THE MAKING OF DAMIAN WILLEMSE

Capable of notching next-level performances wherever he is on the field, Springbok rugby player Damian Willemse is on track to greatness. But what does it take to climb to the top? And what does it cost? We took a drive with the young sportsman to find out.

- KIERAN LEGG

THE FLOORS THE ACCELERATOR, SENDING THE AUDI TTS IN ALL IT'S 288-HORSEPOWER, FOUR-CYLINDER GLORY-VAULTING TOWARDS THE GLIMMERING SHORE AHEAD OF US. IT'S ONE OF THOSE DOG DAYS IN GREEN POINT, THE SUN SPECKLING CHURNING TIDES, WAVES SWELLING AND CRASHING WITH A BRILLIANT FOAM. DAMIAN SMILES. HE'S BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR HE COULD ONLY DREAM OF AS AKID. THE SPRINGBOK RUGBY PLAYER HAS JUST WRAPPED HIS FIRST EVER COVER SHOOT. HE SUFFERED A SERIOUS CONCUSSION JUST TWO WEEKS EARLIER, BUT HE'S MADE A FULL RECOVERY. HE'S MATCH FIT (REALLY FIT) AND HE'S GOT ANOTHER GAME ON THE HORIZON. DAMIAN IS HUNGRY TO PROVE HIMSELF. THE 24-YEAR-OLD IS IN HIS ELEMENT.

THE GRIND

We pull up to the area's Virgin Active where the fly-half (fullback or inside centre-depending on what colours he's wearing) is a regular. He gets a warm greeting; he's misplaced his card, but the gates are open-no questions asked. Around him, there are looks of recognition, the rhythmic grunts, clinking metal plates and thrum of treadmills punctuated by a "Hey Damian" or "You ready for this weekend, hey?" here and there. In South Africa, after all, the Springboks are practically royalty.

"I used to lie in bed just picturing myself as a professional rugby player," says Damian, sipping on a takeaway coffee cup. We're now sitting outside on the gym's patio area, a gentle ocean breeze barely disturbing the sand of a beach volleyball court beneath us. "You know, I didn't have any doubts. I really believed that if I put my mind to it, put the work in, it would all work out." Damian grew up in Strand, a town wedged between Somerset West and Gordon's Bay. And despite having a similar proximity to the ocean as our current surrounds, living in the area is a far cry from Greenpoint's affluence and opulence. In Damian's own words: it's a tough upbringing.