Damian Willemse is being mentioned in the same potential exalted company as Dan Carter and Jonny Wilkinson. Photo: Getty Images.
“He’ll kill it.”
That is what Paul Feeney, the Stormers’ assistant coach, believes will happen when Damian Willemse plays international rugby in the future.
The prodigious 19-year-old flyhalf has been earning rave reviews the past few weeks for his composed, classy performances in Super Rugby.
But Feeney isn’t quite as anxious to see Willemse in a Springbok jersey as some others.
“You’ll see once he gets to 30 or 40 games he’s a talent isn’t he,” said the New Zealander.
“But I’m careful of opening the lid too much on him. Time will tell.”
Feeny also isn’t oblivious to challenges Willemse will have to face as one of the core decision-makers in the backlines he plays in.
“As a No 10 you have to be the brains of your team. It’s about the computer you have up there in your head,” he said.
“You have to push your team around the park and put them in position to win games and to know when to kick, when to run, when to pass, and tell the forwards what to do. That’s all part of Damian’s game that he’s learning, his game management.
“It’s all about if he can grasp it. If he can’t grasp it he’ll struggle as a 10 and he’ll have to move to 12 or 15.”
What is undeniable though is Willemse’s talent and he’s already being mentioned with greats such as England’s Jonny Wilkinson and the All Blacks’ Dan Carter.
“He’s a super talent – he’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever coached,” said Feeney.
Meanwhile, there was high praise for Bok winger Raymond Rhule too, who delivered his best performance in a Stormers’ jersey to date against the Reds last weekend.
Raymond Rhule had his best game in a Stormers jersey to date. (Photo by Thinus Maritz/Gallo Images)
“The criticism he receives is extremely harsh,” said Feeney.
“They don’t see the quality he brings to training either. He’s been great for us, he’s a great guy. Yeah, he’s missed a couple of tackles, but no more than anyone else. I look after the unstructured defence, so I know who misses tackles and who doesn’t.”
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