'It's not easy for him to be on the bench'
SPOTLIGHT: The debate on whether Damian Willemse and Warrick Gelant can start in the same backline will go on until it eventually happens.
Gelant has made a massive impact off the bench in the win over the Bulls and the draw against the Sharks on the road over the last two weekends and many fans are calling for him to get a starting spot.
Willemse has been solid in the No.15 jersey in recent weeks. However, Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman says there is a plan to give Gelant a start against the Sharks in their United Rugby Championship Round Nine fixture in Cape Town on Saturday.
When asked if the Stormers figured out a way to accommodate Gelant and Willemse in the same backline, Snyman responded: “It’s been quite a big debate. Warrick’s contribution in the last 30 minutes in both games was spot on, so in a way, we got that right.
“We will select our team and see what happens this week, but we got our plan that has been communicated to both players and they understand it and credit to Warrick.
“It’s not easy for him [Gelant] to be on the bench. He is a world-class player and it’s not easy for us as coaches to change his role and give him a different purpose for the game.”
#ICYMI: Sharks coach Sean Everitt admitted his side were their own worst enemy following the 22-all draw against the Stormers on Saturday. #URC https://t.co/OB1AdJSHFC
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Snyman added: “It’s probably for us as a team to understand how we are going to do it. It might be on a week-to-week basis.
“Dobbo said Warrick is going to start this weekend, which is definitely the plan. How we will fit Damian in is something we will decide on this [Monday] afternoon and make sure we get it right.
“If you got guys like that who can create then there will be opportunities for someone like Seabelo [Senatla].
“To have those guys on the field is great, but also if one of them has to come off the bench then it’s an area where we can benefit as a team.”
Meanwhile, Snyman says Willemse has received some unfair criticism for his performances in the past and believes the 23-year-old’s performances over the last two weekends is evidence of his maturity.
“Damian was brilliant [against the Sharks] and he was brilliant at Loftus.
“People see Damian Willemse and they see that try he scored in the Currie Cup against the Bulls [in 2017] and they just want to see that. But if you actually look at it closely – just the way he organises the backfield, his work rate off the ball and how he tackles and his counter-rucks – there is a lot of stuff that Damian Willemse is all about.
“They want that flashy Damian Willemse and if he makes a mistake then people will criticise him for that.
“He has matured a lot and he has come a long way as a player. His time with the Springboks also helped him with his game and his contribution on and off the field is world-class.
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