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Captain Jean finds favour

Cape Town - Jean de Villiers appears to be a popular choice for the Springbok captaincy according to most Sport24 readers.

GALLERY: Springbok captains

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According to our poll prior to De Villiers's appointment, he was an overwhelming favourite for the position, with Sport24 users seeing the injured Schalk Burger as his nearest rival.

44% - Jean de Villiers
21% - Schalk Burger
11% - Pierre Spies
7% - Victor Matfield
6% - Bismarck du Plessis
6% - Chiliboy Ralepelle
3% - Keegan Daniel
3% - Andries Bekker


On the whole comments from Sport24 readers appeared positive:

"Best decision Heyneke Meyer had made so far."
- John

"Clever HM, clever indeed!"
- FransvanderPoll

"Heyneke Meyer's has sent an olive branch to the fans down South." - Harly

"Sounds like he decided to throw the Stormers a bone." - Loo

"The best man for the job was picked but this was only to placate the rest of the country." - Roy W

"They only made him skipper to appease the Stormer fans."
- Steve

"Behind you all the way Jean!" - Drewka

"Well done Jean, you deserve it!" - MU

"Well done JdV for a) Beating the Bulls, b) the Bok captaincy." - Schalk

"Best man for the job right now!" - Jono

"Congrats to JDV...one of our best ever players. I hope he gets to keep the captaincy long-term."
- Alan

"At least sanity prevails... can't imagine Spies as captain."
- Stormbok

"Another Divvy in charge of the Boks :-) This time its the right choice."
- Herbert

"Poor Jdv is going to be the fall guy for Bok failures." - KLSmith

"Funny that a Stormer will lead the Pinkboks!" - Bryan

"Good luck against Manu Tuilagi, Jean." - Taetjo

"He is so injury prone - who is the vice captain?" - Selma Botha

"Schalk will be captain when he is fit!" - Jono

"We have leadership qualities. I am surprise Heineken (this is what he drank when he selected the Bok team) didn't opt for a pink cow." - Razztazz

"Time to take the Super Rugby caps off and get behind our Boks." - Jean Pierre-Barry



Naming Jean de Villiers as Springbok captain appears to be a masterstroke from coach Heyneke Meyer to dispel fears of provincial bias. (Gallo Images)
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Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
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