Rugby World Cup 2015: Jean de Villiers returns for South Africa

Ulster’s Ruan Pienaar will start for South Africa in their World Cup opener against Japan on Saturday afternoon (4.45pm kick-off).

However, when the South African national team bade farewell to supporters at a Johannesburg hotel this weekend before flying to London, De Villiers and Burger made passionate vows.

Inside center De Villiers suffered career-threatening knee ligament damage during a Test defeat by Wales in November past year . “We play badly here, it will hurt you mentally – especially for those who are competing at the tournament for the first time”.

While it’s not their strongest possible side, as is evident with Handre Pollard and JP Pietersen on the bench, the Boks should have more than enough fire power to quell any Japanese challenge. We always peak for the world cup and there’s no reason South Africa can not go all the way this time.

In the previous seven tournaments Japan played 24 RWC matches with only one win, against Zimbabwe in 1991, and two draws.

“I’m confident if we can get our momentum right there is no reason why we can’t beat any team on the day”.

Speaking ahead of the game, the versatile back spoke about achieving his goal of claiming a place in the South Africa World Cup squad and how criticism gets him fired up for games.

Hookers Schalk Brits (Saracens), Bismarck du Plessis (Montpellier), Adriaan Strauss (Bulls).

The Springboks have left out some big names with number eight Duane Vermeulen also given more time to recover from a neck injury, while regular full-back Willie Le Roux and centre Damian de Allende are not in the squad.

As a result of their poor form, coupled with a catalogue of injuries that would make most coaches weep, and the thorny issue of racial transformation, the Springboks’ World Cup chances don’t appear bright at first glance.

“This group differs quite a bit from where we were in 2007 although there are a lot of us that were part of the World Cup in 2011″. “Just to get back into the game after those setbacks – never mind what he has achieved since – speaks volumes about his character”.

“The players are there and the Springboks are confident of doing well this year”.

More than two decades after apartheid formally ended, we have grown impatient with the pace of change. But we have a youngster called Jesse Kriel who is built in the same mould as Fourie with similar attributes – good defender, great finisher with all the speed and capability to read the game as well.

“Don’t read too much into it because we’ll make a final decision in the quarterfinals”.