The double gazelle fly Damian Willemse.
- Springbok flyhalf Damian Willemse said they are heading in the right direction despite back-to-back losses on their end-of-year tour.
- The Boks were beaten by France 30-26 at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, a loss that follows last week’s 19-16 loss to Ireland in Dublin.
- Willemse said their entrepreneurial brand of rugby was playing what was in front of them and not trying something new.
in marseille
Flybok Damian Willemse said they are heading in the right direction even though their results don’t speak for them.
Through their 30-26 defeat at the hands of France at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday, the Boks have now lost five of their 11 tests this season.
They have also lost consecutive Tests twice, having experienced the same fate at the hands of New Zealand at Ellis Park and Australia at Adelaide in the Rugby Championship.
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Willemse said they should not be defined by their two previous results, which are losses to World Cup group mates Ireland and potential World Cup quarterfinal opponents France.
“It’s good to have the experience under my belt and the coaches have been behind me,” Willemse said.
“That helps a lot and the players that come around me. Willie arrived this week and his experience was enormous.
“We’re going in the right direction, but we’re not getting the results right now. We were close now, but soon, things will turn out the way we want.”
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“This result and the one from last week do not define this group and they define us.”
The Springboks, as well as refreshing, played a kind of ball-in-hand rugby that kept the French defense on edge.
Where the hosts expected the Boks to kick deep and debatable, Jacques Nienaber’s side displayed a level of comfort with the ball in hand that has not been associated with them.
Willemse said it wasn’t a plan B, but a case of playing what was in front of them.
“I wouldn’t say it was a Plan B as we played to our strengths,” Willemse said.
“If we get a chance to run, we’ll take it. I feel like there were a lot of opportunities to move the ball and get it into space.”
“Even in the way we played against Ireland, we did the same thing. When it came to playing and running, we will.”
“The main thing is to play to our strengths, and I think we got the balance right in this game.”
