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De Villiers has, over the past week, been working with the Young Sables coaches Brighton Chivandire and Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa in preparing the side for the world stage and gave credit to the Under-20 committee.
The Stellenbosch Rugby Academy forwards coach came to Zimbabwe in an arrangement between and among the International Rugby Board, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and the Under-20 committee to help Zimbabwe in their preparations.
De Villiers also the head of conditioning at the Stellenbosch centre and it is because of his experience and knowledge in these two fields that Zimbabwe expressed interest in working with him.
Having arrived in the country last week, De Villiers yesterday told The Herald that he is enjoying working with the Under-20 players, technical team and management who he described a terrific team.
The former South Africa Under-21 tight head prop added that he was actually surprised with the great work and effort the Young Sables committee has put in to make sure the team is up to standard.
“The players are a very enthusiastic group of players, the set-up is actually much better and more organised than I thought . . . it’s very terrific.
“The way I was welcomed made me feel like I am at home and from the first day I have worked with the coaches, the players and the organisers I have enjoyed every bit of it.
The (Under-20) management is a good team to work with.
“Things here are well planned and it makes working with the boys much easier but at the moment it’s difficult to know how much the players have improved but they catch up quickly in terms of what they would have been taught during the training sessions,” said De Villiers.
The Zimbabwe Under-20 enlarged squad is expected to leave this morning for South Africa to play against the Mpumalanga Under-20 side in friendly matches where they will feature as the Under-20 Presidents’ XV in the week long tour.
However, what excites the coach more is the fact that the players — who he has been taking trough their fitness sessions both in the gym and on the field — are
willing to adapt to what he teaches them.
“It is good that there is quite a number of boys from SA and they are willing to let go what they would have been taught in their South African clubs in order to adapt into the team.
“There is good team spirit among the boys its tremendous, the coaches Bright is a sharp coach and they actually surprised me with the knowledge they have and they are quite a number for things that I would lie to steal from them and take with me back to South Africa.
“And as for the players as well they have a good understanding and good adaptation in what I have brought from South Africa, the coaches have open minds, are open to learning and suggestions.
“The people here have changed my perspective and I will go back home with the message that Zimbabwe is not what people think it is due to the kind of publicity we get.
“Its good that in Zimbabwe rugby there is no rugby politics and that is good for the development of the game because most of the efforts are spent with people trying to get together to better the sport than power struggles.
“This makes the job of each and every individual in the game as easy enough.
Am looking forward to working with Zimbabwe in the future and it is a great chance working here.”
Young Sables manager Colleen De Jong said she was pleased with the work and effort De Villiers has put in working with her side.
“It is a wonderful thing he is here with us because after the Junior World Rugby Trophy last year we saw that we needed specialist assistance and we are grateful for
what the International Rugby Board has done for us.
“This expands the knowledge base we have and this changes our approach as well and we believe this will give us the competitive edge we have been looking for,” she said.
Under-20 Presidents’ XV Squad
M Bryce Rogers, T Chieza, T Chigumbura, S Chirara, T Chowe, D Coetzee, J Coles, D Diza, J Forrester, S Hunduza, F Jijita, S Joubert, A Kamkwindo, T Kavhengha, M Lawson, S Linfield, G Logan, S Lupuwana, K Makuvire, M Mandiona, M McIntosh, G Meikle, R Morkel, H Mudarike, M Muhambi, D Mupfurutsa, V Mushoriwa, Ian Muza, T Ndaba, T Ndudzo, M Nel, D Rorke, R Sargeant, W Seremani, D Sibanda, M Sinclair, J Smallbones, L Tamwera, T Toriro, T Tsomondo, A van Heerden, C van Rensburg, D Zimbudzana, F Zimoto, J Zulu.
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