Willemse's Injury Puts Springbok Tour in Doubt, Malherbe Likely to Recover

Damian Willemse’s recent groin injury has cast doubt on his availability for the upcoming Springbok tour of Scotland, England, and Wales. Willemse, a key figure for both the Stormers and the Springboks, had recently returned to play after recovering from a hand injury that sidelined him for the entire international season so far. His comeback was marked by a standout performance against Munster, earning him a place in the Springbok squad. However, the Stormers' clash with Glasgow Warriors saw him limp off the field in pain after scoring a try, with early reports suggesting that he may miss the November internationals.

The timing of Willemse’s injury is unfortunate for both him and the Springboks. He was expected to play a significant role on the tour, particularly in the critical matches against the Northern Hemisphere giants. Stormers coach John Dobson expressed disappointment over the impact of Willemse's exit, describing it as a "massive blow" to their plans, noting that the Stormers were leading the game when Willemse went off. The Stormers struggled to maintain their momentum, eventually losing 28-17 to Glasgow, underscoring Willemse's importance to the team’s structure and leadership on the field.

This setback came alongside other injury concerns for the Stormers, including flanker Ben-Jason Dixon and Bok tighthead prop Frans Malherbe. Malherbe, who was also making his season debut for the Stormers, exited the game early in the second half with ankle discomfort. Dobson later downplayed the severity of Malherbe’s injury, suggesting it was not long-term and that Malherbe is still expected to join the Springbok squad for the upcoming tour.

The Stormers’ loss to Glasgow also highlighted some of the team’s structural issues. Dobson’s reshuffling of the backline, with captain Dan du Plessis at outside centre instead of his preferred inside role, and Ruhan Nel moved to the wing, seemed to disrupt the team’s chemistry. Manie Libbok, another Springbok star, also struggled with inconsistency, contrasting his recent success for the Boks with a shaky performance. Dobson acknowledged that the selection changes were not the primary reason for the defeat, attributing the result to an overall lack of execution and focus by his players.