Paul de Villiers will face the All Blacks for the first time on Saturday after being thrust into the starting side to replace the injured Siya Kolisi at Ellis Park. The 23-year-old loose forward has gone from late injury replacement to one of the Springboks' most trusted young forwards in the space of a few weeks.
De Villiers was not even included in the matchday 23 for the opening Test against England, but when Kolisi pulled up injured during the captain's run, the Stormers flank was thrown straight into the starting side. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands, starting all three Nations Championship Tests while Kolisi remained sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Rassie Erasmus acknowledged the challenge facing De Villiers in his fourth Test and first against New Zealand. "It takes about six or seven Tests for you to sleep easier on a Friday before a game and the nerves aren't that heavy," Erasmus said. "But the way Siya, Marco [van Staden] and Brannas [Deon Fourie] have helped him over the last few weeks, I think he knows his job and he is not overconfident."
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick described De Villiers as a warrior and the right person for the task. Erasmus praised the youngster's physical attributes and rugby instincts, noting he is sharp and fit. The rapid rise of De Villiers has been one of the success stories of the Springboks' international season, with the coaching staff expressing no doubts about his readiness for rugby's biggest stage despite his limited Test experience.