Paul de Villiers heads into Saturday's Springbok clash with the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (3pm) as one of the most productive breakdown operators in the country, and the 23-year-old Stormers loose forward is keen to bring that currency to the Test arena from the replacements' bench.
De Villiers finished the URC season with 19 turnovers won, one behind Bulls flank Jeandre Rudolph who led the competition. Named in the Bok squad on the back of that form, he says the step up in training intensity has been the most immediate difference at international level.
"The training standards are a massive thing. You're competing against Springboks and against guys who want to be here. That lifts the intensity of a normal training session to another level," he said.
The former Junior Springbok captain is clear-eyed about his role but reluctant to be defined solely by his work at the breakdown. "It's part of my job — I get selected because I bring that to the table. That's not necessarily the only thing I can bring or must bring. My focus isn't on taking someone else's role. It's about continuing to do what got me here and working hard on the things I do well."
He cites Heinrich Brussow as an early influence on his breakdown craft, and says he is now drawing from those immediately around him in the squad. "I learnt a lot from watching top players at the breakdown. I am still learning, and right now from guys like Siya Kolisi, Siba Mahashe and Emmanuel Tshituka — the number sixes in the squad."