Broadcaster mix-up denies Willemse MVP in 50th test

In a bizarre post-match mix-up, South African fullback Damian Willemse was denied the official Man of the Match award following his stellar performance in the Springboks' 45-21 victory over England at Ellis Park on Saturday. The award was mistakenly presented to his teammate, inside centre Damian de Allende, due to a communication error by the host broadcaster, SuperSport.

The error occurred despite the television commentary team having selected Willemse for the honor. The message was not properly relayed to pitchside producers, leading to De Allende accepting the award and conducting the post-match interviews. The incident did not overshadow the celebrations for Willemse, who was marking his 50th Test cap alongside winger Cheslin Kolbe. The two players posed together with the trophy in recognition of the milestone.

Willemse delivered a world-class performance in his landmark match, excelling under the high ball, managing the game from the back, and making a game-breaking 50-22 kick from inside his own 22. He also made eight tackles, including one try-saving effort, and gained more metres than any other South African player. In a post-match fan poll conducted by a rugby...