Jean to lean on solid Bok core

New Springbok captain Jean de Villiers will rely on the wise counsel of a core group of senior players in the clash against England on Saturday.

The veteran midfielder takes charge of the side for the first time in his career as they look to start a new era under coach Heyneke Meyer on a positive note at Kings Park, and they face an England team in a fairly similar position.

England captain Chris Robshaw was appointed as a short-term leader by new coach Stuart Lancaster for the Six Nations this year, but De Villiers was quick to point out that their experience in that tournament could give them something of an advantage over their hosts this weekend.

"There are definitely a lot of similarities with the two teams, they have got a new coach and captain as well but the fact of the matter is that they have played a few games together and it is our first match together," he said.

Both teams also have a couple of inexperienced players who will be looking to prove they can cut it at the highest level, but one factor that makes the task a little less daunting for De Villiers is that he has a core group of players in the squad who have played many Tests alongside him in the past.

The new Bok skipper said that the presence of so many senior players around him has ensured that the preparations this week have run smoothly, and he added that he will not be afraid to lean on them in the heat of battle either.

He explained: "It makes my job so much easier having that core group of players helping me lead the team and just all of the guys knowing their roles and responsibilities within the team.

"Any captain is only as good as the leaders and team around him; guys like Bismarck [Du Plessis], Pierre [Spies] and Morne [Steyn] will have to help me a lot with the decision-making.

"As a leadership unit you want to make the right decisions and not just make them on your own but do it as a collective unit.

"I have been through a helluva lot with some of these guys that I am playing with tomorrow, some of them I have not captained before but a lot of them I have played with before so we know each other pretty well, they know what sort of character I am and they know what I expect of the team," said De Villiers.

Although the Springboks have not have had much time to gel as a unit this week there is a settled thread of senior players in key positions throughout the side, and De Villiers said that despite the obvious pressure he feels that they are ready to start the new era with a bang, thanks to the exhaustive planning undertaken by their coach.

"The cohesion is good, I really think we have had a fantastic week preparation-wise. We only had three days but I think the camps that Heyneke had with the franchises really worked and we are reaping the rewards now.

"I think when yourepresent your country there is always pressure, and there is obviously a lot of pressure for both teams for tomorrow's game but we are focused on what we need to do as a team to perform well," he said.

De Villiers said that while the cold front on its way to Durban could play a role on Saturday he is confident that his team is equipped to take England on in any conditions.

"There might be some rain tonight and maybe tomorrow but it will be the same for both teams, we will need to adapt but we believe that we have got a gameplan to play in any weather," he commented.

On a personal front De Villiers will have to adapt to playing at outside centre, but he said that the shift should not be an issue for him as he has played in the position before and has even moved there during matches for the Stormers at times this season.

"I don't think it is a totally different position for me, I made my debut as a 13 for the Springboks and I have actually played a lot of 13 at my franchise even though I have been wearing 12, so for me it is a pretty easy switch.

"Defensively I think 13 is probably your most difficult position to play, as to making decisions on defence but it is a challenge that I am looking forward to and hopefully the guys around me will help me with that as well," he said.

By Michael de Vries, in Durban