Springbok star Damian Willemse would love to feature for Blitzboks at Olympics

Earlier this year the star full-back became the youngest player ever to win the World Cup twice as he played a key role in the Springboks defending their title in France.

Willemse's game has grown tremendously over the last four years with his versatility and all-around skill-set instrumental in the Springboks being able to field a 6-2 or 7-1 bench during the tournament.

These are the skills that could see a player like Willemse excel in Sevens. Speaking to Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers and Hanyani Shimange on the Boks Office podcast at DHL Stadium during the HSBC SVNS Cape Town stop, the Stormers star revealed he would consider making the switch.

"I mean, it's always on the cards. I would love to obviously play in the Olympics. You also need training, I think, as Bryan said, you need to spend some time, you know, on the field, training with the guys," Willemse told Boks Office.

"This is a different sport, as I told Jean as well, because what these guys are doing, it's crazy, it's epic. And, yeah, I think it's definitely something that every rugby player and kid dreams of, which is competing in the World Cup or the Olympics and obviously to get a medal would be the cherry on the cake."

The wide-ranging conversation touched on more than just Sevens and the Olympics with the former Springboks questioning Willemse on that scrum call from a mark during the quarter-finals against France.

The 25-year-old admits he was hoping for positives to come from his unique decision that even caught referee Ben O'Keeffe off guard.

"When I caught the ball, I put it down and then I was looking at them and I saw Frans (Malherbe) and everyone. They were jogging back and then I called the scrum and then the ref was like, 'are you sure?' And I said' 'yeah' and called the scrum. Then I was just like, okay, please, dear god, let this be a positive result here," Willemse laughed.

Shimange was in the commentary box with All Blacks legend Justin Marshall at the time and admitted to being so surprised by the call they thought they missed a rule.

"I remember when that happened, me and Justin Marshall in commentary looked at each other. Marshall was like, 'there must be a rule we're missing here'," he said.