Springbok centre Jean de Villiers says it will be "all or nothing" in the opening test of the Castle Series against the British & Irish Lions on 20 June.
De Villiers recently battled back to full fitness after injuring his groin leading the Stormers in the Super 14. He scored a try in the South African XV’s win over a Namibian Invitation XV in Windhoek and is now hoping to seal his midfield spot against the Lions.
“At this stage we’re viewing the series as a one-Test series, that’s how important the match in Durban is. It’s all or nothing on June 20,” de Villiers told the Sunday Times in South Africa.
“It’s very difficult to come back if you’re 1-0 down. That will be a massive examination for us, and our focus is on that game at the moment – we’re not even thinking about Tests two and three.”
After missing the last two World Cup campaigns through injury, de Villiers is keen to have a clean bill of health as the Boks try to avenge their 2-1 series defeat by the Lions 12 years ago.
But while he has recovered from his groin problems, de Villiers was recently struck by a recurring back problem
“I came through 30 minutes against Namibia, but last week I woke up with a stiff and sore back. The same thing happened last year before the Wales Test and I found it difficult to walk,” he said.
