Damian Willemse vs Tom Banks
A crucial head-to-head battle at Newlands ...
THE STORMERS are hoping to make it a festive return to Newlands on Saturday when they host the Brumbies.
Robbie Fleck’s team is filled with renewed confidence after downing the Rebels in the final game of their Australasian tour. Equally, the Brumbies arrive in Cape Town cock-a-hoop after beating the Lions in Canberra before boarding the plane to South Africa.
Both teams were keen to spread the ball down their respective backlines, resulting in both the Stormers and Brumbies scoring five tries last week.
Plenty of that attacking flair was created from right at the back where two young fullbacks are setting Super Rugby alight. The Stormers have successfully switched the creative Damian Willemse to the No 15 jumper, while the Brumbies boast the impressive Tom Banks.
Here, we take a look at their headto-head battle that could go a long way in deciding the outcome at Newlands on Saturday.
TOM BANKS
With Wallaby coach Michael Cheika stating that he will not pick Israel Folau for Australia in future after his defamatory comments on social media, there is an opportunity for someone to come forward and grab the golden No 15 jersey.
At the moment the claim is being made by 24-year-old Banks, who played for four Tests for the Wallabies last year. The Brumbies flyer was sensational in the latter part of last year’s Super Rugby season and after a slow start to this year’s campaign has struck form just as the business end is fast approaching. He was particularly good against the Lions last Saturday when he put in his trademark busting runs and also dotted down for good measure.
“It’s a lot better to be making good metres and getting involved in the game so obviously I’m happy with that but it’s a team thing, on the back of team success comes personal success,” Banks told AAP.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar certainly believes Banks has the tools to be successful at the highest level.
“He’s got genuine speed, he’s in the game, he’ll challenge any defensive line, whether it’s Super Rugby or Test level he’s going to be someone who’s going to be in the forefront of selectors’ minds,” McKellar told reporters.
DAMIAN WILLEMSE
The wunderkid of South African rugby is now in his second full season of Super Rugby and is growing steadily into his new position. Although a self-confessed natural flyhalf, Willemse has adapted well to his new role.
He has certainly added a great deal of thrust on the counter-attack for the Stormers with his nifty footwork and acceleration off the mark. He is also hugely under-rated as a defender with the 20-year-old often putting in crunching tackles.
Just like his counterpart McKellar, Stormers coach Flecks is fully behind his prodigy.
“Playing at fullback means he gets to see things differently and he probably has a bit more time and space to do the magic that he has got. It allows him a bit of freedom,” Fleck said.
“I think he’s capable of playing both. He’s played fullback for the Springboks and he is very keen to pursue it as well without letting go of playing flyhalf.”