A TIRED but excited Jean de Villiers touched down in Cork Airport yesterday and spoke for the first time about his inter-continental switch.
The 28-year-old revealed his reasons for coming to Munster Rugby were largely based on the history and traditions of the club, and vowed to commit himself mind, body and soul to the Munster cause.
“Munster probably aren’t as big at home,” admits de Villiers, “but what we do know is they play fantastic rugby and have a great history.
“The province that I played for in South Africa also had a lot of history. You play for the jersey and the jersey means a lot, so I can relate to that and it’s something I’m looking forward to.
“The winning culture is also an important thing. It’s not an easy thing to develop and it’s really easy to lose it again. It’s important to keep that momentum going and everyone has to buy into it.
“Everyone must be able to move in the same direction and move towards the same goal, and hopefully I can be one of those guys to help with that.
“Having played over 50 tests for my country, having played Super 14, Currie Cup and in all local competitions, I know that if you don’t play for pride and if you don’t play to give 100%, then you are in the wrong place.
“For me it’s important to be successful in whatever I do, and important to be successful in this Munster team, no matter if it’s the Magners League or the Heineken Cup. We play to win, and we play to be a successful team.”
Despite his enthusiasm, De Villiers did acknowledge that leaving his international career behind was a difficult choice, especially with the World Cup just two years away.
He would not be drawn on whether a return to South Africa at the end of this year was on the cards, however, insisting that for now, all his loyalties lie with Munster.
“I’ll miss it. It’s still my country of birth and I played over 50 tests for them and it’s always a great honour to represent your country. But it’s a decision I made — I always knew I wouldn’t be playing for the Springboks if I came over here and that’s something I will have to live with.
“I have missed out on World Cup opportunities in the last two and from what I have learned through getting injured in those campaigns is that you can’t plan ahead too far. For me, I’ll take it a year at a time and then see where I’m at, and maybe this time next year I won’t be in the running for a Springboks spot anyway.”
Ian Bransfield, Independent.ie
Munsterious Jan!
Good luck to Jean. We will miss him, he has proved that he is our number one inside centre. Even after losing his place to Steyn with his injury in WC07
must be the unluckiest player in the world to lose out on 2 wc through injury. the first one at least wasnt that bad but 2007 must have been a huge dissapointment.
I think I will watch NH club rugby for the very first time this year. Will be interesting to see him perform with his new team mates POC and R o’G. Question is, who will step up for the Stormers next year?
Gargoyle, die Hoedspruiter in Pretoria wat die WP ondersteun, jy het geregistreer en jy is natuurlik GOEDGEKEUR
Vul net jou NAAM en VAN in op jou PROFILE en beginne blog !!
Koning Paulus Maksimus… geluk met die verjaarsdag…
Jy moet jekker verjaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr !!
Ek lees vanoggend in Die Burger dat die WP vir Loberts vir die res van die seisoen aan die Boland gaan leen. nou ek verstaan nie lekker hoe dit werk nie, Loberts het dan al die jaar in die CC vir die WP gespeel? Gedog jy mag nie vir meer as een privinsie in een seisoen in dieselfde kompetisie speel nie??
@KingPaul – 7
KingPaul, jy moet lekker verjaar ou maat!!!
Happy Birthday tooooooooooooooooo yooooooooooooooou
happy birthday dear koning paulus
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapy birthday to youuuuuuuuuuuuuu
(dit was uit volle bors uitgesing) 😆
Koning Paulus is nou seker 12 jaar en 264 maande oud… hehehe
hehehe
Dankie dankie
Is vandag ‘n volle 13149 dae oud!!!
Maar nou wag ek nog vir julle slim mense om my te antwoord oor my vraag by 7 sodat ek vir AC kan gaan waarsku voor WP gepenalize word!
12@KingPaul – Weetie… maar Lobberts het mos al vir Boland gespeel as geleende speler die seisoen, nie waar nie ??
@KingPaul – 12
Wonder of dit nie eerder Chester sal wees wat gepenelize kan word nie?
Ek sien verder op News24 die Lions is net so bef@k vir Marius Jonker soos ons WP supporters.
GBS, ek weet ons is ‘n spelersvriendelike blog, maar wat is ons standpunt oor skydregters? Mag ek maar, met permissie, hulle moer vloek as hulle k@k aanvang?
15@KingPaul – Billike kritiek is altyd welkom… selfs oor spelers, ons probeer net wegbly van byvoegike naamwoorde en laster…
Kyk, die dag wat ons nie meer mag kritiseer nie, kan ons maar omval en dooi ook….
Dis skeidsregters…. skyt is wat Luke gaan doen as Bakkies hom in n kroeg gaan kry iewers naby Brits….
@KingPaul –
3@Martin –
Ja shame, that mustve been tough! But I believe he has proved himself.
@KingPaul –
Weereens geluk KingPaul!
JA, ek weet nie wat is die reeling met Lobberts nie. Mag die Sharks byvoorbeeld dan klomp spelers vir die Cheetahs leen om die Bulls uit te skakel?!
Hoekom is Lobberts buitendien gekoop? Hyt seker twee games gespeel vir WP.
15@KingPaul –
Die eerste standpunt oor skeidsregters is, om hom te vloek – moet jy eers skeidsregter kan spel 😆
Julle praat almal ‘n klomp kuk. Jammer eks besig op die oomblik anders sou ek julle hou kom reghelp het
@Supa Die Bloubul –
Nee, ek het aspris skydregter so gespel, maar Stan is dalk reg, dit moet skytregter wees!!
Nou net ‘n lekker laaaang middagete in die plaaslike Dros gehad. Moet dalk gou bietjie gan skuinsle as ek nog vanaand wil wakker wees…
@KingPaul –
Mmmm..hoe water my mond nou vir n Dros steak of n carpetbagger…
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