Gaza reveals the 'benefits' of playing on the wing
Double World Cup winner Damian Willemse is one of the most acclaimed utility backs in Springbok history.
Willemse, 27, has played flyhalf, inside centre and fullback (his most regular position) for Rassie Erasmus’ Boks.
Yet, the Stormers’ decision to employ him on the wing this season has created varied and emotive opinions.
The 49-cap Bok said he sees only ‘positives’ in his latest positional switch.
“It’s been a very good challenge,” he told a media scrum in the build-up to the top-of-the-table United Rugby Championship Round 16 face-off against Glasgow Warriors.
“It’s been a great addition to the team,” he added.
“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.”
He admitted that he would give ‘too much’ tactics away if he elaborated on his interaction with the centres and other teammates inside him.
“It is about playing in the wider channels, and most outside backs need the ability to be sound under the high ball.
“It is a new challenge for me, but something I have been used to when covering the wider channels.
“A number [on the back of the jersey] is just a number, and as long as I am on the field and playing, it helps me as a player.”
(WATCH as double World Cup-winning Springbok utility Damian Willemse explains how his game benefits from him playing on the wing…..)
While he is “more comfortable” playing centre, the move to wing helped him learn new skills.
“That is where the modern game is going.
“You need multiple players, playing in multiple positions and being interchangeable.”
He added that he always looks to improve his own game, regardless of the position he is playing.
Willemse expects another tough challenge from the Warriors, who have been victorious in the last five matches between these teams.
“Our record [against Glasgow] doesn’t show actually how tight those games were.
“I think both games [last season] were really tight up to the 70th, 75th minute,” he added.
The Stormers know that if they don’t quite get things right against the Warriors, it will be a long afternoon and a tough challenge to regain their top two position.
Willemse was quick to acknowledge the all-round threat posed by Glasgow, saying they can keep the ball between the forwards, but they also have some dangerous players at the back.
“They’re an all-court side,” he said, adding: “They can take it up front with their forwards, they’ve got a great set piece, they’ve got a good kicking game, they’ve got great players in the outside backs.
“There are multiple threats there.
“But we can’t look past what we have. We can focus on the opposition all we want, but if we’re not going to get our stuff right this week, we’re going to struggle.
“It’s probably going to come down to these last 10 minutes, and we need to be ready for that. We need to make sure our game management and our gameplay with both our forwards and backline are spot on.”
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