Damian Willemse has officially endorsed Markus Muller, the prodigious teen set to make waves in his Stormers debut this Saturday against Glasgow Warriors in Cape Town. This top-of-the-table clash in the Vodacom URC is piquing interest, especially since Muller, at just 18, has already caught the eye of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus at a recent alignment camp. Willemse, a seasoned player himself, sees a bright future for Muller, both at the Stormers and potentially on the national team.
"He's a fantastic player," Willemse expressed post-practice on Wednesday. "I rate him very highly and believe he's going to go far. Not just for the Stormers, but hopefully for the national team as well. I can't wait to see more of him going forward."
"What you saw at Paarl Gimnasium at school level has been visible in our training sessions over the past few weeks. He will learn through experience. I'll help him where I can. All I'll say to him is to listen to the coaches and trust his natural instincts and abilities."
The buzz around Muller isn't just hype; his standout performances at Paarl Gimnasium have translated into noticeable prowess during senior team practices. As Muller gears up for his big break, the Stormers are also navigating the strategic use of Willemse, who has been playing on the right wing—a position some, like Stormers legend Schalk Burger, argue underutilizes his playmaking skills.
"Gaza wasted on the wing"
Nevertheless, Willemse finds value in his current role, noting, "It's been a very good challenge. It's been a great addition to the team. I felt it helped us a lot with our adaptability to our kicking and how we approach other teams’ kicking games. I guess it's another skill set that I've developed over the past few weeks with the coaches’ help. It's been going well and I've been enjoying it."
As the Stormers prepare for the weekend's game, all eyes will be on Muller's debut performance, heralding what many hope is the arrival of South Africa's next rugby star.