Damian Willemse to Saracens would be a win-win scenario for player and club
Few teams in Europe will feel as big a World Cup pinch as Saracens are about to experience, as the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions about to lose more players to the international tournament in Japan than any of their domestic rivals.
The London club currently have eight players in England’s World Cup squad, one with the Springboks and another with Argentina. A further five players could also be set to be confirmed in the Wales, Scotland and USA squads over the coming weeks.
One area in which Saracens could be particularly stretched is in the back three, where Liam Williams and Sean Maitland will both fancy their chances of joining Elliot Daly in Japan. With Owen Farrell also on his way to the World Cup, potentially pushing Alex Goode back into fly-half duties, Saracens’ back three could look quite bare come the beginning of the season.
As stands, it would leave Saracens with the likes of Alex Lewington, Rotimi Segun, Max Malins and Matt Gallagher to start the campaign. Although they are not lacking for talent, the European champions would be left short-handed should they suffer any injuries. To hammer home that point, Malins is currently suffering from a foot injury.
One solution could be versatile Springbok Damian Willemse, the Western Province and Stormers star who is heavily linked with a short-term move to Allianz Park as cover for the World Cup.
How Damian Willemse fares with the Springboks' RWC selection is being watched with interest by Saracens https://t.co/sXRKLvphdA
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Western Province boss John Dobson raised the possibility of the move ahead of his side’s game against the Free State Cheetahs last weekend, highlighting the positive effect that both Mark McCall and Dan Vickers could have on Willemse’s development in London rather than the player linking up with Edinburgh who were also looking to strike a short-term deal.
Willemse would not be the first player to arrive at Saracens after the early fanfare around their career had died down and their progress had stalled somewhat. Will Skelton initially arrived at Saracens on a short-term loan – before signing a two-year deal with the club – and he then proceeded to hone himself into one of the most effective second rows in European rugby.
Therein lies the beauty of this deal for Saracens. Not only would Willemse serve as some much-needed cover during the Rugby World Cup the move would also act as a trial for a potentially longer-term move in the coming years.
At just 21 years of age, Willemse is only beginning to scratch the surface of what he is capable of in senior rugby and his ability to play both full-back and fly-half to a high level replicates one of the many things that the club prizes so highly in Goode, who turned 31 earlier this year.
The Saracens icon doesn’t look anywhere close to being on the decline yet, but to not have potential succession plans in place for players in their 30s would be irresponsible because that decline does inevitably come sooner or later.
Should the move go ahead, Saracens will get an up-close look at one of the most talented young players in world rugby, who has his best years ahead of him. As for Willemse, it would be a win-win scenario for the five-times capped Springbok, barring any sort of significant injury picked up during the loan spell.
One club, two kits, three stars, NW4??.
Introducing our 2019/20 home & away kits!
Read more ?? https://t.co/BorFU7zKJS#KitLaunch | #HomeOfChampions pic.twitter.com/nxfeHLqrSu
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) August 28, 2019
If he goes on to impress, learns and develop his game under the tutelage of McCall and Vickers, as well as the other coaches on staff at the club, he would return to South Africa in a better spot to push forward and challenge for a post-Rugby World Cup berth with the Springboks.
If he impresses so much as to warrant a long-term contract offer from the club next summer, the Paul Roos Gymnasium product opens up a multitude of doors as to how he wants to progress with his rugby career. Coaches aside, he would also get the opportunity to learn from and develop alongside Goode, and there are far worse mentors and role models to have than the veteran full-back.
Like Goode, Willemse has an array of passes off both hands that allow him to run a back line from the first receiver or carve open a team beyond the gain line. He has a big boot on him, just like the Englishman, bringing that skill set of a kicking fly-half to the full-back position, as well as an adept eye for a gap.
Willemse is a little more direct than Goode, backing his speed as opposed to Goode’s tendency to run laterally more often, attempting to draw defenders or create space, but the similarities far outweigh their differences.
There are plenty of calls for Malins and Manu Vunipola to see more playing time and many Saracens fans will be hoping that the World Cup provides them with exactly that opportunity at the club already accustomed to having a depth of squad and rotating players to keep them fresh throughout an entire season.
If Vunipola is the understudy to Goode at 10 over the next couple of months, having Willemse to rival Malins at 15 is no bad move. The Saracens culture and environment has become one of unrivalled player development in English rugby and to potentially see a player of Willemse’s talent take on that challenge and attempt to reach his potential, is an exciting one for all neutral rugby fans.
If you’re a fan of one of the other 11 Premiership clubs, though, it’s time to go back to the drawing board. The rich could be about to get even richer.
WATCH: The RugbyPass stadium guide to Sapporo where England open their World Cup on September 22
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments