Damian Willemse’s genius, leadership and versatility make him indispensable for Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks across an epic 2026 campaign, writes DEVIN HERMANUS.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s ankle injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. The Stormers star was the 2025-26 Vodacom URC Players’ Player of the Season, topped the regular season points chart with 158 and in 2025, shattered the Bok record for tries by a flyhalf with nine – including a hat-trick and record-breaking 37 points against Argentina that broke Percy Montgomery’s previous record.
His absence for Saturday’s Bok opener against Barbarians, inaugural Nations Championship Tests against England, Scotland and Wales and potentially the start of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks leaves a huge hole for the world champions.
Fortunately, Erasmus has Willemse.
The 49-cap ‘Gaza’ is a two-time World Cup winner and arguably the most complete back in South African rugby. His dynamism, rugby IQ and grit make him the ideal man to plug the gap during a 13-match 2026 season that begins in Gqeberha this week.
For the Stormers in 2025-26, the 28-year-old scored three tries and started all of his 17 appearances across the URC and Investec Champions Cup, playing the full 80 minutes in 14 of those games at fullback, inside centre and right wing.
Handré Pollard offers ice-cool composure at 10, while Manie Libbok’s creativity causes havoc from the pocket. Both are match-winners but neither of them is Willemse, the glue that binds the backline together regardless of where Erasmus needs him.
Rock-solid under the high ball, a demon in defence, capable of nailing clutch goal-kicks and stepping into flyhalf when required … Willemse has done it all.
He played 10 of the Boks’ 15 matches last year, winning eight, and was Man of the Match in the 43-10 demolition of the All Blacks, their biggest-ever defeat. Willemse seamlessly shifted from 12 to 15 after an early backline injury, scored a crucial try, made 94m from 14 carries, beat six defenders and won a turnover. He closed the year as first-choice fullback in the 73-0 rout of Wales in Cardiff.
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His likely challengers for the No 15 jersey in 2026 – one-Test Quan Horn and Aphelele Fassi, who hasn’t played a competitive game since late February after shoulder surgery – have ground to make up. With Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am and André Esterhuizen as midfield options, Erasmus can rotate Willemse smartly across the backline as the season builds.
Erasmus expects Feinberg-Mngomezulu back roughly four weeks before the All Blacks clashes in August and September. Until then, Gaza’s uncanny ability to read and respond to whatever a match demands makes him the Boks’ most valuable backline asset.
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Centurion Willie le Roux all but brought the curtain down on his Bok career in backfield last September, with the dependable Willemse his natural successor.
With Feinberg-Mngomezulu watching from the stands, the Boks don’t just need Willemse to fill a void but own the backline from the first whistle of 2026, and carry that authority through to the Greatest Rivalry series.
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Photo: Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
The post Gaza the glue to plug the Sacha gap appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Damian Willemse’s genius, leadership and versatility make him indispensable for Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks across an epic 2026 campaign, writes Devin Hermanus.
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