– Cape Town The Springboks have left us with more questions than answers, but Damian Willemse’s start at flyhalf on Saturday against the Wallabies in Sydney may provide some clarification.
Due to Handre Pollard’s knee injury, Willemse has been appointed as the general for the Boks’ Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies, as the South Africans make another attempt to end their drought Down Under.
A player’s injury is never a good thing, but Pollard’s relocation to Leicester to complete his rehabilitation at his club was a move that should have been taken much earlier.
When he emerged onto the Super Rugby scene in 2017, then-Western Province head coach John Dobson dubbed Willemse “the future of the union.”
And with good cause.
The youthful prodigy was without equal. And he still does not possess natural talent.
Willemse was the talk of the town as a result of his assaulting deception and overall expertise with which he tricked defenses.
Fans were optimistic that the union’s flyhalf problems would be resolved. Before Willemse, there was a streak of No. 10s, but he was the most talented. He was the most hopeful.
Although the 24-year-old has developed into more than a rugby wizard, he has not been let to settle into one position.
When Warrick Gelant arrived in Cape Town, the Paul Roos-alumnus wore the No. 12 jumper for the Stormers. Previously, he had worn the No. 10 and No. 15 jerseys. And he was a revelation there.
His selection to the United Rugby Championship Dream Team capped off a historic season for his team.
Willemse carried his exceptional form into the Test arena, where he excelled not only at fullback but also as inside centre. And now he will do the same at flyhalf in the absence of the injured Pollard and Elton Jantjies.
But here’s the catch: he must do it his way.
Willemse’s physicality has never been an issue, but he has developed into a well-rounded player. He is no longer known as Mr. Flash (not that he ever only offered that, his instinctive play and attacking abilities were just so eye-catching that the rugby public mainly zoomed in on that). He is now Mr. Dependable and has developed into a player who can contribute physicality, stability, X-factor, and expert goal-kicking.
During the team announcement press conference earlier this week, Bok coach Jacques Nienaber commented on Willemse’s selection as the driver, saying, “He’s a great driver.” “Damian played flyhalf for us in the second half of the first Test against Wales, and I am excited to see what he can contribute. I’m extremely thrilled to watch his pairing with Willie le Roux (fullback).
“Damian possesses a very distinct set of skills, and he must bring them to this game. We constantly remind the players that there is a basic game plan that must be adhered to, but that they are allowed to imprint their own authority on it.
“We refer to this as bringing one’s “circus show” to a “party.” This is what we anticipate from him.”
This is encouraging to hear, but the independence must be realized by Saturday. Willemse has frequently kicked the ball in the green and gold, despite the fact that anybody who has followed him over the years knows he would have preferred to play. This should not be the case, especially for a player of his caliber.
Willemse has evolved into the ultimate team player, filling in everywhere needed for both the Stormers and the Boks.
But now, when he starts at number 10 for the Boks, he must be trusted to do things his way, according to his instincts.
Because if you remove it, you remove the very quality that makes him so exceptional.