‘Obviously’ Damian wants the No 10 jersey again, but ...
DESPITE his strong interest in the No 10 jersey, Damian Willemse says that he is becoming more comfortable in his new fullback role.
Willemse started three matches at 15 for the Stormers on their Australasian tour and looked more adept after each performance. He was particularly good against the Blues, and then again last Friday against the Rebels when his incisions into the backline created space in the channels out wide.
It is also an open secret that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus views the 20-year-old’s immediate future at international level in the No 15 jersey.
“It is going well (playing at fullback). Coach Dave (Snyman) has helped me a lot, in terms of my counter-attacks and kicking game. I am enjoying it,” Willemse said this week.
“I do my extras every day and keep on reviewing my game. Obviously I want the No 10 jumper again‚ but right now I’m happy. It’s not happening overnight though‚ I have been working hard on the position. I’ve settled in at fullback and I think I’ve gone well there.”
A large part of Willemse enjoying his new role has a lot to do with the Stormers’ gameplan this past couple of weeks. After starting the season focused firmly on keeping the ball close to their impressive forward pack, there has been a greater desire to spread the ball down the backline and to play the game at a greater pace.
This attacking mindset allows Willemse a great deal of freedom where he is often seen popping up at first-receiver and makes him particularly dangerous from broken play. The Stormers only had 32% possession at AAMI Park, but still managed to run in five tries against the Rebels.
“We have got the players and we realised that. Obviously the teams were starting to analyse us that we were playing with our forwards and not giving the ball to our backs. We have got Dillyn Leyds and we have got Sergeal Petersen that can run the ball and cause trouble for the defence‚“Willemse said.
“The Blues game was a turning point because we realised that spreading the ball worked.
“We have the right players to do it‚ and right now we have found a balance.”
After the heroics against the Rebels, the former Paul Roos prodigy knows the Stormers must now follow it up with another stellar performance against an experienced Brumbies side at Newlands on Saturday.
“On tour we made it difficult for ourselves‚ losing some games we should have won.
“Now it’s important we back up the Rebels game with a win at home. We have six home games to come and have to make them count,” Willemse said. ALL-ROUNDER Vijay Shankar is making the most of his presence in a Sunrisers Hyderabad camp which also contains a couple of World Cup winners after being selected in India’s 15-member squad for the showpiece tournament in England and Wales.
The Tamil Nadu all-rounder was picked as India’s No 4 batsman whose seam bowling expertise could also be useful in English conditions.
“We have a few World Cup winning team members here at (the) Sunrisers Hyderabad and I have spoken to them to understand what it feels like to play in a World Cup and then go on to win it,” Shankar said.
The IPL side have opening batsman David Warner and coach Tom Moody who have both won the World Cup with Australia.
“I have learnt a lot from them on the ways to manage pressure at such a large scale event,” Shankar said. “I’m extremely elated to be in the Indian World Cup team, this is like a dream come true.” |