Stormers's Damian Willemse (R) is tackled while trying to make a break during the European Rugby Champions Cup, Pool 4 Rugby Union match between Stormers and Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle) at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town FILE. Versatile Springbok backline player Damian Willemse (pictured with the ball) pulled up suddenly after scoring a try in the first half for the Stormers against Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship.
Image: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP
After watching his side fall away in the second half to Glasgow Warriors in their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash in Stellenbosch on Saturday, Stormers coach John Dobson was left to rue his team’s attitude in the wake of their 28-17 defeat.
Their approach in the final stages of the encounter, however, was not the only sour point for the Stormers.
Versatile Springbok backline player Damian Willemse pulled up suddenly after scoring a try in the first half, with what appeared to be a groin injury. It places his November tour with the Springboks in doubt if the injury is anything more than a niggle.
Willemse accounted for the first try of the match, but that would be the end of his participation in the clash which lasted just over 30 minutes.
Kyle Rowe scores in the corner to give Glasgow Warriors the lead 🏉![CDATA[]]>👇
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It was perhaps a sign of things to come for the Stormers who were the better of the sides in the first period, but an inspired second 40 from the Warriors showed just why they are the defending champions.
“Losing Damian was a massive blow for how we wanted to play this game,” said Dobson
“But we also had a plan and probably could've worked harder. That is what disappointed me a little bit (that they looked flat towards the end).
“It's why we are a little sad about this loss. There were a couple of kick-chases and things like that where we cut ourselves the option of a quick throw-in because nobody was working back for us and that is not who we are as a team.”