Willemse revved up after ‘reality check’

Springbok star Damian Willemse appreciates the opportunity to finish this season strong with the Stormers after an injury-plagued 2024 campaign.

The two-time World Cup winner is set to earn his 100th cap for the Stormers when they host Dragons at Cape Town Stadium in round 17 of the Vodacom URC on Saturday, but has endured a challenging period that limited his playing time over the past year.

“It’s obviously given me a nice reality check, meaning that I can get injured and I can be out of the game for a while,” said Willemse on his setbacks, which included a five-month layoff due to a groin injury that ruled him out of the Boks’ end-of-year tour, following an finger injury that sidelined him for the mid-year Tests and Rugby Championship.

“On the other side, it’s also just appreciating and not taking the opportunity to play rugby for granted… being able to physically do certain things within my skill set.”

The injury struggles have given the 26-year-old a new perspective on aspects of his game often taken for granted.

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“With a groin injury, it limits you sometimes kicking or stepping… It’s just those small stuff that we don’t really pay attention to,” he said. 

“I think it’s shone a light on it. Injuries are part of the game and luckily, I was forced to do it back-to-back.”

Willemse has made nine appearances this season, featuring at flyhalf, centre and fullback. His flexibility is a hallmark of his value to the Stormers, particularly in midfield where he forms a dynamic and interchangeable partnership with Dan du Plessis.

“Look, for us, it’s not really the number you wear or position you’re playing; we try to put ourselves in situations and scenarios that’s going to cover whatever we think [is important], based on analysis for the weekend,” Willemse said.

“If we do get ourselves in certain positions and scenarios, we are able to adapt. We’ve got the coaches helping us identify certain stuff and we need to take that on and make the decision as a group and as individuals, and basically sign it off.”

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Willemse, who played a key role in Stormers’ URC title in 2022, is a key member of a star-studded backline that includes the in-form Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

“[Feinberg-Mngomezulu] is a brilliant player, he has stepped up and played really well for us and put us in a very good position, especially in the Benetton game with some of his kicks and the tries that he set up,” he said.

“Almost that wild card, pulling something out of the hat that we really needed and that puts teams under pressure. We just need him to keep on doing what he’s doing at the moment.”

While Saturday’s milestone is significant, Willemse maintains that team success takes priority as the sixth-placed Stormers look to cement their playoff spot with two rounds left of the league stages.

“At the end of the day, a special occasion is cool but the first priority is to win the game and go out this weekend and make ourselves and our fans proud.”

Photo: Ben McShane/Gallo Images