Stormers coach John Dobson admits his
flyhalf situation is giving him sleepless nights.
Damian Willemse, who the mentor described earlier in the season as having the highest ceiling of the pivots in South Africa, has started all four of the Stormers’ matches to date.
The 21-year-old, though, has not been at his best in those matches, despite the team winning all of them, and has looked like a
player still adjusting to his new role after playing fullback last year.
Asked if Willemse is perhaps trying too hard to adjust and make an impact, Dobson says: “If there is any error it is that [he tries too hard], it’s certainly not the other way around.
“He probably overdoes it and he probably beats himself up too much.
“He is not the paradigm of a mercurial flyhalf he’s overly-physical sometimes.
TRYING TOO HARD: Incumbent flyhalf Damian Willemse. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
“A flyhalf like [ex-Stormer] Demetri Catrakilis [for example], he’s never on the ground.
“Damian gets tackled five or six times a game which is a problem for our team’s attack - it means [scrumhalf] Herschel [Jantjies has] now got to look for him [when he wants to pass the ball].
“I think we [as coaches] need to do better there in alternating him with [fullback] Dillyn [Leyds] at first receiver.
“Last year he had to, and wanted to, concentrate on 15 - it’s four games into Super Rugby for a 21-year-old, so I’m not too fussed about the bigger picture because of the work ethic he’s got.”
COMPOSED: JL du Plessis. Picture: Kim Ludbrook/EPA.
Dobson adds: “The problem for me is more that Jean-Luc has made a difference every single time he came on.
“And that’s more a pressure point than any doubts I’ve got of Damian.
“Jean-Luc is showing much more composure...
“We’re probably underplaying Jean-Luc, but we want to get Damian confident and into shape.
“Jean-Luc has had his days as you know, but it’s a new-look Jean-Luc, which is quite exciting for us.”
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperRugby?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuperRugbywins from five matches when they host a Blues side who will be full of confidence after a last-gasp win over the Bulls. Who will come out on top on Saturday afternoon? pic.twitter.com/jjTqPYXBeo
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With the national team’s selectors also watching, Willemse will probably be named at flyhalf again on Thursday when Dobson names his team for the clash against the Blues at Newlands.
And with the Stormers having a bye next week, Du Plessis will have to wait a little longer for his first start of the year.