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Cape Town - Damian Willemse is set to become the first player of colour from Paul Roos Gymnasium to play a Test for the Springboks.
ALSO READ: Rassie understands the hype surrounding Willemse
The 20-year-old was included on the bench for Saturday's Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Durban and the expectation is that he will get a run at fullback at some point in the match.
If he takes to the field, Willemse will become Paul Roos’ 53rd Bok.
The Stellenbosch-based school has produced the greatest number of Springboks in South Africa.
The young Stormers star was identified as a talented youngster in primary school by Caroline Rupert and a friend, Winston Baard, who was Willemse's primary school rugby coach.
Rupert, who is the daughter of renowned businessman Johann Rupert, organised bursaries for a group of coloured kids to attend the school.
Willemse and his brother, Ramone Samuels, were among the beneficiaries and have graduated to the professional rugby ranks, with Samuels playing hooker for the Stormers.
Saturday’s Test at Kings Park is scheduled for 17:05.
Teams:
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Damian Willemse
Argentina
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Substitutes: 16 Diego Fortuny, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Tomas Lavanini, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia
Bravo Caroline and Winston, and of course, Damian!! https://t.co/Qx8L1rHscj
— Cutmaker (@cutmaker) August 16, 2018
