Willemse brings up DHL Stormers century
Damian Willemse will play his 100th game for the DHL Stormers in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter with Dragons RFC at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The mercurial utility back will become the 11th player to reach the milestone and at the age of just 27 the youngest to do so, when action gets underway at 18h15 on Saturday.
The match against the Welsh side will also give fans the opportunity to say farewell to prop Brok Harris, who ends his remarkable career with more DHL Stormers caps than any other player.
Willemse will link up with Wandisile Simelane in midfield, with Ben Loader on the wing in the only other change to the starting backline.
Up front loosehead prop Vernon Matongo makes his first start and is joined in the front row by Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba, while young tighthead Zachary Porthen is set to make his DHL Stormers debut from the replacements bench.
Director of Rugby John Dobson paid tribute to Willemse and Harris, who have both made an immense contribution to the team.
“Damian and Brok both embody what it means to be a DHL Stormer, although they could not be much more different. Both are special players and wonderful people who have given so much to this team, so it will be fantastic to recognise that on Saturday,” he said.
Dobson added that Willemse has shown that he is a one-of-a-kind talent.
“I don’t think Damian always gets the recognition that he deserves for what he brings to our team. This is someone who has proven himself at the highest level and would walk into any team in the world.
“You will not find a more professional player, but what really stands out is his commitment and loyalty. It means so much for him to represent this team and our supporters, so this is a big moment in the career of one of our greatest players,” he said.
Dobson said that it will be important for his team to continue building momentum with the play-offs just two rounds away.
“We were happy with the performance in our last match against Benetton, but we cannot take a backwards step now. We want to keep building and adding to our game so that we are ready for whatever gets thrown at us in the knock-out phase of the competition,” he said.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
