Emotional Willie le Roux celebrates his 100th Test match with a stunning victory over Italy

Willie le Roux was so nervous ahead of his 100th Test that he wanted the Springboks to run out shortly after he took to the field solo on Saturday against Italy.

The world champions won 45-0 in Gqeberha’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to seal the two-Test series emphatically. Le Roux (35) ran out first in front of about 44 000 supporters, but said he was quite nervous and didn’t really know what to do as the thousands of people welcomed him with a loud cheer.

The double World Cup winner said his phone has never been this busy as it has been in the week leading up to the Test and his milestone.

“It was emotional to run out and I didn’t know what to do with myself and I was just waiting for the team to come out,” the veteran said, on his achievement.

“My phone hasn’t been this busy like it was this past week. The combined messages I received during the two World Cup victories weren’t even this much. It was quite emotional to cut off those (the messages) because we had a job to do first (to win).

“However, it was difficult to balance that emotion with not wanting to do something stupid because you want to show something.”

Le Roux, dubbed the assist king in South African rugby, showed exactly why he is called that when he put in a neat little kick through in the first half for winger Edwill van der Merwe to chase.

It was a calculated one that Italy failed to field on the ground and Van der Merwe kicked it forward to score one of his two tries. Was it not for a slight forward pass, Le Roux would’ve put the speedy winger in for a hat-trick, but the referee called them back as Van der Merwe dotted down in the corner.

The Strand native said he’s always had the support of his family, and he was happy they could share in his milestone. His dad was there for his debut back in 2013, but on Saturday, both his parents and his wife joined in the celebrations.

“Since I can remember, wherever I played, my dad was there. I thought he didn’t work because he was at every game and never missed one. He always made a plan. To have him here, as well as my mother and wife, makes it very special. There are about 35 Strand Honne (friends of Le Roux) who were here too.

“There were some tough times, but I could always count on their support through the highs and lows.”