Damian Willemse Embraces Inside Centre Role As Boks Gear Up For All Blacks Clash

The Springboks head into a must-win Rugby Championship showdown in Wellington this Saturday with a new-look backline and one player in particular stepping into uncharted territory. Damian Willemse, long praised for his versatility, will start at inside centre for the first time in green and gold, and he couldn’t be more fired up.

A Fresh Challenge For A Utility Star

Willemse has worn almost every jersey in the backline, from fullback to flyhalf, but the No 12 shirt is a new chapter. “I played inside centre a few years ago and off the bench, but this will be my first real start there,” Willemse explained this week. “It’s a challenge, but I’m excited to link up with Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] and the rest of the boys.”

His partnership with Canan Moodie in midfield promises plenty of punch, while the back three of Cheslin Kolbe, Ethan Hooker and Aphelele Fassi adds pace and flair. For South Africans waking up early on Saturday, there’s curiosity about how this bold reshuffle by coach Rassie Erasmus will spark against the All Blacks.

Pressure On After Eden Park Heartbreak

The Boks know the stakes. Last weekend’s 24-17 loss in Auckland hurt, not just because it ended their winning streak against New Zealand but because the Freedom Cup now hangs in the balance. “We reviewed the game, but now our focus is on Saturday,” Willemse said. “Test rugby is about small margins, and we want to get it right this time.”

On the other side, the All Blacks are just as desperate. They had lost four in a row to South Africa before last weekend, and fans in Wellington expect their team to stamp authority on home soil. Social media in both countries has been buzzing: Bok fans calling for “redemption in Wellington,” while Kiwi supporters remind everyone that Eden Park was just the start.

Rising Nerves, Rising Stars

It’s not only Willemse with fresh responsibilities. Replacement hooker Marnus van der Merwe is preparing for his very first Test against the All Blacks. “There are nerves, but also huge excitement,” he admitted. “Facing the No 1 team in the world is a massive occasion, and I just want to give everything.”

This sentiment mirrors the Springbok ethos: players stepping into big shoes, leaning on tradition while chasing new milestones. For many in South Africa, it’s more than a game. It’s about national pride, an early-morning ritual, and the familiar tension of waking up to watch the Boks go toe-to-toe with their fiercest rivals.

Kick-Off Details

The clash kicks off at 09:05 SA time at Wellington Regional Stadium, with Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli in charge. Whether Willemse’s inside centre experiment becomes a masterstroke or a lesson learned, Saturday promises another classic in rugby’s greatest rivalry.

Source:The South African 

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