Willemse misses first URC derby as Stormers brace for Lions

It is probably an indicator of how much John Dobson has grown the DHL Stormers’ depth that right now Damian Willemse is not playing and yet there is so little focus on that.

In the past, having the prodigiously talented and versatile Springbok unavailable would have hurt the Stormers, as indeed it did when he was injured for most of last season and then was suspended for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against the Glasgow Warriors at the Scotstoun in June.

However, Willemse has played just two games in the Stormers’ run of eight games unbeaten across two competitions, the URC and the Investec Champions Cup, so there won’t be too much anxiety over his unavailability for Saturday’s first URC derby of the season against the Lions at the DHL Stadium.

Stormers attack coach Dawie Snyman has confirmed that the hamstring niggle that kept Willemse from joining the other two Stormers backline Bok starters, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, from participating in last weekend’s light-hearted romp against a weakened La Rochelle team in Gqeberha, will also prevent him from playing the Lions.

That should mean that Jonathan Roche will continue his apprenticeship in the No 12 jersey, with Dan du Plessis set to be out for over a month, and on the evidence of his performances against Bayonne, where he played outside centre, and La Rochelle, that’s definitely no cause for any panic in the Stormers ranks.

Not that a little panic, or let’s rather call it anxiousness, will be misplaced for this game, as it is a potential banana peel for the Stormers, given what Snyman referred to as the levelling up aspect of South African derbies. Let's also not forget that the only home game that the Stormers lost in the season when they won the inaugural URC title was to the Lions.

For Snyman, it would be criminal if the Stormers return to play in front of the Cape Town fans and don’t build on the platform they have built for themselves through five consecutive overseas wins across the URC and the Champions Cup.

'DERBY GAMES ARE ALWAYS BIG'

“We did well on the road, but that’s not going to count for anything if you don’t capitalise at DHL Stadium,” said Snyman. “Derby games are always big as it’s almost like a double swing with the points, especially when they’re home games.”

Snyman didn’t have to look too far in his search for an example as to why the Stormers shouldn’t be taking the Lions lightly, even though there are 11 points and six places separating them on a URC log that currently has the Cape side in pole position.

“You don’t go to Loftus and win by accident, and they proved that a couple of weeks ago against the Bulls,” said Snyman.

“They’re a dangerous side with individuals who can hurt you if you’re not switched on. Their set-piece is good, and like all SA derbies, there’s always a sting to it. Every contest becomes a battle, be it breakdowns, aerial contests, everything.”

Although they are on a winning run, and indeed no team has come closer than nine points to them this season, Snyman acknowledges that there are still several work-ons, most notably the discipline that has occasionally allowed opposition teams back into games that the Stormers were controlling.

However, he feels that the fact that the Stormers have lost momentum in some games and then regained it, as was the case against both Bayonne away and against La Rochelle at home in the Champions Cup, is a positive sign.

“You’re never going to have momentum for a full 80 minutes. The big thing is how quickly you can get it back when you lose it. Against quality sides, a few penalties in a row can keep you stuck in your own 22, and that’s where you lose your grip.”