Damian Willemse says preserving the Springboks' unbeaten home record against England — which stretches back to 1972 — was the squad's primary focus heading into Saturday's 45-21 demolition at Ellis Park, even as he and Cheslin Kolbe both reached their 50th Test caps in the Nations Championship opener.
Rassie Erasmus had made the historical weight of the occasion explicit during the week, reminding players that England's last victory at Ellis Park came over 50 years ago. Willemse said that context shaped how the squad approached the match.
"We spoke about the legacy and how we're protecting our legacy playing at Ellis Park," Willemse said. "It's our home and we needed to protect and defend that legacy."
Willemse was one of the standout performers on the night, dominant under the high ball and composed throughout at fullback. He identified the aerial battle and a sharp half-time tactical reset as the keys to pulling clear of an England side that had applied pressure in the first half.
"England are a great side and they put us under pressure," he said. "We made some good plans at half-time to nullify that. The aerial game was massive, and I felt we had the edge there."
The evening produced an awkward moment during the post-match Player of the Match presentation when Damian de Allende was initially called forward in Willemse's place, with the mix-up only becoming apparent once the award was already being accepted on field.
For Willemse, who made his Test debut as a 20-year-old against Argentina, the milestone sits alongside that first cap as one of the defining moments of his career. He was generous in crediting those who shaped him across multiple positions over the years, naming Jacques Nienaber for backing him early and assistant coaches Felix Jones and Mzwandile Stick for developing his versatility.
"I learned from legends of the game like Morne Steyn, Frans Steyn and Willie le Roux," Willemse said. "Damian de Allende has always helped me at inside centre. Polly helped me when I played flyhalf and Elton Jantjies also helped me a lot with my kicking."
Jantjies, who watched from the stands alongside his mother, was among those Willemse specifically thanked for his development as a kicking footballer.