RUGBY NEWS - Jean-Luc du Plessis’ successful operation to correct troublesome groin and hip issues should pave the way for Damian Willemse to get plenty of game-time at fullback during the coming Super Rugby season.
Willemse, the South African Schools flyhalf in 2016, did well in his regular position in his first full Super Rugby season with the Stormers last year, but when he was selected to the Springbok squad off the back of those performances, national director of rugby Rassie Erasmus opted to introduce him to international rugby by playing him at fullback.
Late last year Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that he would sit down with Willemse at the start of the final pre-season push to the mid-February start to the 2019 Super Rugby campaign and discuss his options with him.
“I have discussed it with him and we will sit down again in January and discuss it further. He is keen to give fullback a crack but obviously the team will come first and he understands that he will have to play where we need him,” said Fleck.
“It is our responsibility at the Stormers to nurture him. I thought he had a great season at flyhalf last year, but Josh Stander did develop well during the Currie Cup and Jean-Luc is back.”
At the time of talking Du Plessis, the son of former Bok wing Carel, had only just returned to training, but it is understood that he has impressed Fleck enough since then for the coach to become comfortable with the idea of Willemse specialising at fullback as far as it is possible to do so. The smart money then should be on Willemse playing fullback, with Du Plessis wearing the No10 and Stander backing him up.
