Willemse in at No 10 for Stormers?

SO, this weekend the Stormers will have a chance to get back on track when they face the Lions in their third Rainbow Cup match of the season at Ellis Park tomorrow (kickoff 2pm).

After disappointing results against the Sharks and the Bulls in their first two matches, John Dobson’s side know that securing a win this weekend is absolutely vital seeing as they only have three matches remaining in the competition after this one.

It’s been close until now, and they could certainly have gone the distance in the first two weeks of the competition and come out victorious.

But it didn’t work out like that, and now, one can only imagine that they would be extra motivated to make the most of this fixture.

So, after two rounds of action, here is a question pertaining to the Stormers team and their recent performances: Should Damian Willemse move back to 10?

With Kade Wolhuter out for the season with a knee injury, Abner van Reenen started at 10 against the Bulls, but the game at Cape Town Stadium turned into a nightmare for the 22-year-old.

While Willemse continued at fullback – a position where he seems to be settling in really well – Van Reenen had his second start for the Stormers against the Bulls, a game during which his execution lacked (but sometimes the vision and intent behind his moves were decent), while there was also some questionable decision-making.

Bringing Willemse back in at 10 might be good in a sense. After all, looking to the future when Warrick Gelant is recovered and available for the Stormers at 15, what will happen to Willemse?

Will Dobson shift him back to 10 and use Gelant as his first-choice fullback? Perhaps, it would certainly make more sense than having Willemse play back-up at 15.

It will, however, be more disruption for Willemse yet again, especially considering how well he’s gone at 15 recently. And it wouldn’t be fair on a talent like him, or any other player, for that matter.

The only thing that can settle this is determining where his future is once and for all, at 10 or 15? Because, while he’s talented enough to do the job in more than one position, moving him around and never fully allowing him to settle could be to his detriment.

My answer: No! Give Van Reenen another go. No player can mature to his ultimate self in two games but it needs to be decided in which position Willemse should grow and further his career.