Paul de Villiers: ‘Future Springbok great’ hailed as one of world’s best poachers

Paul de Villiers has been tipped for a long and decorated Test career after a series of standout performances that have rapidly elevated him from domestic prospect to Springbok star.

The Stormers flanker, who only recently broke through at international level, has been described as “one of the future Springbok greats” and “probably one of the best poachers in the world” by former South Africa prop Steven Kitshoff.

De Villiers has transferred his impressive United Rugby Championship form straight into the Test arena during the Nations Championship, emerging as one of South Africa’s key performers in the back row.

From late call-up to automatic starter

De Villiers began the international season on the fringes of selection, initially named among the replacements for South Africa’s opening Test against England.

But when captain Siya Kolisi was ruled out on the day of the match through injury, the 22-year-old was promoted into the starting side – and seized his chance emphatically.

His impact in that fixture paved the way for consecutive starts against Scotland and Wales, where his work-rate and breakdown impact quickly caught the eye of both coaches and former teammates.

Against Wales, De Villiers was named man of the match, underlining his rapid rise from promising franchise player to central figure in Rassie Erasmus’s plans.

‘Unbelievable engine’ and ‘mountain of work’

Kitshoff, speaking on the For the Love of Rugby: South Africa podcast, highlighted the breadth of De Villiers’ contribution, particularly in the win over Wales.

“He was outstanding [against Wales]. He made an incredible amount of carries, [and won] a couple of turnovers,” Kitshoff said, as he detailed the flanker’s influence on both sides of the ball.

“I think, for me, he’s got an unbelievable engine on him. He gets through a mountain of work. He puts himself into as many battles as Pieter-Steph [du Toit] or the other guys would do.”

Comparisons with Du Toit, a former World Rugby Player of the Year, underline the regard in which De Villiers is already held within the Springbok set-up.

More than a spoiler: skills to unlock attacks

While his defensive impact and breakdown steals have drawn the most attention, Kitshoff insisted De Villiers’ attacking skills are still underestimated.

“He’s got great ball-carrying ability. He knows how to beat defenders. He’s got the passing left and right. He links well with the backline players.

“He’s got the ability to offload.”

That blend of power, agility and distribution makes De Villiers a valuable linkman between forwards and backs, allowing South Africa to maintain attacking momentum while still fielding a specialist openside.

‘One of the best poachers in the world’

For an openside flanker, dominance over the ball at the breakdown remains the defining attribute – and Kitshoff believes De Villiers is already close to the elite.

“The big thing he does exceptionally well is that he’s probably one of the best poachers in the world and is pushing for the number one spot,” Kitshoff said.

“I think he gets over the ball brilliantly. He gets his hands on the ball. And he’s just a nuisance.”

Such nuisance value – repeatedly slowing opposition possession and forcing turnovers – has long been central to South Africa’s Test success, and De Villiers appears set to carry that tradition forward.

Erasmus banks on De Villiers for All Blacks clashes

De Villiers’ form has been rewarded with inclusion in Rassie Erasmus’s latest Springbok squad, which will contest a one-off Test against Argentina on 8 August before facing New Zealand on the so-called Greatest Rivalry Tour.

Those fixtures will provide another stern examination of the young flanker’s credentials at the highest level, particularly at the breakdown against the All Blacks’ back-row specialists.

Kitshoff, however, is in no doubt about where De Villiers is heading.

“So Paul de Villiers, in my opinion, is one of the future Springbok greats.”

With opportunities mounting and praise growing, De Villiers now has the platform to turn that prediction into reality on rugby’s biggest stage.