4 November 2026
Damian Willemse has been named as the starting fullback for the Springboks ahead of their opening Nations Championship test against Italy this Saturday at 13:40 SAST
. Head coach Rassie Erasmus opted for an experienced lineup in Turin, aiming to kick off the inaugural tournament with a decisive victory. With the tournament structure introducing a final title match at Twickenham later this month, the traditional end-of-year tour carries significantly higher stakes for the world champions.
Willemse noted that the opportunity to play for silverware has altered the squad's mindset compared to previous November internationals. “Ja, it is a bit different. This is the first time that we are trialling this competition … it’s very exciting for us because there is something we’ll be playing for towards the end of the year,” Willemse told the media on Wednesday. “There’s a cup on the line, which we are all looking forward to.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the new format, the Boks are mindful of the consequences of a slip-up in the opening round. The team's established approach is always to “go to the end”, and Willemse stressed that a defeat this week could end their hopes of competing for the trophy. “Our approach to any tournament or any cup that we’re playing in or playing for is to take it seriously. Everyone is feeling confident …” he added.
Italy remains a formidable opponent on home soil, and South Africa is preparing for a highly tactical encounter. “It’s not going to be an easy game. They are a strong side, and they’ll come up with good plans,” Willemse said. “We’ve got to stay dialled in and make sure we don’t lose track of or lose focus on what’s ahead. We saw last year when we played them here in Turin how dangerous they are.”
The Boks enter the clash looking to build on the momentum generated during their recent successful campaigns. “We’re looking forward to getting onto the field on Saturday and making sure we get off to a great start and pick up where we left off in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series,” the fullback stated. However, he emphasised that the squad is avoiding any premature focus on the latter stages of the tournament. “But we’ve got to keep one foot in front of the other. We’ve got Italy this week, and we’re very much focused on that game.”