Stormers handed Damian Willemse fitness boost ahead of Munster clash

There were concerns in the Stormers camp about the 24-year-old's fitness after he complained of some tightness in his hamstring during their 42-17 Champions Cup quarter-final loss to Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park last Saturday.

However, the URC champions' forwards coach Rito Hlungwani says that Willemse has been training with the team this week and should be in action against the Irish province.

"Yes, he trained. I think it was a little tightness but nothing serious," Hlungwani said.

Willemse started at full-back against Exeter and delivered an indifferent performance as the Stormers were outscored by six tries to three.

Stormers boss John Dobson revealed that the 2019 Rugby World Cup winner did not want to leave the field against Exeter, even though the coaches wanted to rest him for the Munster encounter.

"We wanted to pull him off. He had a sore hamstring," said Dobson.

"We thought we should cut our losses because we've got Munster this week and we're not going to win this game. And he refused to come off.

"That's good and bad. It means he's not listening to us but it also means that he wants to keep fighting. And that's one of the reasons we love him.

"It speaks more to his character than anything else."