Willemse's rousing return raises questions about his Bok role

OPINION: Damian Willemse’s international comeback will provide Rassie Erasmus with a healthy selection headache in 2025, especially when the Springboks face New Zealand, France and Ireland in the marquee Tests.

Willemse won his 100th cap for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship fixture against the Dragons this past Saturday.

As the decorated player led the team out at Cape Town Stadium, the broadcaster listed the player’s achievements – two World Cups, a Rugby Championship and a URC title – as well as the fact that Willemse only recently turned 27.

Coaches, commentators and critics agree that Willemse’s best days are yet to come.

The statement, of course, takes on a deeper meaning when you consider all the player has been through over the past 18 months.

Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber showed their hand when they picked Willemse over Willie le Roux at No.15 in the 2023 World Cup Final.

Some critics suggested that the selection signalled the end for Le Roux, and yet, the veteran is still a factor for franchise and country some two seasons later.

Le Roux has always been a favourite of the Bok coaches, but when push came to shove, they chose Willemse to start the biggest game of the four-year cycle.

After the Boks beat the All Blacks in that Final, Willemse refused to change out of his kit for the better part of a week.

Little did he know that it would be more than a year until he wore the Bok jersey again.

A finger injury kept him out of the mid-year Tests against Ireland as well as the 2024 Rugby Championship.

After returning to action with the Stormers, he injured his groin and missed the Boks’ tour to Europe.

Now Willemse is back with the Stormers, who are set to feature in the upcoming URC play-offs.

And if all goes to plan, the 39-Test veteran will make his comeback for the Boks when they tackle the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia in the coming months.

The big question, of course, is where will Willemse play?

It’s a question that’s been asked of the player himself during the early days of his career.

Willemse started his franchise career at flyhalf and won his first Test cap there in 2018.

While his ability to cover multiple positions has boosted the Stormers and Boks in subsequent seasons, he is viewed as a first-choice No.12 by the former, and – until recently – a first-choice No.15 by the latter.

Erasmus will use Willemse in some capacity this season, but the selection will depend on various factors.

Willemse is one of the most talented players to emerge from South Africa in the professional era, but due to a nightmare run of injuries, he is no longer the incumbent. Last season, Aphelele Fassi stepped up to fill the void and made the No.15 jersey his own.

Something similar transpired in the midfield back in 2023, when Lukhanyo Am was sidelined with injury and Jesse Kriel took his chance as the starting No.13.

While Erasmus rotated the squad across the 2024 season, using 50 players across 13 Tests, Kriel was favoured to start the big matches.

It will be interesting to see how often Willemse is used at fullback in the coming Test season, given how much of the Bok approach has change since 2023.

Le Roux will also have a role to play at some stage, and Erasmus has other fullback options in Quan Horn, not to mention Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie, who have worn the No.15 jersey for their respective franchises in recent months.

Could Willemse receive more opportunities at inside centre this season, on the back of his influential performances for the Stormers in the latter stages of the URC?

Damian de Allende (33) has shown why he could still be a force at the next World Cup, and the Boks have another outstanding No.12 option in André Esterhuizen.

What Esterhuizen doesn’t offer, however, is utility value – and this is perhaps why he is rarely included on the bench as part of the 23-man day squad.

Willemse, on the other hand, is the quintessential No.23, having played flyhalf, wing, both centres and at fullback at the highest level.

One can understand why fans might want younger players such as Ethan Hooker to receive a chance in the midfield this season, but when you have experienced players like Willemse who are young enough to feature at the next two World Cups, you have to use them.

That’s not to say that Hooker shouldn’t feature at all. Erasmus would do well to blood the Sharks star, possibly on the wing, in one of the Tests against Italy or Georgia this July.

The Bok coach has been brave enough to rotate his squad over the course of the season, and even over the course of a two-Test series against the All Blacks.

It will be interesting to see who gets picked – and where – when the Boks face the All Blacks in Auckland this September, and for the one-offs against France and Ireland in November.

Fassi recently returned from an ankle injury, and is taking nothing for granted regarding Bok selection in 2025.

Le Roux, Willemse, Horn and even another utility player in Jordan Hendrikse will come into the No 15 conversation as the Test season draws near. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu looks set to focus on flyhalf this year, but as seen in the second Test against Ireland in 2024, he can also do a job at fullback.

One of the challenges for Erasmus is providing all these players with an opportunity to impress before the squad departs for New Zealand later this year.

With regards to Willemse, how many games will he start at No 15 over the course of June and July, and will he be unleashed at No 12 at all?

Will he take on more of a utility role as No 23, and how will that influence the Boks’ bench dynamics? With Willemse in the matchday squad, there’s more leeway to pick six or even seven forwards on the pine.

While the Boks racked up 11 wins in Willemse’s absence last season, his return to the squad in 2025 will give the side more options, and ultimately increase their threat.

@rugby365com