Time will tell whether they feature in the same starting team but Damian Willemse’s landmark 100th match for the DHL Stormers on Saturday evening will coincide with the return of his fellow Springbok backline magician Manie Libbok.
The Stormers host the Dragons in their penultimate Vodacom United Rugby Championship league match at the DHL Stadium and with Libbok back in the selection mix, as confirmed by Willemse during an online press conference on Monday afternoon, it sets up a mouth-wateringly entertainment prospect for the Cape rugby faithful.
Stormers head coach John Dobson has said he would like to field a backline that features Libbok at flyhalf, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at inside centre and Willemse at outside centre, which is something that Willemse says he is ready for if it happens as he’s flitted between inside and outside in tandem with Dan du Plessis even though he’s worn the No 12 in those games.
However, it is more likely that we will see Libbok play off the bench in this game as he has been out since January, when he injured his knee playing against Leinster in Dublin.
Still, that hasn’t deterred Willemse’s enthusiasm for having all the top X-factor backline players, which also includes fullback Warrick Gelant, playing in the same game.
“I think it is pretty incredible as I don’t think there has been a time recently when we’ve all been fit and ready to play together,” said Willemse.
“It has usually been myself injured, or Manie has been injured now, or Sacha, who was out for a while recently. But now all four of us are healthy and ready to play. We’ve been coming up with some nice plays in training, and I think it came through nicely (when Libbok was the only absentee). So yeah, I am looking forward to it. I think there is a lot more to come from us.”
Back for more at home next weekend as we take on the Dragons in another big @Vodacom #URC game.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 2, 2025
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Given how good the Stormers were on attack both against Connacht and in the 56-5 annihilation of an international laden Benetton team, 26-year-old Willemse’s suggestion there is more to come should be a chilling warning for the Dragons, who currently foot the URC log, and other future opponents.
But at the same time, a good reason for Capetonians to book themselves tickets for both this Saturday’s game and the potentially decisive final league game against Cardiff, currently fifth on the log, the following Friday.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Willemse made his Stormers debut at the age of just 18 in 2017, and has since developed into one of the most dangerous backline players in the world.
It feels like just yesterday he was playing for Western Province Schools and setting the tournament alight in the 2016 Craven Week at Kearsney College in Kwa-Zulu/Natal, but the man known to his teammates as “Gazza” because of his love for a strand of West Indian music has experienced several career highlights.
Obviously winning the World Cup with the Boks in 2023 would be a standout, but for the Stormers/WP Willemse has also featured in two trophy winning teams.
He was a recent convert to fullback from his schoolboy position of flyhalf when WP, coached by Dobson, beat the Sharks in the 2017 Currie Cup final in Durban.
And then five years later he was part of the Stormers team that beat the Bulls in the 2022 URC final to become the first winners of the trophy.
“That was the highlight for me and I would like to experience it again. It feels like we are building nicely to make a strong challenge again this year,” said Willemse.
“Obviously it is amazing and a very special occasion for me to be playing my 100th game in front of the home crowd. I came in at 18-years-old, having just finished matric. And then three months later I was making my debut in an important game in Durban. I owe a lot to the Stormers coach of the time, Robbie Fleck, and people like his assistant Paul Feeney.
“I’ve got to give thanks to all the coaches, for giving me the responsibility they did when I was still very young and trusting me. And the players I have played with. They all helped shape me, and made me the player that I am today, not just on the field but also off it. They called me out when I was getting ahead of myself, told me I was flying a bit too high.
“When I started out obviously I was a junior player and had a lot to learn but in recent seasons with new players coming in I have become a senior player and enjoy imparting what I have learned to the younger guys. I had to make a decision in 2020 and committed long term to the Stormers and am glad I did. We represent an amazing reason, from the Strand through to the BoKaap, with passionate rugby people supporting us.”
The Stormers team for the Dragons game will be announced on Friday.