Willemse sees attacking growth after Boks' exciting tour: 'It's coming together nicely'

One of the stars of the Springboks' end-year European tour, Damian Willemse, believes the team's attacking potency is coming together on the eve of their 2023 Rugby World Cup title defence.

It's a terrible portend for South Africa's opponents, who are used to the Boks doubling down on their one-track mindedness: kick-chasing, physical and set-piece dominance.

However, with Willemse's integration into flyhalf and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse's stellar introduction to international rugby, South Africa has evolved its game to include devastating finishing capabilities.

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"That's something we've been working on since the July series against Wales," said Willemse following their outstanding 27-13 win past England at Twickenham last Saturday.

"It's been a building block, and now it's coming together nicely for us. Now, going into the World Cup year, I think we need to look back at it and see where we can improve it as well."

Bok fans have been crying out for the removal of the shackles from X-factor players such as Willemse, Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, Canan Moodie and reinvigorated veteran Willie le Roux.

Signs that there was more to the team came in their 26-10 wipe-out of the All Blacks in Mbombela, which they couldn't consolidate a week later at Ellis Park.

And despite starting shakily on the November Northern Hemisphere tour, losing 19-16 to Ireland in Dublin, the Boks redeemed their pride in a courageous 30-26 loss to France after suffering an early Pieter-Steph du Toit red card.

By pushing next year's World Cup hosts and form side so close with 14 men, it gave Jacques Nienaber's side the kind of belief money can't buy.

Italy bore the biggest brunt of that confidence boost (a 63-21