‘One of the greatest rugby players’: Stormers laud Willemse’s impact ahead of 100th cap

The Stormers have applauded utility back Damian Willemse for his inspiration to the coloured population in South Africa and especially in the Western Cape ahead of his 100th cap for the Cape Town franchise.

The 27-year-old Springbok will reach the milestone when he starts at inside centre for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship match against Dragons at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 6.15pm).

Willemse ‘walks into any rugby team’

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson and captain Salmaan Moerat sang his praises after announcing a rotated side to play against the Welsh outfit.

“We know what we’ve got in Damian Willemse, I’m not sure the world does,” Dobson said. “This is a generational player. I’ve worked with him since 2017. Other than the flash and that, he’s the most professional guy, the guy doing the most time in the huddle.

“He flies at his own expense. When we took a weakened team to Harlequins for a Champions Cup game, he flew himself out there. He did all the analysis of Harlequin’s defence. I think he’s a guy who walks into any rugby team in the world.”

Dobson said for Willemse to win two World Cups by the age of 26 was incredible. “He is just a treasure, I cannot speak highly enough [of him]. The professionalism, the standard, the competitiveness, the quality of human being.”

Representing coloured players who could not play before

Willemse told media earlier in the week that the milestone was a huge honour. However, it meant more because he was representing players of colour who never had the opportunity to play professionally before the dawn of democracy.

Moerat said this tribute was “beautiful” and said Willemse was “a true inspiration to us all”.

“First of all, he is a very dear friend to me and many of the other players,” Moerat said.

He said after seeing a photo of Willemse with the 2019 World Cup trophy, “something ignited within me”.

“I thought to myself: ‘I’ve played with this guy for so many years and grew up with him and played age group rugby with him’. I can promise you he was the reason I wanted to be a Springbok and work harder,” said Moerat, who now has 10 Tests under his belt.

“I don’t think he fully understands the influence he has on players around him. I know he mentioned earlier in the week that it’s not just for himself. It’s for the broader community and people that have been there before. He has really changed the perspective around coloured rugby players.

“He will be one of the greatest coloured rugby players, if not one of the greatest rugby players to have played the game. For him to touch on the history our country has is really beautiful, especially our province. I think he’s a remarkable human being.”