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South African rugby fans are writing off young prodigy Damian Willemse in a sharp reversal of public opinion
Damian Willemse has been a known emerging talent of South African rugby for a long time, as an electric schoolboy player with a seemingly unstoppable step. He quickly rose through the ranks – South African schools in 2015, to the under-20 side in 2017 to become a capped Springbok in 2018.
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The flyhalf has been developing at the Stormers over that time, with 30 Super Rugby caps to his name since debuting as an 18-year-old in 2017.
Despite being used as a 10 at club level, Willemse has been used as a fullback by Rassie Erasmus for the Springboks in three of his six tests so far. As a utility on the bench, he has also covered centre and wing but is yet to feature as a 10 for the national side.
In the Springbok Showdown clash, Willemse had the chance to show his wares at 10 against the experienced Elton Jantjies but left fans convinced his future lies in another position with an unconvincing performance for the Gold side.
That has led to a severe reversal in fan’s minds over Willemse as a flyhalf prospect, with a swift response online with fans ‘falling out of love’ after having ‘too much faith in Damian Willemse’.
Falling a little out of love with Damian Willemse this game tbh.
It's OK to make mistakes but doing actively bad stuff like the pull back is icky.
— Alex Tarr (@alexthetarr) October 3, 2020
I hate to say this…….I may have had too much faith in Damian Willemse
— Mayi (@MTshwete) October 3, 2020
Damian Willemse can’t be our 10, that bra spends more time on the ground than dictating the game.
— BigBiggerRalo (@Sinolwazi10) October 3, 2020
Damian willemse is not the answer
— Nash (@nashdondashe) October 3, 2020
DAMIAN WILLEMSE ON FRAUD WATCH NOW!
— DrTwenty2 (@22Mkhize) October 3, 2020
Damian Willemse having the worst game of his life once again
— Darth Faded (@faya_04) October 3, 2020
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1st half. Damian Willemse has now missed 3 out of 4 kicks…
Bloody hell. Literally. ? https://t.co/Mq1niTTOi9
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) October 3, 2020
People still talking up Damian Willemse. I've never seen anyone in any sport given more chance than him
— Darth Faded (@faya_04) October 5, 2020
I know we aren’t meant to moan about the #springbok warmup game this weekend, guys have been off for a while, plenty of rust… but how bad was Damian Willemse? Plus that unneeded cynical pull in an exhibition game
— Vic ???? #BLM (@VictorZA) October 5, 2020
My friend spent 2 hours this morning on a video call trying to convince me that it's time to start developing Damian Willemse into a 12 and I'm only now starting to see it
— Drake ? (@MvusiTroc) October 5, 2020
I get that thread but yho yho yho Damian Willemse has beeeen poor at 10, he just isn't a 10. His career will go by so quickly ibeyi waste oko ezamnywa kwa 10. He's a fullback.
— Alpha Male (@Options____) October 5, 2020
Other fans urged the doubters to have some patience, as the pre-season clash gave the players very little time to prepare and find some form.
One fan compared Willemse’s performance to Handre Pollard against Argentina in just his second test back in 2014, saying writing off Willemse is a ‘tad premature’ as Pollard was able to kick well during the World Cup six years later.
Another said Willemse had ‘too much talent’ not to be patient with him, and that an extended run in the 10 jersey would pay dividends.
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Damian Willemse having an off game today, but this is what these games are here for – to learn, to make mistakes and practice. Sanele Nohamba having a pretty good game! #SSRugby
— Brutus Van Der Khoza ? (@iambrutuskhoza) October 3, 2020
I watched Handre Pollard kick 2/7 in a Test match against Argentina in Durban. That same Handre Pollard kicked lights out in a World Cup semi-final and final.
Writing off Damian Willemse after Saturday's performance in a pre-season friendly is a tad premature …
— IG: johngoliath (@JohnGoliath82) October 6, 2020
Agreed Oom, he’s a super talented rugby player & has been moved around position wise, utility curse in this case, can be a benefit. Give him an extended run in the No 10 jersey & I believe he will thrive. Patience is required with him, too much talent not to. #DamianWillemse
— Graeme Peacock (@graemepeacock05) October 5, 2020
Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids defended his young flyhalf, confident that he will come out stronger next time.
‘We all know that Damian is a special talent and he can win you games,’ Davids said.
‘Obviously, rugby players go through the cycle where they maybe don’t have one of the best nights and he just didn’t have one of his best evenings.’
At just 22-years-old, Willemse has more experience than most players his age and is yet to reach the peak of athletic ability. It would be surprising to see the Springboks give up on him when he could potentially develop into a multi-position player in the same mould of New Zealand’s 10-15 hybrids in Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett, who can start in either position at test level.
With regular starter Handre Pollard injured for the foreseeable future, there is a higher chance of receiving more game time with the Springboks should they find a way to play in this year’s Rugby Championship.
Erasmus has indicated that Elton Jantjies is the preferred option to fill that role, but that would open the bench spot for a reserve flyhalf like Willemse to see some action at the back end of games.
Comments on RugbyPass
What was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
28 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
28 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
28 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to comments