Damian at 13 ‘worth the ticket’

Thanks in part to Damian Willemse’s versatility, John Dobson hopes SA fans get to see “something special” from the Stormers backline once Manie Libbok returns from injury.

Willemse starts at 12 for Saturday’s Vodacom URC round 15 clash against Connacht at Cape Town Stadium. Wearing the No 15 jersey two weeks ago at Ulster, the URC-winning playmaker and two-time Springbok world champion shifts to the midfield where he will partner Dan du Plessis.

With Libbok (knee) on the recovery trail, the mercurial Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will make his fourth start of the season at No 10 for the Stormers. Fullback Warrick Gelant and winger Seabelo Senatla return in an exciting back three with Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Speaking in Friday’s team announcement conference, Dobson discussed the interchangeability of Willemse and Du Plessis while addressing Hartzenberg’s future at outside centre.

“We didn’t want to announce Damian at 13 because we’ll get people saying you’re moving Damian around too much, but they [Willemse and Du Plessis] do interchange a lot,” the Stormers chief said.

“Damian’s very capable of defending at 13 and he’s also really good at carrying, especially off a lineout in the vacuum. So’s Dan, they’re both very good at that.

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“Damian does spend more time at 13 than people realise in the system, and that’s the reason why Suleiman’s on the wing this week because obviously we’re going to choose Dan and Damian [together in midfield].”

Hartzenberg’s ability to play wing and outside centre has made him a versatile asset for the Stormers, and his standout performances have caught the attention of the Bok selectors – the 21-year-old attended his third national alignment camp in March.

“He’s one of the best in the country chasing our own contestables and getting in the air, he’s an excellent wing,” Dobson said. “The challenge for us is that Suleiman really, really wants to play 13. 

“The Ulster game, he’d been out for a while and it wasn’t his best evening. In an ideal world we would’ve kept him there [at 13] another week, just to build up his confidence.

“I know there’s national interest in that… but then we would’ve really struggled because imagine if we put Damian on the wing? We will get Suleiman to 13 but for the sharp end of this tournament, Damian and Dan will do that job.”

Competition at the Stormers is fierce, with talented players such as Wandisile Simelane and Angelo Davids battling for starting spots, and the sidelined Ruhan Nel still in the mix.

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It’s a juggling act for Dobson, but one the former UCT coach believes is worth the price of admission.

“We have to have Damian on the field, we have to have Warrick on the field, we have to have Sacha… Manie [too] when he comes back,” he said.

“At the start of the season every press conference had a question, ‘How are you going to fit them all in?’ For the first time over the last two weeks we’ve had three of the four. We’ve never had four. Sometimes we’ve had none. 

“I reckon there’s going to be a game this season – it won’t be over the next two weeks – when you are going to see a backline of [scrumhalf] Herschel Jantjies, Manie, Sacha at 12, Damian at 13, whichever wings there are… Seabelo, Suleiman or [Leolin] Zas. And Warrick at fullback. 

“That’ll be worth the ticket, won’t it? I’m absolutely adamant we’re going to do that in a game this season.

“It’ll be something special for SA rugby, but it just needs Manie back on the field though.”

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images