School is out for Stormers star Damian Willemse and he believes he has now graduated from flyhalf prodigy to the real deal.
No longer tasked with learning to dictate the game by watching other pivots while wearing the No.15 jumper, Willemse is now ready to run the show in the No.10 jumper.
So much so that the 22-year-old “ex-student” is also ready to become a teacher.
With fullback Warrick Gelant joining the Stormers from the Bulls, coach John Dobson proved that he backs Willemse to wear the No.10 jersey.
The ex-Paul Roos scholar, though, had his difficulties in the past playing in this position. But with Jean-Luc du Plessis having left the franchise, Willemse knows he is now the only senior pivot in the squad and has to step up.
A World Cup medal in 2019 and a few seasons under the belt means he is ready to do so.
Willemse says: “I don’t think I need any more time to settle in [at flyhalf].
“I’ve been around world-class players - it’s just important that you perform week-in, week-out to show that you are consistent.
“I am definitely a better player than I was four years ago. I put in the hard yards and now it’s all about consistency.”
Willemse has been spotted practising his kicking with another former Paul Roos scholar Kade Wolhuter, who he is taking under his wing.
NEW ROOKIE: Kade Wolhuter
Of becoming a leader and helping the youngsters in the squad, Willemse adds: “I am in a very privileged position to see the younger guys coming through - a few years ago, I was the youngest in the team.
“A lot of the older guys are leaving, so guys like me have to step up and show the new guys the way to go.
“I’ve been working hard to set a good example for the younger guys. I know Kade from school and we’ve been working together since then. [It's] great to see him come through.
“It’s very important for guys like me to spend as much time with them as possible.”
As the Stormers make their way back to training slowly, Willemse is gearing up to prove a point and if he can perform to the best of his ability consistently, the South African rugby world is in for a real treat once the kickoff
whistle is blown.