Paul de Villiers has been lauded for his work as the Stormers’ breakdown specialist, but the man himself wants to broaden his all-round game impact. LINDIZ VAN ZILLA reports.
The 23-year-old has been one of the keys to the Stormers’ superb start to the season, but he showed on Saturday that there is much more to his game than winning game-changing turnovers on the ground.
De Villiers produced two try assists – and another Man of the Match performance – in the Stormers’ 39-26 win over the Leicester Tigers which helped secure their place in the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup.
“I’d like people to see me as an all-round player,” said De Villiers ahead of the Stormers’ Vodacom URC derby against the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night.
“The breakdown, defence and physicality are a big part of my game and the role of a No 6, but I also like having the ball in hand.
“I want to contribute on different levels – whether that’s on defence, kick chase, or attacking and linking with the backs.”
He’s on another level at the moment. Paul de Villiers is your Fans’ Man of the Match yet again.
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— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 19, 2026
Stormers defence coach Norman Laker believes De Villiers’ growth has been driven as much off the field as on it.
“As the season has gone on, we’ve got to know each other a lot better and he understands the system now,” Laker said, admitting with a laugh that the pair butted heads earlier in the season.
“But he’s a clever guy, and it makes our defensive sets easier when you’ve got someone who can either steal the ball or slow the breakdown.”
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Laker highlighted De Villiers’ improved decision-making as a key factor.
“One thing Paulie is doing really well at the moment is making good decisions,” he said. “His turnover-to-penalty ratio is much better than it was in the past. I’m really happy for him, because when he’s doing well, the team is doing well.”
The Stormers coach also revealed how meticulous De Villiers’ preparation has become.
“He doesn’t go onto the field just thinking, ‘I’m going to steal this ball,’” Laker said. “The homework he does off the field is phenomenal – the video work, the questions he asks during the week. It’s like studying for university. He studies every part of the game: set-piece, breakdowns, where opportunities might come for him and the team.”
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De Villiers will look to bring that same intensity into another demanding derby against the Sharks.
“It’s any player’s dream to test yourself against the best,” he said. “They’re a team full of quality players and we respect them. But we’ll focus more on ourselves and our own game than on the names they’re bringing.”
With a sold-out crowd expected again in Cape Town, De Villiers knows the atmosphere will add to the occasion.
“Running out in front of that support means a lot,” he said. “It helps in the tough moments. You definitely feel like you’ve got an extra man on the field.”
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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
