Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Jean de Villiers played his 100th Test for the Springboks in a 14-10 loss to the All Blacks in Wellington.
Despite the result, it was a momentous occasion - the Springbok captain becoming just the fifth player in his country's history to reach the milestone.
But it was the match that he played two weeks later - his 101st Test cap - that De Villiers holds closest to his heart.
"I ran out with my two daughters... my wife was still pregnant at that stage with my son," De Villiers recalls.
"I ran out with them, played Australia, scored two tries and won the game. I was able to play with the kids on the Newlands turf after the game and that was just such a surreal moment."
De Villiers' two tries that day helped the Boks to a 28-10 win over the Wallabies in what would prove to be the last of his 24 Tests against Australia.
"It was everything that I love... my family, the place where I basically grew up, the Springbok jersey, a win, scoring tries... it sort of just brought everything together," said De Villiers.
"And that was my last Test at Newlands so I suppose I ended on a high there."
De Villiers is back in the country after being ruled out of the 2015 Rugby World Cup with a broken jaw.
