Road to the RWC | Springbok player profile: Damian Willemse

Four years ago Damian Willemse was a late call-up to the Springboks’ World Cup squad, but this time around he is set to have a crucial role to play at the global showpiece in France.

Willemse is likely to miss out on a starting berth due to his versatility, but he is expected to be player No 23 for all the ‘big’ World Cup games, and below we highlight some key information about the 25-year-old in our ongoing player profile series.

LIVE UPDATES: SPRINGBOKS’ ROAD TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

PROFILE: DAMIAN WILLEMSE

Name: Damian Willemse

Born: 7 May 1998, Strand

School: Paul Roos Gymnasium

Major teams: Springboks, South Africa U20, Stormers, Western Province, Saracens

Position: Flyhalf, centre, fullback

Height: 6-foot-1

Test debut: South Africa v Argentina in Durban, 18 August 2018

Springbok no.: 910

Tests played: 32

Tries scored: 3

Current club team: Stormers

All information correct as at 23 August 2023

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SPRINGBOKS’ 2023 FIXTURES:

RWC warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 19 August – Boks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff), 4:15pm
Friday, 25 August – Boks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London), 8.30pm

ALSO READ | Springboks squad explained: 4 scrumhalves, 2 hookers, 2 flyhalves

RWC FIXTURES:

Sunday, 10 September – Boks v Scotland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille), 5:45pm
Sunday, 17 September – Boks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux), 3pm
Saturday, 23 September – Boks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris), 9pm
Sunday, 1 October – Boks v Tonga (Stade Velodrome, Marseille), 9pm

Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final

WATCH: Faf de Klerk CAN and WILL play flyhalf

World Cup squad

Props: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps, 10 points), Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps, 0 points), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 5 points), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps, 0 points), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps, 5 points).

Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears – 61 caps, 75 points).

Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps, 25 points), Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps, 0 points), Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps, 0 points), RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps, 5 points).

Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps, 30 points), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps, 45 points), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps, 25 points), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 0 points), Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps, 15 points), Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps, 5 points).

Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points).

ALSO READ | Springboks’ World Cup pool game referees CONFIRMED

Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps, 44 points), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps, 12 points), Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps, 45 points), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps, 50 points), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps, 0 points), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps, 60 points).

Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 9 caps, 50 points), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps, 81 points), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps, 65 points), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks – 38 caps, 115 points), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps, 10 points).