The Springboks could be without the services of key back Damian Willemse for the November internationals after he sustained an injury in the United Rugby Championship (URC) victory over Benetton.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Stormers continued their unbeaten run in the URC, handing the Italian club a 31-16 defeat in Treviso on Saturday evening, but the result looks to have come at a cost for the Springboks<\/a>.<\/p>\n This after Willemse<\/a>, who started the match at inside centre, finished the game on the wing, playing through the pain of a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n Damian Willemse out?<\/p>\n The 27-year-old was instrumental in the Boks\u2019 strong finish to the Rugby Championship campaign, starring in the record win over the All Blacks and started the final two fixtures against Argentina as South Africa defended their title for the first time in their history.<\/p>\n He has subsequently been included in Erasmus\u2019 squad for the November internationals with the Boks playing Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.<\/p>\n However, Willemse may well be sidelined for the Boks with Stormers<\/a> boss John Dobson confirming that he sustained an injury that puts his involvement in the end-of-year tour at risk.<\/p>\n \u201cDamian has probably got a pulled hamstring,\u201d Dobson said after the win that sees the Stormers top the URC table heading into the international break.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got moved to the wing, which I thought was very clever from Ruhan [Nel], so that he didn\u2019t have to defend too much. It just sums up the character.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has probably put some of his tour at risk. He didn\u2019t want to come off and kept playing for the Stormers, which was very special.\u201d<\/p>\n His absence would create a selection headache for Erasmus and his coaching team, who included Willemse as the only recognised full-back in the touring squad.<\/p>\n This year, Willie le Roux, Aphelele Fassi and Willemse have started in the number 15 jersey for the Springboks; however, Le Roux has been omitted from the squad, while Fassi has been ruled out through an injury he sustained against the All Blacks.<\/p>\n While the severity of Willemse\u2019s injury has not been disclosed just yet, Erasmus will surely be forced into testing his depth at full-back.<\/p>\n Benetton v Stormers: Five takeaways as South Africans \u2018don\u2019t miss\u2019 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu with John Dobson\u2019s side \u2018stepping up\u2019 in the second half<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Frontrunner: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu<\/p>\n Willemse\u2019s absence would be a mighty blow to the full-back stocks, but as things stand, Erasmus is spoilt for choice at fly-half, which could result in a positional switch for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old has made no secret of the fact that he prefers the number 10 jersey, and it\u2019s clear that the Bok coaching team agree that position best suits his skill-set.<\/p>\n However, he is more than capable of playing centre and full-back, doing so for the Stormers. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has had cameos at full-back in the Green and Gold jersey off the bench and later in matches, but all of his starts have come in the fly-half position. That could change if Willemse is sidelined, with Erasmus able to turn to Manie Libbok or Handre Pollard in the number 10 jersey.<\/p>\n Feinberg-Mngomezulu started all of the last three Bok Tests in the fly-half role and featured there on his return to the Stormers, but looks to be the leading candidate to fill Willemse\u2019s void.<\/p>\n Tony Brown: \u2018Scrapper\u2019 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has attributes that \u2018all the best players\u2019 like Carter and Dupont do<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In the mix: Cheslin Kolbe<\/p>\n If not Feinberg-Mngomezulu, then Cheslin Kolbe looks to be a safe option at the back.<\/p>\n Despite playing much of his club rugby at full-back over the years for the Stormers, Toulouse, Toulon and Suntory Sungoliath, just one of Kolbe\u2019s 46 Test caps for the Springboks has come in the number 15 jersey \u2013 against Ireland in 2022.<\/p>\n The double Rugby World Cup winner is quite simply one of the best wingers in the international game, and has been for some time now, which is the only reason why we don\u2019t have him as the frontrunner.<\/p>\n Erasmus might well be reluctant to move his star winger out of his preferred position, where he has more freedom and perhaps has more of an impact.<\/p>\n He does have the skill-set to match the role, though and would be a very safe and sharp selection.<\/p>\n Springboks predicted team: Cheslin Kolbe switch on the cards as Rassie Erasmus to hand rookie a debut against Japan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Outside bet: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Edwill van der Merwe, Willie le Roux<\/p>\n Springboks wingers Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe provide two further versatile options to Erasmus, having also played in the position for their club teams. Arendse has done so more for the Bulls and during his stint in Japan with the DynaBoars, but all of his Tests so far have come on the wing.<\/p>\n It\u2019s highly likely that Feinberg-Mngomezulu would be the go-to selection for the bigger matches against France and Ireland if Willemse is sidelined, but the Boks could test their depth against Japan, Wales and Italy.<\/p>\n If not, there is always a chance that Le Roux could earn a recall to the Boks squad after being released for the final fortnight of the Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n It\u2019s plainly obvious that the 36-year-old\u2019s international career is coming to a close, but his form for the Bulls suggests that he still has plenty to offer the Test team if his services are required.<\/p>\n