Damian Willemse’s performance for the Springboks against Wales at Loftus Versfeld was the making of the man.

Willemse is already a World Cup winner but his fifth Test start was like a new dawn. He coolly slotted a 35m penalty after the hooter in Pretoria to deny Wales a historic win on South African soil and secure the Boks a winning start to the season.

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber have invested 22 Tests in flyhalf Elton Jantjies to compete with Handre Pollard since 2018, yet it was Willemse who shifted into the pocket from fullback against the Welsh at Loftus – after Jantjies was pulled at half time – and succeeded where his predecessor failed.

Willemse has always been hugely talented but was switched and used sparingly between fullback, centre and flyhalf. However, the 24-year-old is now one of the first names on the Bok starting team sheet.

There was a time when being versatile could be the kiss of death for a rugby player but for Willemse, the label of being the ‘new Frans Steyn’ is a blessing rather than a curse.

“Being able to play a number of positions is something I have been working on with the coaches for a few years now and I am comfortable with it,” Willemse said. “I enjoy being able to play the various positions and it’s a skill set I’ve been working on in training under the instructions of the Bok coaches. And if this is going to make me as useful as Frans Steyn, I welcome it.”

Erasmus, and by extension Nienaber, is known for excellent preparation, and brave calls through the Rugby Championship and the end-of-year tour must be made to ensure the Boks are firing on all cylinders at the 2023 World Cup.

Willemse has already booked a ticket to Paris but he has to be to the plan if the defending champions want to dominate all comers.

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