Springbok utility back Damian Willemse delivered an outstanding performance at inside centre and fullback as the world champions sealed a commanding 43-10 Rugby Championship victory over New Zealand on Saturday.
The double World Cup winner scored a superb try — beating several Kiwi defenders — and led the Boks’ physical charge in the backline as they crossed for six tries to completely outclass their hosts in Wellington.
After laying a strong platform through their dominance in the scrums and lineouts, South Africa’s relatively untested backline combinations tore the All Blacks apart in the second half. Willemse, namd Player of the Match, was at the heart of many attacking moves and defended strongly alongside his midfield partner Canan Moodie.
In his post-match TV interview, Willemse dedicated his performance to former Springbok fullback Bevin Fortuin, who sadly passed away on Thursday. Fortuin, who earned two Test caps and coached the SWD Eagles previously and the Northam Rhinos club in Limpopo up until his passing, was very close to Willemse and his brother Ramone Samuels.
It was a Springbok display that would have made Fortuin proud.
“This was for Bevin Fortuin, a close friend of mine, as well as for coach Rassie (Erasmus), who’s taken a lot of shots for us,” Willemse said in his interview.
“We knew it was going to come. But it was a really good week from the team, and credit to the boys for stepping up and playing incredible rugby. We had a positive mindset coming into this game. After reviewing last weekend, we knew what went wrong at Eden Park.
“Our conversion rate in the 22-metre area let us down last week, and you saw that tonight (Saturday morning SA time). We were much more clinical. The boys were sitting on their laptops, making plans. Credit to the coaching staff for stepping up and helping us — it’s all about the team effort.”
Willemse also expressed his satisfaction that the Springboks retained the Freedom Cup for a second consecutive season and remain firmly in the hunt for the Rugby Championship title.
