Fullback returning to Bok side for first time since 2023 World Cup final says his teammates will support him

Dynamic fullback Damian Willemse is champing at the bit to get his first touch of the ball and strut his stuff for the Springboks when they open their Test season against Italy at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Willemse wants to put months of frustration behind him when SA bid to make a winning start to a double header against a fired-up Azzurri outfit over the next two weekends in Tshwane and Gqeberha.

He is making his return to the Bok side for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final, having missed out on an entire international season because of injury.

“It has been a difficult year,” he said. “After two years with injury, and then with the suspension keeping me out and stopping me from playing rugby.

“But I am very happy to get another shot and for the coaches to believe in me and to get my opportunity again to play. I’m looking forward to it.

“I’m a bit nervous. I haven’t played, and the last game I played was in the World Cup final.

“I’ll have to obviously get in and just do my primary job, and hopefully the rest of the boys will take care of me and look after me.

“There are a lot of guys in the team, the coaching staff and the months of preparation that we had that give me a lot of security.

“I think as soon as I get out onto the field and have a first touch of the ball and sing the national anthem, I’ll probably get into it and forget about the nerves and settle.

“You never forget you are playing for the Springboks and the national team, so it does come with a bit of added pressure. I know I’ve got great outside backs and experienced guys in the team that will look after me.”

Commenting on what he expected against Italy, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus said: “Italy are a quality team with a strong pack and quality backs, and their passion for the team and their country is incredible, so we expect them to throw everything at us.”

Bok flyhalf Handré Pollard, who returned to SA after stints playing club rugby in France and England, spoke equally highly of Italy.

“This is a good Italian team, and we are not underestimating them, especially with the passion and physicality they play with,” he said.

“They also have a lot of threats, and they are a side clearly evolving if one looks at their results in the past few years against some of the top teams, so it will be important to stop them and to front up physically. Over and above that, we have set high standards for ourselves, and we want to implement that at Test level.”

The teams:

SA: 15 Damian Willemse; 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (capt), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Morne van den Berg; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Willie le Roux.

Italy squad: Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli, Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Muhamed Hasa, Mirco Spagnolo, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Pablo Dimcheff, Giacomo Nicotera, Matteo Canali, Niccolò Cannone, Riccardo Favretto, Andrea Zambonin, Lorenzo Cannone, Alessandro Izekor, Sebastian Negri, David Odiase, Ross Vintcent, Manuel Zuliani. Backs: Alessandro Fusco, Alessandro Garbisi, Stephen Varney, Giacomo Da Re, Giovanni Montemauri, Giulio Bertaccini, Damiano Mazza, Tommaso Menoncello, Marco Zanon, Mirko Belloni , Simone Gesi, Louis Lynach, Paolo Odogwu, Jacopo Trulla.

• The SABC will televise the Test match between the Springboks and Italy on Saturday

This comes after Saru, SuperSport and the SABC confirmed a broadcast agreement to ensure the match, which marks the 30th anniversary of the Springboks’ historic 1995 Rugby World Cup victory, is available on the national broadcaster.

“The 1995 triumph was a moment that captured the attention of the world — revealing unmatched power of sport to bring people together, to heal deep wounds and to inspire a country that was still finding its feet as a young democracy,” said SA Rugby president Mark Alexander.

“As Saru, we are working closely with our broadcasters to ensure that all South Africans can be part of this historic occasion.”

SABC Group CEO Nomsa Chabeli said it was important for South Africans to watch key sporting events.