Chance for Damian to emulate Frans

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has never made any secret of his belief that experience is crucial if you want to win a World Cup, particularly in the key positions, but he’s also consistently said that there is always space for someone to do what Frans Steyn did in France in 2007.

Then just 20, Steyn had to step into the breach left when the more experienced inside centre Jean de Villiers was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a torn bicep sustained in the opening game against Samoa. Steyn had only played a handful of games for the Boks before then but he acquitted himself like an assured veteran and played a big part in the Boks bringing the Webb Ellis Cup back to South Africa.

When Erasmus was speaking, the man he was referring to as having the potential to emulate Steyn’s achievement of being able to slot into a World Cup winning team at a young age was Damian Willemse. It was right at the start of Willemse’s Bok career, when he was first selected. Erasmus explained that he didn’t want to throw Willemse in at the deep end, but would assess his potential to be one of those fast developers in the Steyn mould.

Sadly for both Erasmus and Willemse the opportunity for a proper assessment to be made was denied them as an injury Willemse sustained towards the end of Super Rugby prevented him from being part of the Bok squad in the build-up to the World Cup. Which was why Willemse’s name was not there when the World Cup squad was announced.

At the time Western Province coach John Dobson said that Willemse was bitterly disappointed and determined to prove Erasmus wrong. The intention was for Willemse to play a starring role in a strong WP end to the Currie Cup season, but Province were blown out of the competition in the last league game and Willemse was denied the chance to make the point he wanted to.

FLYHALF AND FULLBACK?

The precociously talented utility back though headed to England to play for Saracens on a short term loan agreement, and made enough of an impression there to make it onto Youtube with one of the tries he scored. Part of the reason he went to England was to ensure he’d be ready to play should a call from the Boks come his way.

Jesse Kriel’s misfortune has now turned into Willemse’s joy, with Erasmus underlining his high regard for what the 21-year-old could potentially bring by calling him to Japan as a replacement even though he plays a different position to Kriel. There are several different possible interpretations to that, but one of them is definitely that Erasmus can see the potential for problems to develop at both fullback and flyhalf.

Perhaps more so at fullback than pivot as Willie le Roux continues to under-perform. Warrick Gelant did some good things against Namibia but Willemse, when fit, does look the more complete player and Erasmus’ decision to select him straight into the starting team for Tuesday’s game against Canada suggests he wants to have a good look at him.

Could he replace Le Roux at fullback if he turns in a good performance against the Canadians? A lot of people would wish he did, for Le Roux has struggled for consistency. However, it is unlikely as Erasmus values Le Roux’s communication skills, something the players around him lack. Le Roux’s passing game is also under-valued. Many a Bok try is scored thanks to a deft and skilful pass from Le Roux that is overlooked by Le Roux's critics.

AERIAL SKILLS

Should there be an injury though, as there was in 2007, Willemse is well equipped to do another Steyn by starring in the big games going forward as he was the best South African based fullback by some distance in Super Rugby. He’s fearless under the high ball and has the aerial skills that have been a weak point for the Boks so far. He’s also strongly built, sound on his feet and has a lengthy field kick.

The past few days have been a bit of a blur for Willemse, who this time last week was waking up to another chilly autumn day in England. That is a far cry from the humidity of Kobe, where the Boks will be playing their final Pool game before heading back to Tokyo for what they hope will be another three weeks, and the decisive three weeks, in the tournament.

“The first few days were quite challenging coming out from England but I think that I’m now ready to go,” said the star of the 2016 Craven Week which was held at Kearsney College in KZN.

“I am really excited (to be playing for the Boks again) as I have been out of the mix for a long time with my injury. I am really looking forward to playing. I was out for three months to it has been good to be back on the pitch. I was fortunate to be able to go to Saracens where I was able to feed my hunger to play.”

The rest of the Bok players have been in Japan now for over a month and are well acclimatised to the conditions here whereas Willemse has been here only for a matter of days. He’s not going to let that be an excuse for underperforming though, and he’s determined to just do the hard work that will help him make a quick adaptation.

“I have been here for less than a week and it has been challenging. The conditions are very different, it is warm and humid. But it is something that the boys are quite used to now and it is something I will just need to adapt to.”

Dobson has said that his future at WP is likely to be at flyhalf, and it is understood that is where Willemse wants to play, but he’s happy to play either position for the Boks. And his recent rugby has equipped him to do so.

“I have been playing 10 and 15 for Sarries. In one game where I was on the bench I came on at flyhalf and in the other I started at No 10 and then moved to fullback later in the game. As I have said previously, I know I have a different role here (at the Boks as a utility back) so I am happy to play anywhere the coach picks me.”