Respected former referee Nigel Owens has named his all-time standout skippers he officiated, which includes just one Springbok and two former world player of the year winners.
De Villiers, who is also the Boks’ fourth all-time leading try-scorer, was capped 109 times for the Boks and captained the team on 37 occasions, his last as captain in his third appearance at a World Cup in 2015.
Commenting on De Villiers’ inclusion, Owens said: “He was not only a great rugby player but also a great leader and a great man. Whenever I came across him on the field, he impressed me.” Frenchman Thierry Dusautoir stands out the most for Owens, with All Blacks icon Richie McCaw, Englishman Chris Robshaw and Irishmen Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll completing the Welshman’s list.
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