NEWS: The Stormers are paying the price for a star player’s decision to accept a ‘plea bargain’ from the United Rugby Championship disciplinary panel.
Springbok stalwart Damian Willemse has been slapped with a six-match ban, then given a prescriptive 50 percent discount and another one-match ‘discount’ if he attends a tackle school.
The ban comes after Willemse, 27, was red-carded in the Stormers’ 34-24 win over Cardiff last Friday.
Both sides were reduced to 14 men during the match.
Cardiff prop Danny Southworth was sent off for a high shot on Neethling Fouche in the 29th minute, before Willemse received his marching orders in the 58th minute for his high tackle of Gabe Hamer-Webb.
Willemse’s shoulder made contact with the Cardiff wing’s head.
The Stormers believed they had a good case to make, that it should not have been a red card.
However, the 39-times capped Bok decided to ‘plead guilty’ and receive a more lenient sentence
If he pleaded ‘not guilty’, he would have risked a heavier ban and potentially missed the start of the international season.
It is not clear if the guilty plea was entirely on Willemse’s own accord, or if he was ‘swayed’ by national interest.
As it stands, he will miss the Stormers’ URC quarterfinal against Glasgow Warriors on May 30, as well as a potential semifinal.
If the Stormers don’t progress past the quarterfinal of the URC, Willemse will also sit out the Springboks non-cap international against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 8.
As for the Stormers and their trip to Glasgow next week, it will require some reshuffling.
Warrick Gelant will most likely start at fullback, with Manie Libbok at flyhalf.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu or Dan du Plessis could start at inside centre, with Wandisile Simelane and Suleiman Hartzenberg the options at outside centre.
