Damien Willemse on the Bench

Willemse had a good game the latest time he came off the bench for the Boks. He was playing at inside centre, where he seems much more equipped than flyhalf. He is physical enough to carry the ball up and make front on tackles. is a good playmaker and has the speed to take gaps and break the 1st line of defence.   

Elton Jantjies is on the bench- covering flyhalf, so Willemse must be centre and fullback cover- and even wing cover. 

Pollard has played at 12 under Rassie, so if Elton Jantjies comes on - and the option is to move him to 12. Otherwise, Willemse will replace Delande during the game. 

If AM comes off, Willemse may slot in at 13, or Delande is pushed one out

I actually wasn't that impressed by the Boks in the second half. There were lots of errors, lapses breakdown and contact collapses that would have been exploited by more experienced tier 1 opponents. Frans was better than Willemse. Willemse has no future at centre. 

No coach is considering Willemse as their 10, but he is a good rugby player. He was the better substitute in the last part of the game. 

This kid just doesn't have it. Film review of him is frustrating and annoying. He does everything wrong or poorly. 

Willemse will create no magic against the well organized Lions defence….but if he gets on the park he can easily make the kind of naive mistake that gifted our 2018 home RC game to the ABs.

I do not think that Steyn is  ready to play yet since he was one of the infected players.     As far as I can remember  Steyn after the WWC said he was retiring from playing international rugby  -so there is no chance of him being a longer term prospect.

As to Willemse he is still very young - but he is a player that can play  in various positions in the backline  and that is what I think he is groomed at..    We have no other real candidate for that type of thing.     

Our position at flyahlf and inside center is really problematic - all our money is on  Pollard and De Allende and that needs to be looked at when it comes top the 2023 WC.   If  our reserves are players like Morne Steyn and Jantjies it is  indeed  serious problem.   Goosen may be another player to look at - but  although he is a much better flyhalf than Steyn and Jantjies -  he is also a problem if  he is the only available one. 

So lets look at the future and hope that decent coaching will help Willenmse to develop further in future..   I think Willemse will develop further as a good player and have no problem with that.