[ad_1]
- Stormers coach John Dobson was pleased with midfielder Damian Willemse’s performance this past weekend.
- Willemse continues to be accompanied by much publicity and scrutiny as he seeks to solidify his position as a specialist midfielder.
- Dobson pointed to the fact that Willemse was still 22 years old, but he was on the right track.
the Stormers, victorious over the Lions in their first Super Rugby Unlocked game in Newlands on Saturday, they were poor in numerous departments.
That was acknowledged by head coach John Dobson and captain Siya Kolisi after the match.
The hosts emerged 23-17 winners, but a combination of handling errors, aimless kicks, bad set pieces and an absence of continuity or penetration in attack stood out.
As Dobson admitted, that kind of repeated performance throughout the season would ensure the Stormers won’t compete for the title this year and he said a lot that Saturday’s man of the game came from the losing team in the form of the Odendaal Burger.
One area that did satisfy Dobson, however, was the performance of his Damian Willemse.
Still just 22 years old and already a World Cup winner, the hype accompanies Willemse wherever he goes and much of that centers on how highly qualified he comes as an offensive playmaker.
There are many critics and fans who believe that Willemse is the future of Springbok rugby at No. 10 and, on the Stormers, he has been endorsed in that position.
However, two weekends ago at the Springbok Showdown in Newlands, Willemse endured a nightmare performance that saw him kick off the tee and out of control, while also receiving a yellow card for a poor performance.
At Newlands on Saturday, Willemse endured a much stronger outing before being traded to fullback for the second half after wing Sergeal Petersen suffered an injury.
The halftime changes saw Tim Swiel enter halftime, Willemse fall to fullback and Warrick Gelant move to the wing to replace Petersen.
Dobson said after the game that the interruption had been problematic, particularly in the case of Willemse, who felt he had been putting together a solid display at No. 10.
“In fact, I’m a little sorry that he moved because we really wanted to build an entrance with him there (in the air),” Dobson said.
“He was doing really well on the flyhalf. Thanks, from where he was when he went through that horrible experience two weeks ago, it was much better until today. I’m very happy for him.
“I am satisfied with his progress. We had the territory really well ordered in the first half.”
Dobson has often expressed the promise he has in his media Willemse and scrum half Herschel Jantjies, who he believes could become a Springbok couple in the mold of former Wallaby greats Stephen Larkham and George Gregan.
Jantjies, now 24, is also a World Cup winner and has impressed with his levels of maturity and handling of the game in the Stormers and Springbok colors.
Willemse, however, still has significant progress to make in those departments, but on Saturday Dobson asked for patience and emphasized that his pivot is on the right track.
“Obviously there is still work to be done,” said the coach.
“The important thing is that game management is not something you can achieve in the gym or overnight. It is something that comes with experience. He is a 22 year old flyhalf who has not played much in flyhalf and has been moved The management of the game is not something you depend on the checkers, but … it is to be in the seat and make those decisions.
“I think we have already seen growth lately and we will continue with that.
“We have the potential, as I said before, for Herschel (Jantjies) and Damian to become our Gregan and Larkham of South African rugby, but those guys only dominated world rugby at 26 or 27 years old.
“We have to develop it as much as we can and it is a training challenge and I certainly think we are making progress.
“For his part, there is no lack of will or hard work, neither physically nor in detail.”
Willemse will be in action when the Stormers take on the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday night.
