Meyer backs 'fighter' De Villiers to bounce back
Jean de Villiers has the fighting spirit to lead South Africa to victory over Samoa at the Rugby World Cup, says coach Heyneke Meyer.
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has backed Springboks captain Jean de Villiers to bounce back from his disappointing start to the Rugby World Cup.
De Villiers came in for a lot of criticism following South Africa's surprising 34-32 defeat to Japan in the opening game of Pool B, leading to calls for him to be dropped.
However, Meyer has kept faith with the centre despite making eight changes for Saturday's match with Samoa, and he is confident the 34-year-old can lead the two-time world champions to victory.
"It was one of the most difficult decisions of my life to make," Meyer said about retaining De Villiers.
"You are almost in a lose-lose situation because if you don't pick your captain and you lose, they say you should have picked your captain, and if you do pick your captain and you lose, then you shouldn't have stuck with your captain.
"It's not an emotional decision. I thought about it long and hard and came to the conclusion that this is a must-win game and who are you going to back?
"I had a long and hard chat with him and I just decided as a coach, and I will stand by my decision, that if you go into a fight that you have to win, that your whole career and whole country depends on, I really want to take a guy that has had six knee operations.
"I want to go with a guy like that into a fight that we have to win because I know he wants to play for South Africa, I know he is a fighter and I know it is the best for the team.
"It was a tough choice but I know it's the right choice and I'll back him and if we, as South Africans, maybe backed each other more, South Africa would be a better place with less hate and violence and more love.
"I spoke to the team as well. They back him, they want him."