While many may well have focused on Damian Willemse’s versatility and the Frans Steyn-like role that the Springboks have been projecting him to play for the national team, the reality is that Willemse is more likely to fulfill Willie le Roux’s playmaker role this weekend than anything else.
In selecting both Elton Jantjies and Willemse for the first test against Wales at Loftus Versfeld this weekend, the Boks have revealed their intentions to play a bit more lateral than normal, and while Jantjies has a good kicking boot on him, the real explosion in play could come when he and Willemse combine.
In an interview with SuperSport, Willemse revealed that he has been given the freedom to play a similar role to Le Roux on attack - and to do everything possible to bring his hotsteppers - Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi - into play and give them space to motor.
In a way Willemse has already fulfilled this role for the DHL Stormers this season, but more from a midfield position. Those who have watched intensely will notice how he pops up in a roaming role behind the rucks and has been backed to have the vision to find space.
Le Roux’s role for the Springboks is often underestimated - coach Jacques Nienaber said earlier this week he had been involved in the majority of Springbok tries over the last few years, often making the last pass.
“It shows the vision he has to draw players and find space for those on his outside,” Nienaber said earlier in the week.
So while Le Roux has been on the bench, Willemse and Jantjies will be looking to exploit that space and get their explosive wingers good ball to launch attacks on the outside.
It may be an experiment - or project as the Boks like to call it - but it is one that, if it works, gives the Boks another weapon in their arsenal as they head towards France next season.
And while Willemse may have floated between positions in the past, his ability to see space and to attack it at the right moment has been one of the reasons the Boks are so invested in him.
If he can produce the same form at international level as he has at franchise level, the outside backs can have a field day and Le Roux’s successor may well be pretty easy to pinpoint.
A CHALLENGE TO RELISH
Willemse admitted the freedom he has been given is a bit daunting, but it is a challenge he is relishing ahead of this weekend’s match.
“This will be more like the Willie role. Willie is very good at spotting spaces, drawing defenders and putting the wings away. With having Elton there as well, we have that freedom where we can slot in with each other,” he told supersport.com
“If we can see the spaces we will try and utilise that, whether by running or kicking and bring the outside to play.”
The Boks had already pinpointed this in their test against Wales last season, but a concussion saw Willemse only play 12 minutes of that test and they never got the chance to put their theory into practice.
Willemse admits that there is a bit of unfinished business from that day driving him on this weekend.
“There is a little bit,” Willemse said. “But for me it is more about staying task-focused and play my role and put the team in the right positions on the field. If there are a few gaps, I’d like to bring Cheslin and Makazole into the play and try and make some opportunities for them.”
Le Roux has been a key part of Willemse’s transformation at the Boks and has been mentoring him the entire week behind the scenes.
There is also a chance the two will play in tandem later on in the game as Le Roux is on the bench. The experiment may be one that is high risk, but if it works, it is high reward.
Willemse paid tribute to Le Roux as well, and the way he has been helping him along this week.
“Willie is a great player and I have a lot of respect for him as a player. Everyone has a massive amount of respect for Willie and what he has done for the Springboks. I have been learning a lot from him. He has been helping me a lot and he helped me today with some of the things I need to say to the players, especially the wingers,” he explained.
“He has been helping me a lot in that regard. The other day he was just standing there and said something and I was like “What!” - I never would be able to think what to say in that situation. Willie is an incredible player and he is still helping us. If he comes on on Saturday he will play a big part in the team.
And with the aerial battle likely to be key, Willemse has prepared himself for an aerial assault on Saturday.
“To be honest, we know Wales will kick the ball. We are anticipating it but they can change their plan. If they come we have been working hard at our kicking game as well. It is just about taking that pressure and dealing with it, and putting our forwards on the front foot,” he added.
“We are expecting them to kick a bit, but we will do what we have to, to put our forwards on the front foot and we can change it as well. We are prepped for that.”
The Bok project to unearth a successor to Le Roux will take another step forward. Willemse already has the versatility to slot in anywhere in the backline. If he can take up the playmaker role as well, the Boks will be smiling as they take a step forward in defending their World Cup they won in 2019.
And that could be an even bigger box to tick than a victory on Saturday.