouble for the incumbent captain.