Willemse admits to nerves ahead of Bok return

It would be hard to think that an international player who has won two World Cups and is about to play his 41st test as a Springbok would still get nerves, but for Damian Willemse, that is seriously the case.

Willemse makes his return to the Bok side for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final, having missed out on an entire Springbok season due to injury and admits the butterflies are something that have been with him since he was named in the starting line-up to face Italy this weekend at Loftus Versfeld.

Willemse admitted as much when he sat next to coach Rassie Erasmus at the team announcement on Tuesday, and believes that the excitement will spur him on this weekend against Italy.

“Yeah, it's been a difficult year. After two years with injury, and then obviously with the suspension keeping me out and stopping me from playing rugby. But yeah, I'm very happy to get another shot and for the coaches to believe in me and to get my opportunity again to play. I'm looking forward to it and I'm excited,” he said.

“I'm a bit nervous, obviously. I haven't played, and the last game I played was in the Rugby World Cup final. I'll have to obviously get in and hopefully just do my primary job, and hopefully the rest of the boys will take care of me and look after me.”

LOFTUS HEROICS OF 2022

That being said, Willemse has an extremely good record at Loftus Versfeld and few will forget his last-minute penalty to save the Boks’ blushes in 2022 after a poor performance put them in danger of losing against Wales.

When it mattered, Willemse stepped up and slotted a penalty after the hooter to clinch the game for the Boks and give them a slim victory.

“That was a good memory. Yeah, it was a scary day for us there at Loftus, but we did really well in the second half to come back,” Willemse recalls from the game.

“But like I’ve said before, there are a lot of guys in the team, the coaching staff and the months of preparation that we had that gives me a lot of security. I think as soon as I probably get out onto the field and touch the ball in the first touch and probably sing the national anthem, I'll probably get into it and forget about the nerves and settle a little bit.

“You never forget you are playing for the Springboks and for the national team, so it does come with a little bit of added pressure. Still it is something I'm looking forward to as well. I know I've got great outside backs and experienced guys in the team that will look after me.”

DANGEROUS BACK THREE

Willemse is surrounded by some of the most experienced players in the world, and the back three combination with wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse has already set the world alight more than once in a test match.

Arendse’s try against England at Twickenham is a perfect example of how the fullback’s flair can be used to spark a long-range attack and Bok fans will be hoping for more of the same this weekend on a hard, dry field at Loftus.