Prince feels like a pauper: Retired Jean de Villiers laments an emptiness despite distinguished career
South Africa captain walks away after the latest in a series of injuries that have taken shine off his achievements
Jean de Villiers once dryly remarked he had been to two World Cups and spent only two nights in the team hotel such has been his ill fortune with injuries at the rugby showpiece.
The 34-year-old dashing South African centre managed a few more nights this time, but on Sunday his third and final World Cup campaign and international career came to an end with a fractured jaw suffered in the pool B game against Samoa.
"Jean is not only our captain and one of the most experienced players in the squad, but he is also the glue of this team and to lose him is very sad," said coach Heyneke Meyer.
Jean is not only our captain and one of the most experienced players in the squad, but he is also the glue of this team and to lose him is very sad
His fate and that of Meyer's were indelibly linked, especially after Japan inflicted the greatest upset in World Cup history IN a 34-32 victory last week.
As usual De Villiers, just as he did on the 109 occasions he donned the green Springbok jersey, did not shirk his part in the traumatic defeat.
"We are a very proud nation. What saddens me is to see how a loss like this can break the country apart," he said on the eve of the Samoa game.
"Rugby is a game, but in South Africa it has become so much more than just a game and we carry that responsibility with us every single time we enter the field," added De Villiers, whose appearance at the World Cup was a little miracle because of his repeat injuries.
