'It was just another kick': Damian Willemse steps up to land clutch penalty as Boks fall

In Marseille

Springbok flyhalf Damian Willemse said the penalty he slotted in the 30-26 loss to France at the Stade Velodrome was "just another kick" for him.

Willemse went into the game under massive pressure after missing a penalty in the 19-16 loss to Ireland last week.

He was the third-choice kicker in the game by default after the earlier penalties and conversions were successfully dealt with by Cheslin Kolbe and Faf de Klerk.

Willemse's 64th-minute penalty was one that wasn't well received by the capacity crowd as they felt replacement flank/wing Sekou Macalou had freed himself from Kurt-Lee Arendse's tackle.

RECAP | France overcome stunning Springbok fightback to win Marseille thriller

The penalty wasn't an easy one and the now-enclosed stadium's decibels were enough to pierce a toddler's eardrums with the whistles and the boos.

Willemse, who, despite a reputation for not being the most accurate of goalkickers, has developed a knack of landing clutch kicks.

This was defeaning, but Damian Willemse locked out this white noise to convert this penalty. It was ice in veins stuff!@Sport24news pic.twitter.com/lnk0pPSXvi

He did the same against Wales to win the first Test of that series in July and for him, he said, the kick was just another kick.

"It was just another kick for me," Willemse said.

"The pressure was on, but coach Jacques Nienaber backed me through the week. Even when we got the penalty, I was told to go for poles.

"I was flowing, I did my basic routine and throughout the week, I was striking the ball very well and I got a lot of help from Manie Libbok.

"It was a normal kick for me."

That the Boks came back from 13-0 down to lead 26-22 was a testament to the quality of the game.

Willemse, who had a tactically astute game