Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

Damian at 13 ‘worth the ticket’

April 19, 2025
in Rugby
0
Home Rugby
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter



You might also like

PFF Ranks Geno Smith As 10th-Best QB Heading Into 2025 Season

The Rise of Morgan Strong from Bridgend to the Championship

Why the Gallagher Premiership is setting the gold standard in club rugby

Thanks in part to Damian Willemse’s versatility, John Dobson hopes SA fans get to see “something special” from the Stormers backline once Manie Libbok returns from injury.

Willemse starts at 12 for Saturday’s Vodacom URC round 15 clash against Connacht at Cape Town Stadium. Wearing the No 15 jersey two weeks ago at Ulster, the URC-winning playmaker and two-time Springbok world champion shifts to the midfield where he will partner Dan du Plessis.

With Libbok (knee) on the recovery trail, the mercurial Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will make his fourth start of the season at No 10 for the Stormers. Fullback Warrick Gelant and winger Seabelo Senatla return in an exciting back three with Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Speaking in Friday’s team announcement conference, Dobson discussed the interchangeability of Willemse and Du Plessis while addressing Hartzenberg’s future at outside centre.

“We didn’t want to announce Damian at 13 because we’ll get people saying you’re moving Damian around too much, but they [Willemse and Du Plessis] do interchange a lot,” the Stormers chief said.

“Damian’s very capable of defending at 13 and he’s also really good at carrying, especially off a lineout in the vacuum. So’s Dan, they’re both very good at that.

MORE: Brannas’ successor to pick his battles

“Damian does spend more time at 13 than people realise in the system, and that’s the reason why Suleiman’s on the wing this week because obviously we’re going to choose Dan and Damian [together in midfield].”

Hartzenberg’s ability to play wing and outside centre has made him a versatile asset for the Stormers, and his standout performances have caught the attention of the Bok selectors – the 21-year-old attended his third national alignment camp in March.

“He’s one of the best in the country chasing our own contestables and getting in the air, he’s an excellent wing,” Dobson said. “The challenge for us is that Suleiman really, really wants to play 13. 

“The Ulster game, he’d been out for a while and it wasn’t his best evening. In an ideal world we would’ve kept him there [at 13] another week, just to build up his confidence.

“I know there’s national interest in that… but then we would’ve really struggled because imagine if we put Damian on the wing? We will get Suleiman to 13 but for the sharp end of this tournament, Damian and Dan will do that job.”

Competition at the Stormers is fierce, with talented players such as Wandisile Simelane and Angelo Davids battling for starting spots, and the sidelined Ruhan Nel still in the mix.

PLUS: Frans loss is a disaster – Dobson

It’s a juggling act for Dobson, but one the former UCT coach believes is worth the price of admission.

“We have to have Damian on the field, we have to have Warrick on the field, we have to have Sacha… Manie [too] when he comes back,” he said.

“At the start of the season every press conference had a question, ‘How are you going to fit them all in?’ For the first time over the last two weeks we’ve had three of the four. We’ve never had four. Sometimes we’ve had none. 

“I reckon there’s going to be a game this season – it won’t be over the next two weeks – when you are going to see a backline of [scrumhalf] Herschel Jantjies, Manie, Sacha at 12, Damian at 13, whichever wings there are… Seabelo, Suleiman or [Leolin] Zas. And Warrick at fullback. 

“That’ll be worth the ticket, won’t it? I’m absolutely adamant we’re going to do that in a game this season.

“It’ll be something special for SA rugby, but it just needs Manie back on the field though.”

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images



Source link

Tags: DamianticketWorth
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

PFF Ranks Geno Smith As 10th-Best QB Heading Into 2025 Season

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 2, 2025
0
PFF Ranks Geno Smith As 10th-Best QB Heading Into 2025 Season

The Las Vegas Raiders will enter the 2025 season with Geno Smith under center, a massive upgrade at the quarterback position. The Raiders were plagued by poor quarterback...

Read more

The Rise of Morgan Strong from Bridgend to the Championship

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 2, 2025
0
The Rise of Morgan Strong from Bridgend to the Championship

“There’s a place I know. There’s magic where the flowers grow and beauty where the rivers flow”. Of course, Scottish singer Nathan Evans was talking about his homeland...

Read more

Why the Gallagher Premiership is setting the gold standard in club rugby

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 2, 2025
0
Why the Gallagher Premiership is setting the gold standard in club rugby

All was not entirely lost, but too much flotsam and jetsam circled helplessly in the stormy air for comfort. The English league had just lost three stakeholders in...

Read more

Tonight’s rugby news as All Blacks star apologises for video after teenager’s death and missing player found

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 1, 2025
0
Tonight’s rugby news as All Blacks star apologises for video after teenager’s death and missing player found

The latest headlines from Wales and around the worldWilliams has apologised for a video he posted onlineThese are your latest rugby headlines on the evening of Sunday, June...

Read more

Italian 2nd Division Final – Livestream – Parabiagio V Biella

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 1, 2025
0
Italian 2nd Division Final – Livestream – Parabiagio V Biella

Rugby Parabiagio take on Biella Rugby in the final of the Italian 2nd division (Serie A). Winner will be promoted to the top tier of the domestic championshop...

Read more
Next Post
Tsimikas offers Liverpool fans a glimmer of hope with Trent message

Tsimikas offers Liverpool fans a glimmer of hope with Trent message

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

Hawks are 750-750 of their final 1,500 video games

Hawks are 750-750 of their final 1,500 video games

February 25, 2024
Dereck Lively II injury sparks internal clash as Mavericks fire strength coach

Dereck Lively II injury sparks internal clash as Mavericks fire strength coach

May 8, 2025
I am positively not quick anymore

I am positively not quick anymore

November 30, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • New Zealand announce central contracts for 2025-26 season; Kane Williamson, Devon Conway left out
  • Manchester United set to compete with Arsenal and Liverpool for Feyenoord’s Quinten Timber – Man United News And Transfer News
  • Why is it so difficult for F1 drivers to say they’re sorry?
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.