Damian Willemse Tribute | The Lamar Jackson of Rugby

[@derickwilliams2195]

I fully agree he should play 10 or at least 12 because he has X-factor and bringing that to the Springbok game is going to take our rugby to a different level. Look at the angles he can run, fearlessly going for the high ball, pace out wide to outstrip even wingers, his offloads that always find a support player, he also not afraid of contact with good defensive techniques and last but not least he is a team player with a selfless heart. I salute this young man. Please give him the opportunity on the big stage. God Bless this young man. 💖

[@charlpieterse3529]

I do agree that he is amazing at 12 and 10, but personnally it think his defence at 15 is ridiculously good, and gives him the positioning to see a counter attack opportunity when they come up. His dive tackle against Caleb Clark playing the AB's was good example of his committment and desperation to defend the line.

[@derickwilliams2195]

@@charlpieterse3529 Wow that Caleb Clark moment for I thought he was in the clear and yet like no man can outrun his own shadow Damian hauled him in with incredible skill and efficiency. Absolutely impressive stuff ... ❤❤❤

[@kings.r.d4009]

This video doesn’t get enough credit, so does the man. Great work on this tribute!!! Those cut passes are so accurate he is becoming a master of those even til present day 7:10 and the one just after Legend in the making DW is. 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@tasanalytics]

Yeah I always liked DW, the guy was a legend at schoolboy rugby. It took him a while to adapt to professional rugby, and teams changing his position every weekend certainly did not help. But boy is it starting to pay off, he is playing incredible rugby. The guy is so skillful, but an underrated aspect of his game is his defence, I don't think I've seen him miss tackles, and he doesn't just tackle, he goes for big hits. It's a pity he is not the best goal kicker, but I mean, that would be unfair if he was great in that aspect as well. At least his normal kicking is good.

[@braaitongs]

Wow he played at 10 so much! He is like another 10 back up! He has vicious step! He has matured well!

[@appel5672]

as a stormers fan we are very lucky to still have him

[@mamoersebaas2654]

Give this talent game time .SA have not seen such a talent in years .Presence and physicality like honiball.Cokiness of a quater back .sidestep like our sevens stars 🌟.Got hands like Mark Ella. All you haters 😎piss off .Willemse is the real deal ...All these Cape Crusaders and keyboard experts leave our talent Alone ..Willemse oozes rugby intelligence oozes rugby panache..Born with rugby skills

[@paullombard00]

Got his chance, then got injured. Poor guy.

[@gordondwyer3641]

He just needs to join the other 14 players on the field.

[@moegamadadams1156]

With a name like moersa Baas... I understand ur stupid comment 😂

[@johanroodt2371]

Such a confidence based player. Able to do amazing things in big moments (like collect the kick off in a test) but also can go very wrong for him, like in the green vs gold he was his own worse enemy

[@boikymcclain449]

That was one game, look at Pollard....... Different story bad game after bad game after bad game.

[@johanroodt2371]

@@boikymcclain449 Willemse is amazing more often than not, just still blows hot and cold. I think he’s gotten much better in the last year 2 years. Having a mentor like Frans Steyn been so helpful

[@tasanalytics]

I agree with that. I also think him not having a specified position in the Bok setup is making it hard to get confidence. I wish they would just stick him to 10 or 12. It's hard to gain confidence if you're playing a different position every week. Willemse can be a real game changer if he gets his chance. But I do agree with the confidence thing, Jantjies suffers from that same thing where it can have a big impact on his game but if he feels it, then he can take a game over.

[@prudeuncle]

@@boikymcclain449 if you think this guy is better than pollard you crazy bro.

[@boikymcclain449]

@@prudeuncle Can you compare Mo'unga and Barrets skills to Willemse yes... Can you say the same for Pollard no... He a one trick pony.

[@charlpieterse3529]

This Video needs a refresh to include Willemse's stepping against Romania in the World and last weekends stepping vs Leinster in the URC. This guy is already a legend.

[@clintlubbe1232]

With Libbok at flyhalf and Galant at fullback, use Willemse ay 12. Current Stormers 12's are not setting the world alight.

[@notyoureverydaycultist2579]

you predicted it

[@kings.r.d4009]

this didnt age well

[@Araalijoshua]

God should truly bless Willemse with more years on the Rugby pitch

[@berrymccockiner6217]

He's a promising young star

[@JoeD777]

Very well done. Both of you.

[@melissajudith]

Damian Willemse 🔥🔥🔥🔥🐐

[@boikymcclain449]

Only problem is SA isn't ready for the most skilled Flyhalf ever to be produced here in SA. We don't know how to use him to his ability that we dilute it, because we're used to plain flyhalves who just kick and pass. Willemse at 10 regularly will change allot of things in SA Rugby.

[@kb8796]

He is not the best to wear the 10 Jersey for the boks

[@tasanalytics]

Yeah agreed, I like him a lot. DOn't get me wrong, Pollard is also amazing player depsite being off his game this season. I still think Willemse is the best 10 in SA.

[@boikymcclain449]

@@tasanalytics exactly the agility, the pace, the skill, the X-Factor is just too much and his still young we need to use him more.

[@juanpablocirielli1540]

Amazing tribute bro

[@andrewmakin8151]

just one of the things he seems able to do is flow like water

[@lunganihlongwa1206]

My favorite player.

[@Heinrich.Fourie]

and there are still people trying to convince others that hes not good enough on school level he was already better then most of the flyhalfs in the country

[@shaunlottering2500]

When will you be making that Rohan Janse Van Rensburg vid?

[@tasanalytics]

Just got all his footage last week, busy with it this week. Will try and have it done on Wed - Friday. Just busy with exams as well, so my uploads have been slow this week. Will be back to normal after this week

[@SmisoDuma55.]

9 - Reinach 10 - Willemse 11 - Kolbe 12 - Kriel 13 - Gelant 14 - Nkosi 15 - Fassi My rugby knowledge is limited, I just wanna see some stepping

[@bhekz15]

Try adding Am then

[@tiaanbojanus4718]

Kolbe should then be 14,willemse 10,lukhanyo 11

[@nkosikhonamtsewu5160]

Name of the song?

[@IanLouisRSA]

PRG! PRG! PRG!

[@werieawesome8530]

Make him our new starting fullback already

[@alecrosema4885]

Doesn’t have the experience of willie

[@werieawesome8530]

@@alecrosema4885 then start playing him so that he can get some internasional experience

[@loots0533]

Prefer Fassi over him.

[@werieawesome8530]

@@loots0533 I'd rather have Fassi as an utility back for fullback/wings

[@loots0533]

@@werieawesome8530 don’t get why we want to make Fassi a utility. We have enough wingers but lack of depth at fullback. Basically the selectors keep sticking to Willie and even Gelant seems to have have fallen of the radar. What should be happening is we get Fassi and Gellant specialize in Fullback and play them more. This will increase depth. I think Damian Willemse is basically lost. They play him fullback, inside center and sometimes fly half. All of those positions are very specialist. Even the All Blacks have stopped switching players around. Take Jordie Barrett for example. He can play any position in the backline but they have pretty much gone your our number 1 fullback and his game has improved tremendously.

[@christiangerhardt2408]

Stop shifting him around and play him as 1st or 2nd 5. He's not a fullback he's probably the best pivot with the best hands in the world.

[@tebogzvlogs8679]

LAMMMMMMMMMARRRRRVELLOUSSSSS

[@jksinorbit]

Dunno hey… he has never really shone at international level.

[@deboradlamini4683]

This aged well

[@camerongray6193]

It's mad, he seems like the sort of all round player the ABs would pick right away, but he just doesn't seem to fit the Bok's grind. Hope he gets another look in, too talented to be ignored

[@kb8796]

Damian is only good for stormers currently ,but in the current bok set up he doesn't perform at all ...Coaches still think he is the best utility back up we have better players then him and they forget Jesse Kriel, Gelant Cornel hendricks, just to name a few...

[@johanroodt2371]

He’s been utterly fantastic for the Boks this year when called upon. His impact vs the lions was something special.

[@kb8796]

@@johanroodt2371 Okay.

[@loots0533]

@@johanroodt2371 maybe we watching a different game as I thought he was just ok. I find it difficult to know what his preferred position is. He seems like he is the next Gaffie du Toit.

[@tasanalytics]

The thing is every game he's playing a different position. He will be much better if they keep him at 10 or 12. I don't think 15 is his position. Would much rather trust Fassi at 15.

[@loots0533]

I agree. Skill sets for 15 and 10 are quite different. For example, fullback has a large focus on positional play to cover kicks. Defensively when to come up in the line or hold back. Skill sets under the high ball. I know the number 10s tend to drop back and cover kicks in the middle of the field and sometimes field high balls but it’s different. Even on attack it’s a certain skill set to know when to come in the line. Often the act of coming in the line itself creates and overlap much more than being a play maker. I remember a few years ago the Sharks tried Willie in the playmaker role and he wasn’t very effective for this very reason. I also think that Damian is his own worsts enemy sometimes as he can and tries to do to many things. I would love to see him pair back his game and really focus on his kicking game. And this is not because I want him to kick more but it would be great if he kicked less but with greater accuracy. I’m a little bit old school in that I love it when a number 10 start of a game with a strategy of kicking and finding grass if the defense is rushing up a lot. It makes a huge difference in create confusion on the line speed if they constantly dropping back worried about the pressure from the kicks. Then once he senses that the opposition are starting to shift to cover kicks and the defense line speed drops a bit he needs to start attacking the defensive line harder. Also varying it up with the passes out to the wider channels if the wingers are holding back too much for the kicks. I think maybe we were spoiled previously by watching players like Andrew Merhtens and Daniel Carter later run a back line and manage a game. But use to love watching these two player in particular manipulating teams by controlling these facets of the game. I think Damian has a lot to learn on this. It’s pretty complex but he won’t be a complete player until he starts sticking to one position.

[@clintlubbe1232]

*at

[@amorlouw3197]

Hy rak net beter en beter elke game wat hy speel.. So trots om te sien rasie en nienaber gee hom die vryheid

[@peterdawson3428]

Sorry I am a staunch Stormers supporter but I have never rated Willemse a good player.he has never had a good game for the Boks,there are better players.

[@deboradlamini4683]

This aged well

[@webwizes5620]

since you said this he has become a top 5 player in the boks team