Willemse has missed the entire international season so far due to a hand injury that kept him out of the closing stages of the Stormers' 2023/2024 URC campaign but after making a strong comeback to the game playing for the Stormers on their overseas tour and then producing a man of the match performance against Munster, he was selected in the Bok squad earlier in the week.

However, he limped off in some discomfort not long after scoring a try in the 33rd minute of the Stormers' 28-17 defeat at the hands of Glasgow at Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday.

When Stormers coach John Dobson addressed the media after the game, Willemse was undergoing scans, as was fellow Bok Frans Malherbe, who apparently had an ankle complaint when he came off. Malherbe has clearly been cleared to tour, but Willemse hasn't, with SA Rugby announcing on Sunday morning that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up Vodacom Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom as Willemse's replacement. Hanekom's selection means he becomes the only uncapped player in the 35 man Bok squad that will prepare for the opening game against Scotland in Jersey from this week.

The Scotland game will be played on 9 November, with the big game against England a week later, November 16. The Boks conclude their tour in Cardiff with a match against Wales on November 22.

--ChannelAfrica--