Damian Willemse set for 100th Stormers match alongside Libbok, Gelant, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu

At the young age of 27-years old Damian Willemse will reach 100 caps for the Stormers when he takes to the field on Saturday afternoon against the Dragons.

The double World Cup winner will celebrate his birthday on Wednesday and will hope to cap off the week with a victory when he brings up his century of games for the Cape side in their second-last United Rugby Championship (URC) round-robin match.

Since his injury return, Willemse, alongside Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, breathed a breath of fresh air into the attacking game plan of the inaugural URC champions. He hopes they can continue with that running style on Saturday as they look to claim a place in the URC quarter-finals.

Willemse, Willemse, who made his debut at 18-years old, says he’s been privileged to receive opportunities from a young age at the Stormers. He started his professional career in a side with current Springbok teammates Damian de Allende, Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende.

“It’s going to be a special occasion playing in my 100th game on Saturday,” Willemse said.

“Coming in at 18, I had just finished my matric and three months later, I got the opportunity to play my debut game (against the Kings in Super Rugby). Coach Fleck (Robbie) was the coach in Super Rugby, with coach Paul Feeney.

"They were there in the early stages of my development.

“I will also not forget coach Dave (Dawie Snyman) and Dobbo (John Dobson, director of rugby) trusting me at fullback against the Sharks in a must-win game. All those opportunities grew me into the player that I am today.

“Then, there is the URC final (in 2022). Giving me that responsibility. So, I must thank the coaches for trusting me with that role.

"The players I’ve played with and the staff at the union all played a big part in my career. Not just on the field but off the field too.”

Regular flyhalf Manie Libbok is fit for Saturday’s duel. The big question is whether Dobson will fit him straight into the starting side alongside Willemse, fullback Warrick Gelant and utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu or play him off the bench.

All indications are that he will come off the bench and that could open the door for all four of the Stormers’ playmakers to be on the field in the second half.

According to Willemse, they’ve been trying to figure things out over the last couple of weeks during training on just how to complement each other. The Cape-based side’s supporters will be waiting with bated breath to see if Dobson rolls the dice and unleashes all his playmakers against the struggling Dragons.

“It’s pretty incredible (the backline) and we are still figuring things out because there hasn’t been a time in this history that we’ve all been fit and ready to play together.

"It’s always been either Manie is injured or me recently or Sacha. But now, all four are ready to play.

“These past few weeks we’ve kind of experienced that (playing together). Trying to synergise and come up with nice plans.

"It came through in that game against Benetton. There is still a lot to come for us as a group.”