MUNSTER rugby chiefs are expecting to learn whether South African centre Jean De Villiers will join the province within the next fortnight.
The double Heineken Cup champions are hoping to acquire the services of the highly-rated Stormers and Springbok centre for the coming season. De Villiers, who didn’t feature in the South African side in Saturday’s third Test against the Lions, is seen as a natural replacement for the departed Rua Tipoki.
Reports emanating from South Africa indicate that the 28-year-old de Villiers plans to discuss his future with both the Western Province and South African management teams later this week before indicating his next move.
Jean De Villiers agent Stan Matthews indicated that while the international centre had been approached by Munster over a move to the Magners League holders he had yet to make a decision.
Matthews also revealed that De Villiers had received an offer from a French club.
Meanwhile Lions skipper Paul O’Connell said he was proud of the way his side responded to the disappointment of losing the second Test with the last kick of the game in Pretoria to win the third and final Test on Saturday.
The Lions’ 28-9, three tries to nil victory, ended a run of eight Tests without a victory and stopped the current tourists becoming the first side to suffer a series whitewash in South Africa.
It was the Irish lock’s first win in a Test at the sixth attempt with the Lions and he rightly came in for some special praise from legendary coach McGeechan.
Paul O’Connell said: “We wallowed a bit for two or three days after the game in Pretoria. We started talking a lot about the shirt. We talked about guys getting their first Lions cap and guys possibly getting their last.
“The guys are very conscious of the Lions ethos and wanted to do it proud.
“It was a very tough week mentally for everyone.
“By the end of the week we rallied. We just really dug deep. Some guys produced some serious form and produced some great scores.
“But I started thinking straight away after the final whistle that after we get over enjoying this we might be filled with regret.
“Sport can be cruel.
“I hope people don’t misconstrue our lap of honour.
“We’re under no illusions that we lost the Test series.
“But a lot of people paid a lot of money to come out here, we wanted to thank them.
“I must say congratulations to the Springboks. They won the series we both wanted.
“But what these players have achieved in just six weeks should not be underestimated. They have played the world champions in their own back yard and given as good as they have got for three Tests.
“This victory will last for four years.”
Lions’ head coach Ian McGeechan paid a warm tribute to captain O’Connell for his contribution during the course of the tour.
“Paul did a fantastic job. He’s been a great captain and has led the side magnificently,” said McGeechan.
“He’s been very good with the players and tied in with the senior players in setting the right standards. He has been an outstanding captain.”
Colm Kinsella
Showing posts with label jean de villiers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jean de villiers. Show all posts
Monday, July 06, 2009
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
De Villiers signals intent
THE prospect of South African star Jean de Villiers lining out for Munster next season received a boost with the exciting centre confirming his intention to play overseas.
De Villiers, who has been capped 46 times for the Springboks and was SA Rugby’s 2008 player of the year as well as the players’ player of the year, is seen as an ideal replacement for Rua Tipoki who returns back to New Zealand at the end of this season.
A number of French clubs are also understood to be interested in signing Stormers captain de Villiers and one is reported to be willing to pay the talented centre a whopping €500,000 a year to sign up.
“My contract expires at the end of the year,” 28-year-old de Villiers told Die Burger, a daily Afrikaans language newspaper.
“I have always had an open mind about playing overseas at some stage.
“I will do that at some point in the future.”
De Villiers revealed that he would make a decision on his future after the Lions tour of South Africa is completed on July 4.
De Villiers is currently in a race against time to be fit for the series with the Lions. He picked up a groin injury in his side’s recent Super 14 defeat to the Wellington Hurricanes. A scan revealed that de Villiers will be out of action for up to six weeks, with the first test against the Lions scheduled for Durban on June 20.
Meanwhile Munster’s Alan Quinlan is sweating over his place on the Lions tour to South Africa after being cited in the wake of the shattering Heineken Cup semi-final defeat against Leinster at Croke Park. Alan Quinlan is due to appear before an independent disciplinary committee in the coming days as a result of a citing lodged by the Citing Commissioner John Byett for ‘alleged contact with the eye/eye area of Leinster player Leo Cullen, in contravention of Law 10.4 (k).’ The independent disciplinary committee is set to be appointed as ‘soon as practicable.’
Both parties to the hearing, European Rugby Cup Ltd and the player, have the right to appeal the decisions of this committee. Appeals must be lodged within 72 hours of receiving the full written decision from the Chairman of the independent disciplinary committee.
Meanwhile, Munster, who secured their second Magners League title when the Ospreys failed to claim maximum points against the Newport Gwent Dragons on Thursday night last, return to league action on Sunday next when they face the Cardiff Blues.
The Arms Park clash will begin at 4.35pm and will be televised live on Setanta Sports.
Munster will be presented with the Magners League trophy on Friday week, May 15 following their final fixture in the competition against the Ospreys at Thomond Park (7.45pm).
Munster coach Tony McGahan said that while their success in regaining the Magners League was a boost from a squad perspective, it provided little solace in the wake of the crushing defeat by Leinster.
“From a squad perspective winning the Magners League is something from the season,” head coach Tony McGahan said.
“The Heineken Cup, for Munster, is everything.
“We have put a lot of effort into it. We have a very strong tradition and history with the competition.
“We certainly wanted to get to the final in Edinburgh, but, alas, we are not there.”
Colm Kinsella
De Villiers, who has been capped 46 times for the Springboks and was SA Rugby’s 2008 player of the year as well as the players’ player of the year, is seen as an ideal replacement for Rua Tipoki who returns back to New Zealand at the end of this season.
A number of French clubs are also understood to be interested in signing Stormers captain de Villiers and one is reported to be willing to pay the talented centre a whopping €500,000 a year to sign up.
“My contract expires at the end of the year,” 28-year-old de Villiers told Die Burger, a daily Afrikaans language newspaper.
“I have always had an open mind about playing overseas at some stage.
“I will do that at some point in the future.”
De Villiers revealed that he would make a decision on his future after the Lions tour of South Africa is completed on July 4.
De Villiers is currently in a race against time to be fit for the series with the Lions. He picked up a groin injury in his side’s recent Super 14 defeat to the Wellington Hurricanes. A scan revealed that de Villiers will be out of action for up to six weeks, with the first test against the Lions scheduled for Durban on June 20.
Meanwhile Munster’s Alan Quinlan is sweating over his place on the Lions tour to South Africa after being cited in the wake of the shattering Heineken Cup semi-final defeat against Leinster at Croke Park. Alan Quinlan is due to appear before an independent disciplinary committee in the coming days as a result of a citing lodged by the Citing Commissioner John Byett for ‘alleged contact with the eye/eye area of Leinster player Leo Cullen, in contravention of Law 10.4 (k).’ The independent disciplinary committee is set to be appointed as ‘soon as practicable.’
Both parties to the hearing, European Rugby Cup Ltd and the player, have the right to appeal the decisions of this committee. Appeals must be lodged within 72 hours of receiving the full written decision from the Chairman of the independent disciplinary committee.
Meanwhile, Munster, who secured their second Magners League title when the Ospreys failed to claim maximum points against the Newport Gwent Dragons on Thursday night last, return to league action on Sunday next when they face the Cardiff Blues.
The Arms Park clash will begin at 4.35pm and will be televised live on Setanta Sports.
Munster will be presented with the Magners League trophy on Friday week, May 15 following their final fixture in the competition against the Ospreys at Thomond Park (7.45pm).
Munster coach Tony McGahan said that while their success in regaining the Magners League was a boost from a squad perspective, it provided little solace in the wake of the crushing defeat by Leinster.
“From a squad perspective winning the Magners League is something from the season,” head coach Tony McGahan said.
“The Heineken Cup, for Munster, is everything.
“We have put a lot of effort into it. We have a very strong tradition and history with the competition.
“We certainly wanted to get to the final in Edinburgh, but, alas, we are not there.”
Colm Kinsella
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