After recovering from an ear injury and serving his suspension, Montpellier international second row Paul Willemse should return to competition this weekend in Bayonne, and thus turn the page on a previous season which turned into a nightmare.
Say that Paul Willemse had a difficult season last year is an understatement. Remember: while he was about to make his dream come true by participating in the 2023 World Cup organized in France, the Montpellier colossus had to throw in the towel due to a stubborn thigh injury a week before the opening match against the All Blacks. He had hoped to return during the competition, but the premature elimination of the Blues against the Springboks in the quarter-final cut short his aspirations. Behind, he returned to competition at the end of October with the MHR, and even scored three tries during the season. Performances which earned him a recall to the French team by Fabien Galthié for the first match of the Tournament played against Ireland in Marseille.
Dubbed by Duguid
A match which, however, turned into a nightmare for the Montpellier, and which also marked the start of a chaotic period. By receiving two cards (one yellow then one red) in less than twenty minutes, the Montpellier native did not help his team which ended up sinking against the Irish. Behind ? Suspension and Tournament over for Willemse. A month later, he received another yellow card against Stade Français the following week, he was permanently sent off from the Challenge Cup round of 16 against Ulster and received a five-week suspension. Suspension which he also served late, since he was already recovering from an injury suffered to his ear. In short, nothing was going well for the Montpellier double meter, who helplessly watched his team’s endless struggle. Fortunately the latter still experienced a happy ending with the victory over the FCG during the access match at the Stade des Alpes…
This weekend, Paul Willemse should therefore make his return to competition, very possibly on the substitutes’ bench at Jean-Dauger, where the Cistes will be eagerly awaited. A first step for the giant who will now have to regain the number 5 jersey with which his teammate and competitor Tyler Duguid has been shining since last season. Ironically, Duguid (who is now eligible for the French XV) declared a few seasons ago that Willemse was his “model”, that he wanted “to do everything like him”. Today, it seems that the student has surpassed the master. Unless the great Paul wakes up, like the great volcanoes…
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