Many bumps and bruises on path to 100 Tests for Jean De Villiers

Jean de Villiers of South Africa's Springboks passes the ball under pressure from Michael Hooper, left, of Australia. De Villiers is poised to play in his 100th Test match on Saturday. Reuters photo

Agencies

South Africa captain Jean de Villiers said he cannot quite believe that he is about to play his 100th Test match, given he felt he might not even get a second after he destroyed ligaments in his knee, seven minutes into his debut.

The centre spent nine months recuperating after that Test against France at Marseille in November 2002, returned to play a game as the Springboks warmed up for the 2003 World Cup in Australia, then injured a shoulder.

He then spent another eight months in rehabilitation and, he said on Tuesday, as a younger man his resolve to return to top-class rugby had been tested.

“Yeah, it has been a long road,” he said ahead of the Springboks’ Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand on Saturday. “There were definitely times when I did not think I’d get to number two.

“Making your international debut is always special, getting injured seven minutes into it is not what you dream about.

“Being out for nine months, coming back for the World Cup and getting 15 minutes then getting injured again in the warm up, another eight months out. You certainly test your character.

“I went through a lot of hard times but I believe I got through it stronger. I never imagined I would get to 100. I feel very fortunate in that regard.”

De Villiers, who also missed all but 40 minutes of South Africa’s successful 2007 World Cup campaign after tearing a bicep, will become the Boks’s fifth centurion.

Victor Matfield (114), John Smit (111), Percy Montgomery (102) and Bryan Habana, who brought up the mark in last week’s 24-23 loss to the Wallabies, are the other members of the club.

Smit and Habana both lost their 100th Test matches, something that South African media have suggested is a centurion’s curse.

“To look at the records and to see that John and Bryan lost their 100th, I won’t go down that road,” De Villiers said with a laugh. “Whether it’s your first or 100th, you play to win and I’d like to think we will be highly motivated to win and do the Bok jersey proud.”

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau returns to play his 50th Test for Australia in one of three changes to the Wallabies line-up to face Argentina in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.

Polota-Nau, who has been sidelined with a knee injury sustained in the Waratahs’ Super Rugby title win on August 2, replaces James Hanson.

Peter Betham replaces the injured Adam Ashley-Cooper on the wing, while Ben McCalman was preferred to Scott Higginbotham as No 8 in the absence of Wycliff Palu, who received a head knock in last weekend’s narrow win over South Africa.

“It’s always hard to replace the experience guys such as Wycliff and Adam bring to the game, but their injuries now open the door for Ben and Peter to get an opportunity on Saturday night,” coach Ewen McKenzie said.

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