Damian Willemse is ‘wasted’ on the wing as Schalk Burger issues Glasgow Warriors warning
Stormers back Damian Willemse and an inset of Springboks legend Schalk Burger.
Springboks legend Schalk Burger has called for the Stormers to stop starting Damian Willemse on the wing despite the club’s injury issues.
Stormers boss John Dobson has named Willemse on the right wing in the last three matches, with Seabelo Senatla and Suleiman Hartzenberg sidelined, while Dylan Maart has returned to the Griquas following the conclusion of his loan deal.
Stormers’ wing issue
The Springbok’s first appearance on the wing came against Edinburgh, with Dobson explaining that it was partly due to the Scottish club’s aerial kicking game tactics, with Willemse being one of the best players under the high ball in the club.
However, the selection ploy has remained intact for the next two matches, but Burger believes that it should not be done again as the 27-year-old’s talents are wasted out wide.
“We have quality players, but there’s an issue that we don’t have wingers,” Burger said on the Verdict podcast.
“But I think we’ve got to get Damian Willemse either taking charge at 15 or playing at 12. And if there’s an injury concern, then maybe 15 is his place at the moment because we have to get him more involved.
“He’s a good winger; he does decent stuff on the wing, but you want your best players to touch the ball the most amount of times in a game, and at 12 or 15, that’s what happens with him. But at wing for me it’s just a waste.”
Burger made those remarks when reviewing the Stormers’ 24-33 defeat to Connacht, and speaking after the game, Dobson admitted that Willemse ‘can’t’ keep playing in the position.
Assistant coach Dawie Snyman said on Monday that the coaching staff was still mulling over the decision ahead of the clash against URC league leaders, Glasgow Warriors.
Failure to see out the victory
Part of Burger’s criticism stems from an error that full-back Warrick Gelant made in the loss to Connacht, as he didn’t ‘put his name’ on a kick from the Irish province, which resulted in a try.
He said as much in a detailed review of the Stormers’ performance and how they managed to fall to defeat despite holding a 10-point lead at one stage in the second half.
“I thought that in the first half, they were unlucky with scrums, and then whether Connacht scored that try or not, that’s irrelevant now, but Connacht were physically up for it,” Burger began.
“There are certain games that the Stormers don’t like; they don’t like evening games in Cape Town or away, for that matter, when it’s slippery, and the conditions make it a bit slow, or when it’s raining. This was a midday kick-off. Like, there’s an error rate to them. But then they showed a bit of fight. Evan Roos scores a cracker. Sacha scores that one in the second half. They go up 24 points to 14 with 18 minutes to go.
“You’re thinking, okay, they have weathered the storm here, they are going to try and go play nice and steady rugby to close it up, and there’s an opportunity to go for the bonus point, go for it.
John Dobson identifies the reasons for Stormers’ ‘very disappointing’ defeat to Connacht
“Ruben van Heerden comes on the field, the first kick off goes straight on him, and he doesn’t get close to it and knocks it on. He goes down the blindside, bites in, and leaves Zas [alone]. They score a try. Don’t panic. Nothing to panic about. Nothing’s on.
“Then Connacht chip it down the middle and yes, the ball bounces right or bounces back, but no one puts their name on it. You know, Warrick Gelant is at 15 there, and I know it’s tricky, but it’s like a high ball, someone has got to claim it.
“There are four Stormers players in and around it, but one Connacht player picks it up, and they score.
“And then the Stormers are trying to chase the game, an intercept pass, and they lose by 33 points. For Connacht, it was a must-win for them, and that’s the issue coming to the end of the season, there’s a bit of daylight between the top nine and the tenth position.”
Tough finish to the regular season as conditions favour Glasgow
The loss to Connacht meant that the Stormers passed up an opportunity to move ahead of Glasgow and top the URC standings with Franco Smith’s men falling to a shock defeat at the hands of the Lions.
They will get another opportunity to go to the top of the standings when they host the Warriors before their trip north, but Burger warns that the changing weather in Cape Town plays into the visitors’ favour.
“So for the Stormers, they’ve got to go on tour, and they’re playing Ulster and Cardiff, and that’s going to be a tough finish, and they’re playing Glasgow in Cape Town, the weather has turned, and it’s going to suit Glasgow to a tee,” he said.
“So, their run-in is all of a sudden looking a bit wobbly, and you want to be finishing second or first on that log if you’re the Stormers, and that’s a good opportunity. It was a disappointing watch.”
