Damian Willemse must start at flyhalf in every one of the Springboks’ November Tests up north. He must also be given the goal-kicking responsibilities.
Johan Goosen, who recently returned from 11 months on the sidelines, will tour with the Springboks, but I’d want to see Goosen integrated into the match day squad and not given the first start of the tour at No.10.
Willemse, because of the unavailability of regular Test flyhalves Handré Pollard and Elton Jantjies, started at flyhalf against the Wallabies in Sydney and against the Pumas in Buenos Aires.
He got concussed against the Pumas and missed the return Test in Durban. Veteran Springbok utility back Frans Steyn started that Test at flyhalf.
Willemse has played fullback, inside centre and flyhalf for the Springboks. He has looked his best when playing in the No.12 or No.10 jersey. He plays a pivotal role for the Stormers at No.12, with Bok aspirant Manie Libbok the regular Stormers starting flyhalf.
This season has certainly been Willemse’s international breakthrough year and he is invaluable in the context of the match 23. He is also going to be critical as a starting flyhalf in November.
It is the position he always played at Paul Roos Gymnasium during high school, it is at flyhalf where he played national age group rugby and also the position when he played in his first professional season as a 19-year-old.
Willemse is an exceptional talent and will thrive with the additional responsibility. His goal kicking is the only area of his game that is erratic, but he can only get better, the more he is called on to do the kicking.
Willemse is an exceptional talent and he will thrive with the additional responsibility. His goal-kicking is the only area of his game that is erratic but he can only get better, the more he is called on to do the kicking.
Willemse kicked a last-minute pressure beauty to beat Wales at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, but when given the starting goal kicker role in Sydney was not as confident off the tee.
His general play was outstanding and he was named player of the Test.
The lack of goal-kicking accuracy will make the Bok coaches anxious and they may feel that Goosen, a more recognised goal kicker, is a safer option. Playing conditions, because of the weather, will be tougher than in the Rugby Championship, but the environment provides for the perfect “dry run” when thinking about the 2023 World Cup in France.
The Boks effectively have a tour in November that replicates the toughest of World Cup play-off draws, and they are likely to do so without regulars Pollard, Jantjies and Steyn.
Goosen has his supporters, and I am one of them, but to borrow from his provincial and regional Bulls coach Jake White, there has to be perspective in managing expectations around Goosen, who was superb before his injury a year ago.
He has only just returned from injury and his game time for the Bulls has been limited.
To thrust him into a Test match up north could do him a disservice. Duane Vermeulen, Elton Jantjies and (Frans) Steyn are just three examples of outstanding Test players who returned from injury, almost cold, and struggled.
Willemse and Goosen, as the tour progresses, could dovetail between 10 and 15, but in Dublin, against Ireland, Willemse would be my pick to do it all against the veteran Irish captain and flyhalf Jonny Sexton.
Neither Goosen nor Willemse will play this weekend in the United Rugby Championship, but both have been included in the Springboks squad, named earlier in the week.
They are certainties to tour. The only uncertainty is who plays 10 and who plays 15.
Mark Keohane is the founder of keo.co.za, a multiple award-winning sports writer and the digital content director at Highbury Media. Twitter: @mark_keohane
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