De Villiers backs O'Mahony to lead Munster charge in URC finale

Former Munster centre Jean de Villiers believes the team will go that extra mile to help captain Peter O'Mahony get his hands on a coveted trophy.

Graham Rowntree’s men are back in the final of the BKT United Rugby Championship after playoff wins on the road at Glasgow and Leinster and now defending champions DHL Stormers (Saturday, 5.30pm) stand in their way of a first trophy since the 2011 Celtic League.

Since then they have lost in six European semi-finals and three URC deciders.

Ireland flanker O’Mahony made his debut in the 2009/10 season when Springboks back De Villiers played for the Reds.

"Pete actually made his debut the year I was there and even back then, the guys were saying that this is someone who is really going to make it in the Munster set-up, he’s an up-and-coming leader," said 109-times capped De Villiers, speaking on a Zoom call to reporters on Monday afternoon.

"As an individual, he certainly fulfilled that role and lived up to expectations.

"Unfortunately, not winning for Munster, that is something you can’t just add to the script that you want to be successful.

"And I can say that with experience because I never won a trophy with Western Province or the Stormers.

"That’s unfortunately life, that’s unfortunately rugby. You get opportunities and it is about making the most of it when in that position.

"He gets another shot at it this weekend, that’s important to remember but it’s also not an individual sport, it’s a team sport and you need everybody on the same level.

"Him being captain and being such a passionate captain, he’ll be able to get that through to the youngsters and make them realise that opportunities do not come along every day and you think you’re 21, 22, 23 you’ll get opportunities again, but