Damian Willemse’s verdict on Sacha Feinberg-Mgnomezulu combination as youthful Springboks backline fronts All Blacks challenge

Damian Willemse’s verdict on youthful Springboks backline and Sacha Feinberg-Mgnomezulu combination

Damian Willemse will earn his first Test start at inside centre when the Springboks tackle the All Blacks at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.

The double Rugby World Cup winner, who is still just 27 years old, is one of the more experienced backline players in the starting XV this weekend, as he prepares to earn his 43rd Test cap on Saturday.

Only Cheslin Kolbe and Cobus Reinach, who both have one more than him, are more experienced than the livewire back who has replaced Damian de Allende in the run-on team.

Renowned for his versatility, Willemse has started Test matches at full-back and fly-half and has featured in the midfield and on the wing when coming off the bench, but this weekend will see him make his first start in the centres in the Green and Gold jersey.

We expect anything and everything from the All Blacks

It is an opportunity he is relishing, particularly as it sees him lining up alongside his clubmate Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu for the first time in Springboks colours.

“We are expecting a very physical rugby game. That’s always been what you can expect from the All Blacks, and then obviously it’s going to be a Test match of close and small margins,” he told reporters ahead of the rematch versus New Zealand.

“Last week we had the opportunity to draw that game, and it was a small margin there for us at the end of the game to nail down, but we didn’t manage to capitalise. It’s going to be another big, epic test match, South Africa versus the All Blacks #1 versus #2 in the world. We can expect anything and everything.”

Commenting on his shift to midfield, where he combines with Canan Moodie, and taking his Stormers partnership with Feinberg-Mngomezulu into the international arena, he continued: “It’s a new position for me. I haven’t started there yet, but I have played a couple of Test matches at the inside centre later in games.

“But it’s going to be a new role for me, having to step up to fill Doogz’s [De Allende] responsibilities. It’s something that he’s been doing for us many times in the number 12 jersey, but something that I’m really excited about, especially linking with Sacha and with Moodie and the back three outside me.

“It’s an opportunity for all of us to go out there and play our game and hopefully get a victory.

“I’m also excited to combine with Sacha, it’s the first Test match that we are playing together and we’ve done a lot of work during the week and making sure we are aligned going into this Test and what we can expect from each other, what we want from each other, how we want to play the game, how we see it developing.

“Then having Moodie on my outside, just getting that defensive pairing straight, our communication and making sure we can put the team on the front foot, especially with the way New Zealand want to attack us and what they showed in the first 20 minutes last week. Small, micro communications and plans, making sure that we have everything covered.”

Expressing yourself doesn’t mean flashy rugby

This weekend is a must-win for South Africa if they hope to stay in the running for the Rugby Championship, but they head into the clash with the knowledge that beating the All Blacks in New Zealand is no easy task.

However, they are unbeaten in their last two visits to Wellington, securing a 36-34 win in 2018 before drawing 16-all a year later.

While the pressure is on for a result at the home of the Hurricanes, Willemse says that it is no different to any other Test match weekend

“As the Springboks, we want to win every single Test, obviously we didn’t do that last week, but we’ve put that behind us now after reviewing it and knowing where we went wrong,” he added.

“Now, it’s looking forward to Saturday and going out to play positively and get the victory – that’s what we focused on.”

When naming his team on Monday, head coach Rassie Erasmus said that he wanted the young backline to express themselves on Saturday and while that can be interpreted as playing an attacking, fast-paced style of rugby, Willemse states that is not the case.

“We’ve got a Test match that we want to win, and expressing yourself is not always playing flashy rugby,” he explained.

“It’s about all nailing our roles; if an opportunity presents itself, we must take it. That is expressing yourself. We are focused on being dialled in for when that opportunity presents itself.”