Damian Willemse is worth every cent of investment – and more. His value has been made possible because of the vision of DHL Stormers coach John Dobson, who refused to ever lose faith in Willemse, writes mark_keohane.
Damian Willemse is worth every cent of investment – and more. His value has been made possible because of the vision of DHL Stormers coach John Dobson, who refused to ever lose faith in Willemse and always referred to him as the player equivalent of a bar of gold,A year ago there was a newspaper report of what Willemse was being paid. I felt it was an inflated value for a player whose schoolboy potential wasn’t being maximised. I wrote as much.
Dobbo’s contention was that Willemse was gold to the region because he was made from this region, loved this region and that the Stormers and Western Province rugby were in his DNA. A player of Willemse’s kind can be a victim of his own versatility, and playing for the Stormers at the beginning of 2021 it was starting to look as if that was the case. He did not own the number 10 jersey, nor did he convince at fullback. I felt a player reminiscent of a young Frans Steyn was fading into a system that he could not control and that equally did not support him.
Dobbo got it so right in backing him and building a structure that suits his talents, playing him primarily off a very dynamic Manie Libbok, with the comfort that he can also cover fullback and flyhalf. Willemse at inside centre is close enough to the game to constantly have an impact, without the pressure of being first receiver.
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