Stormers legend Schalk Burger isn't mincing words when it comes to Damian Willemse's role in the team. With the Stormers wrestling with injuries and departures, Willemse has been playing on the right wing. However, Burger is adamant that this is a misstep by the coaching staff, suggesting that Willemse's talents are being squandered away from the center of the action.
Despite the team's desperate need for wingers due to injuries to Seabelo Senatla and Suleiman Hartzenberg, and the exit of Dylan Maart, head coach John Dobson has positioned Willemse on the wing for the past three games. Dobson explained that Willemse himself volunteered for this role temporarily. Yet, Burger argues that this temporary solution should not become a permanent arrangement.
"But at wing for me it’s just a waste."
Burger expressed his views on The Verdict podcast, stating, "We have quality players, but there’s an issue that we don’t have wingers. But I think we’ve got to get Damian either taking charge at 15 or playing at 12. And if there’s an injury concern, then maybe 15 is his place at the moment because we have to get him more involved." He continued, emphasizing the importance of Willemse being more central to the game, "He’s a good winger; he does decent stuff on the wing, but you want your best players to touch the ball the most amount of times in a game, and at 12 or 15, that’s what happens with him."
The recent 33-24 loss to Connacht in Cape Town has intensified scrutiny on the team's backline configuration. Post-match, Dobson conceded that Willemse’s stint on the wing cannot be indefinite. Assistant coach Dawie Snyman also acknowledged this week that the coaching staff is still deliberating their strategy for the upcoming clash against URC leaders Glasgow Warriors.
The Stormers are at a crucial juncture, needing to recalibrate if they wish to keep their top-spot ambitions alive. As the team ponders a potential reshuffling, all eyes will be on how they align their chess pieces, particularly the kingpin—Damian Willemse.
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Stormers legend Schalk Burger isn't mincing words when it comes to Damian Willemse's role in the team. With the Stormers wrestling with injuries and departures, Willemse has been playing on the right wing. However, Burger is adamant that this is a misstep by the coaching staff, suggesting that Willemse's talents are being squandered away from the center of the action.
Despite the team's desperate need for wingers due to injuries to Seabelo Senatla and Suleiman Hartzenberg, and the exit of Dylan Maart, head coach John Dobson has positioned Willemse on the wing for the past three games. Dobson explained that Willemse himself volunteered for this role temporarily. Yet, Burger argues that this temporary solution should not become a permanent arrangement.
"But at wing for me it’s just a waste."
Burger expressed his views on The Verdict podcast, stating, "We have quality players, but there’s an issue that we don’t have wingers. But I think we’ve got to get Damian either taking charge at 15 or playing at 12. And if there’s an injury concern, then maybe 15 is his place at the moment because we have to get him more involved." He continued, emphasizing the importance of Willemse being more central to the game, "He’s a good winger; he does decent stuff on the wing, but you want your best players to touch the ball the most amount of times in a game, and at 12 or 15, that’s what happens with him."
The recent 33-24 loss to Connacht in Cape Town has intensified scrutiny on the team's backline configuration. Post-match, Dobson conceded that Willemse’s stint on the wing cannot be indefinite. Assistant coach Dawie Snyman also acknowledged this week that the coaching staff is still deliberating their strategy for the upcoming clash against URC leaders Glasgow Warriors.
The Stormers are at a crucial juncture, needing to recalibrate if they wish to keep their top-spot ambitions alive. As the team ponders a potential reshuffling, all eyes will be on how they align their chess pieces, particularly the kingpin—Damian Willemse.