Springboks rookie likened to All Blacks legend after ‘unreal’ start to his international career
Springboks flanker Paul de Villiers and an inset of ex-All Blacks back-rower Josh Kronfeld.
Paul de Villiers has been praised for his performances for the Springboks after back-to-back starts for Rassie Erasmus.
After a sterling season with the Stormers, the openside flanker earned his maiden call-up to the senior international squad and made an unofficial debut off the bench against the Barbarians.
The former Junior Boks captain then made his full international bow against England at Ellis Park following the withdrawal of Siya Kolisi from the starting XV and he retained the number six jersey for the clash against Scotland in Pretoria seven days later.
Springboks’ rising star: Paul de Villiers
De Villiers impressed in both matches, particularly the latter with a young Springboks outfit that had 12 players, including the rookie back-rower himself, boasting fewer than 10 international caps.
The 23-year-old has duly been rewarded with yet another start, against Wales in Durban this coming weekend, and he has earned the praise of one of the Springboks’ greatest ever flankers, Schalk Burger – who played 86 Tests during his illustrious career, winning a Rugby World Cup, a British and Irish Lions series and was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2004.
Appearing on The Verdict show, Burger was asked by fellow Springbok great Jean de Villiers who his standout player from the 12 who had fewer than 10 caps against Scotland. “Paul de Villiers was unreal again,” he said.
“What I like about him is, again, this weekend, he didn’t get a lot of reward on the deck. He throws himself around there, but it’s his skill set in and around and on the ball. How good did he carry on the weekend?”
Ex-hooker Hanyani Shimange, who is now a SuperSports commentator, likened the rising star to All Blacks great Josh Kronfeld, with the former front rower particularly impressed with his ability with ball in hand.
“There is maturity around his game,” he said. “And his link work also, when there’s a line break, almost Josh Kronfeld-like. Remember how he would make a break, look and then link with someone else, like a classic player.”
Sir Steve Hansen’s verdict on Rassie Erasmus’ depth building: ‘It’s that mindset of we don’t care’
Cobus Wiese impresses
Another player who impressed Burger was Bulls forward Cobus Wiese, younger brother of Jasper. The 29-year-old made his Test debut against Italy last year, coming off the bench against the Azzurri, and started against Georgia at number eight the following week. However, he was not selected again in 2025 and earned his third cap at lock against Scotland last weekend.
“Cobus Wiese obviously conceded two back-to-back penalties, but then after that was immense in the carrier. He looked like he did a rib,” Burger said.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Shimange echoed Burger’s sentiments and believes that the younger Wiese could be a real asset for the Springboks ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
“Wiese was good. I mean, the thing is, he’s also been one of those players in and out; you thought this was his opportunity, but you remember he got selected at No.8 at some stage also,” he said.
“So for me, he can become quite a valuable player, especially looking to a World Cup, because he can cover lock, potentially No.5 against with all respect, against weaker opposition. He can cover seven and eight if you want to use them there.”