URC: Stormers’ impressive win over Benetton leaves Springbok star under injury cloud

The Cape Town outfit are sitting pretty at the top of the URC table heading into the international break, but their strong finish may have cost the Springboks, who look set to be without Willemse for at least some portion of their November tour.

Willemse was likely to start at fullback for the Boks amid the ongoing absence of Aphelele Fassi, and his injury leaves the Boks even more short-handed at the position.

“Damian Willemse has probably got a pulled hamstring,” Dobson said. “He was moved to the wing so that he didn’t have to defend too much.

“It probably puts some of his tour [with the Springboks] at risk, but the fact that he didn’t want to come off and kept playing for the Stormers was very special.”

Commenting on his side’s victory, Dobson admitted it was a big one for the team.

“Very special win for us,” he said. “We’ve never won here before and it’s a really tough place to play. It was a really tough game where they obviously rolled out their big, internationally-laden team.

“It was an incredibly tough first half physically. They employed different tactics to what we’ve faced in the first four rounds. Where other teams kicked the ball out, they just put up contestable after contestable.”

Dobson also singled out flyhalf Jurie Mathee, who stepped in for the rested Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and delivered a commanding all-around performance, racking up 21 points, while also highlighting the significant impact of his bench, which featured Cobus Reinach making his Stormers debut.

“The impact of the bench was amazing and that’s been the secret for us. Whoever’s been on the bench, there are big forwards coming on and it’s making a huge difference.

“[Cobus] Reinach is obviously a special player and I’m thrilled for Jurie as a game driver. We’re having to cope without Manie [Libbok] and now Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu], but we’ve got a very competent and talented young flyhalf who can drive a team.”