Ex-Springboks star reveals which position is best for ‘ball player’ Damian Willemse
Damian Willemse leads the celebrations after another Springboks win and ex-Boks full-back Conrad Jantjes (inset).
Even though Springboks utility back Damian Willemse has done well when playing at full-back for the world champions, he is a much better player at inside centre.
That is the verdict on former Springboks star Conrad Jantjes when asked about the current battle for South Africa’s number 15 jersey.
Jantjes represented his country at full-back in 24 Tests between 2001 and 2008 and also won a bronze medal as part of South Africa’s sevens squad at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
He appeared recently on the Behind the Ruck podcast and was asked for his views on the current Springboks team, particularly the full-back position with the likes of Aphelele Fassi, Willie le Roux, Willemse and even world class wing Cheslin Kolbe all wearing the green and gold number 15 jersey at Test level during 2025.
Willemse is a vital cog in the Boks machine and shone at full-back during their recent victorious Autumn Nations Series Tests against France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
Plenty of credit to the Springboks forwards
Jantjes feels the excellent performances of the Boks’ pack of forwards gives their backline a superb platform to play from.
“I love the way they play the game, if we speak specifically about the Springboks now,” he said. “(But) who is not going to shine behind a pack like that?
“Come on, I mean, Sacha FM (Feinberg-Mngomezulu), he’s got go-forward every single day. Guys (opponents) are getting blown away at ruck time.
“It’s just there. So, the full-backs have come a lot more into the game. I’m a big fan of Damian (Willemse).
“The first time I met Damian, they had a pre-season camp and I was chatting to him and I said, ‘Damian, what do you prefer?
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“Like 10, 12 or 15′? And I like Sacha at 10, I always liked him. And he was like, nah, he (Willemse) likes 15.
“I know what he was gonna say, ‘Wherever they want to play me’, and I was like, ‘Yeah, bro, I just like you at 12’.
‘You’re a ball player’
“I said, ‘You know what, you’re a ball player’.”
Jantjes said he is a big fan of the Springboks’ style of play, where players like Feinberg Mngomezulu and Willemse are pulling the strings in the backline and revealed that he wouldn’t have minded playing alongside that duo if he was still active.
“I would have loved to have played with a Sacha, a Damian,” he said. “Can you imagine the space you get out wide? You think you’re gonna leave those guys alone? They’re just gonna stand there and pass.
“No, you have to check them, which creates all the space out wide.
“You know what I mean? I’m a big fan of Damian at 12. And when he performed like that against the All Blacks (in Wellington), I gave it the biggest (thumbs up).
“But we’ve got so many guys like, he can perform at 15.
“He is a 15, but I still like him as a ball player.”
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