Skilful Damian’s touches keep opposition guessing
IMAGINE the pressure Damian Willemse must have been under when he made his run-on debut for the Stormers against the Cheetahs last week.
I mean, getting your first start has to be daunting regardless of your age. Add the fact that it’s in a position like flyhalf and the fact that you have built up a reputation as a junior star (so all eyes will obviously be on you), and the pressure levels rise tenfold.
But when the 19-year-old Willemse stepped onto the field at the Free State Stadium at the weekend, it didn’t take him long to prove that he’s more than just one of those hyped-up juniors who never really make the cut in senior rugby.
Against the Cheetahs, Willemse didn’t do much wrong. He produced a composed performance and he scored a try after producing a piece of individual attacking brilliance and topped that off with superb support play to take a return pass from Rynhardt Elstadt to finish off the move. He also had a hand in Cheslin Kolbe’s first try, his line-kicking was good (sometimes he got good distance with only a slight angle to work with) and his game-management couldn’t be faulted.
After the game, Stormers coach Robbie Fleck was pleased with Willemse’s efforts: “He’s a young kid with lots of talent and there were some brilliant touches from him. One or two mistakes, but that’s to be expected from him because he’s young. For him to perform at this level was a big ask away from home and he’s delivered.”
And how could Fleck not be pleased with that? In fact, Fleck wasn’t the only coach who had words of praise for Willemse. Earlier this week, Stormers skills coach Paul Feeney said: “I am expecting him (Willemse) to play better again this week. Every minute he gets at this level the better he is going to get over the next while.”
Fleck mentioned the “brilliant touches” Willemse contributed in their 40-34 win over the Cheetahs, so I can’t wait to see what touches he adds this week (like Feeney, I’m also expecting him to play even better this week).
It’s those brilliant touches that he adds so effortlessly that are going to add an element of thrill to the Stormers’ attack should Willemse be part of the playoff action.
And if he puts in another solid performance at Newlands against the Sunwolves this weekend, that might very well be the case, as Fleck suggested in the build-up to the fixture against the Cheetahs.
It’s his ability to keep opposition defences guessing that makes him such a threat and, as he showed at the weekend, he’s not just your go-to man when it comes to sparking an attack – his distribution skills and out-of-hand kicking were topclass too. So, with Robert du Preez and Jean-Luc du Plessis out injured, Willemse has another chance to show that he can boost the Stormers, at least for the playoffs.
And after seeing his performances on debut against the Kings in Port Elizabeth and in his start against the Cheetahs, I can’t wait to see what he dishes up as his time in the Stormers jersey grows.