Paul de Villiers, seen here tackling England's flyhalf Fin Smith, has credited the systems at the Boks, and time on the field, with helping him feel settled as he gears up for his third Test on Saturday at Kings Park.
For Paul de Villiers, the whirlwind rise from Vodacom URC standout to Springbok regular has felt less like a meteoric rise and more like the natural next step in a carefully mapped journey.
The Stormers loose forward will earn his third Test cap when the Springboks face Wales in Saturday's Nations Championship clash at Kings Park, but he admits the nerves that accompanied his debut against England have already begun to subside.
"I think the first one, I got the notice very late, so having more preparation time this around has been good for me," De Villiers said at a press conference in Durban on Monday, alongside head coach Rassie Erasmus. "There were still a lot of nerves, but it was good to almost know what was coming and be more ready for the game.
"Credit to this environment, the coaches, and all the players around me. They really help everyone feel comfortable and ready to play."
