Willemse to bring the heat in chilly Clermont

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The DHL Stormers expect a red-hot outing from playmaker Damian Willemse as the Capetonians hunt for a maiden win on their Champions Cup debut in France on Saturday.

Snow, showers and a high of one-degree Celsius is predicted for when the Vodacom United Rugby Championship winners take the field against Clermont at the Stade Marcel-Micheli.

Willemse, along with fellow Springbok Steven Kitshoff, returns to the Stormers for their Champions Cup debut, and is set to slot back into the starting XV.

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No one is more central to the Capetonians playing an expansive game than Willemse, who announced himself as an exciting prospect for the Boks in 2022.

With new Bok flyhalf Manie Libbok likely to start against Clermont on Saturday, Stormers backline coach Dawie Snyman says they have a plan for Willemse, who can either play at inside centre or at fullback.

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“We definitely have a plan for him this weekend and we communicated it to him already,” the assistant coach told reporters this week. “He knows where he is going to play.”

Stormers head coach John Dobson will name the matchday 23 on Friday.

Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

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Devin Hermanus