Heyneke Meyer has recalled the big guns but will put his job on the line by keeping faith with “fighter” and captain Jean De Villiers for South Africa’s crucial World Cup clash with Samoa.

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South Africa face Samoa at Villa Park on Saturday, desperate to grind their World Cup campaign back into gear after last weekend’s stunning 34-32 defeat to Japan.

Head coach Meyer admitted opting against dropping skipper De Villiers was among the toughest decisions of his career, accepting that should the call backfire his job will be under huge threat.

“It was one of the most difficult decisions of my life to make,” said Meyer on retaining De Villiers in his starting line-up.

“You are almost in a lose-lose situation because if you don’t pick your captain and you lose, they say you should have picked your captain, and if you do pick your captain and you lose, then you shouldn’t have stuck with your captain. It’s not an emotional decision.”

Centre De Villiers dislocated his knee against Wales in November but has battled back admirably to take his place in South Africa’s final World Cup squad.

The 34-year-old was awful against Japan but unlike eight of his team-mates, he’s been spared the axe.

“I thought about it long and hard and came to the conclusion that this is a must-win game and who are you going to back?” said Meyer.

“If you go into a fight that you have to win, that your whole career and whole country depends on, I really want to take a guy that has had six knee operations.”

No 8 Duane Vermeulen, full-back Willie Le Roux and scrum-half Fourie Du Preez should make a big difference for the Boks.