By Craig Simpkin
South African captain Jean De Villiers is in a race to be fit in time for the start of the 2015 Rugby World Cup – and there is still a chance that his career could be over.
The 33-year-old was left howling in agony on the turf during his side's 12-6 defeat to Wales at the Millennium Stadium, and subsequent tests showed that he had torn his anterior cruciate ligaments in his knee and dislocated his kneecap.
“I thought ‘it's my last game ever….it's the end,” he told Sport24. “Even when Johan van Graan got to me before I was carted off, I said ‘geez, I didn't want it to end like this'.
“He's a very positive guy and said ‘don't worry, it will work out'. I still thought I wouldn't be playing rugby again, and let's be honest that may still be the situation. With an injury like this, it's the reality.”
Race Against Time
De Villiers is back in the gym following reconstructive surgery and is working hard on his rehabilitation. But the centre is realistic of his chances of featuring in a strong Springboks squad if he isn't fit enough to take part in their Pool B games, which kick off on September 19 against Japan.
“Just going to the World Cup … I don't know if that will be enough for me. If I am selected I want to know I am good enough and will make a positive impact. If not, I must just say that I gave it a good old crack and it didn't work out.”
Captain Material
As a highly-regarded captain and the most capped centre in South Africa's history, De Villiers' boots are big ones to fill, but should he fail in his fitness battle there are plenty of strong candidates waiting in the wings to take over as skipper.
Perhaps the most likely deputy would be Victor Mayfield, who has deputised for De Villiers in the past and is close to Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer.
And then there's Francois Louw, who is currently turning in some top performances for Bath and is someone who can really lead by example at the break down.
A more sentimental appointment would be that of Brian Habana, the flying winger and all-time leading try scorer for South Africa, who – at the age of 31 – is likely to be appearing in his last World Cup.
World Cup Woe
It's hard not to have sympathy for De Villiers, an eloquent and passionate man who – despite winning more than a century of caps for his country – has endured a career blighted by injury. His record in the World Cup, rugby's biggest stage, is poignantly chequered too.
“I've been selected for three World Cups and only played a combined 160 minutes of rugby in the tournament,” he told The Guardian. “Even in 2011, I was 25 minutes into the first game against Wales when I popped a rib. I went off and played the last pool game – from the bench against Samoa.
“I then started the quarter-final against Australia which we lost. So I've not had a lot of luck.”
It was in 2007 that De Villiers was struck his cruellest blow. Injured in the opening pool game, he had to look on as his teammates went all the way and lifted the trophy, defeating England 15-6 in a final dominated by a powerhouse performance from Mayfield.
He may have had a winners' medal in his grasp, but for De Villiers that was scant consolation: “It was a very empty feeling. I'm fortunate to have a World Cup winners' medal, but I don't think I deserved it. I was very happy for the team and my friends but I was empty inside. I never look at the medal now.”
Here's hoping that he gets an opportunity to right those wrongs come September.
