Vermeulen vows not to retire ahead of tour
South Africa No8 has no plans to retire just yet and tells Ben Coles why he is keen to take on the Lions
South Africa’s World Cupwinning No8, Duane Vermeulen, has quashed any talk of international retirement, saying that his eyes are set on facing the British and Irish Lions next summer. Vermeulen faced the Lions twice during their last trip to South Africa in 2009, playing for Western Province and an Emerging Springboks side – the latter memorably snatching a 13-13 draw in a downpour at Newlands in the final midweek match of the tour.
Eleven years on, after South Africa’s comprehensive demolition of England in the World Cup final in Yokohama, Vermeulen is eyeing another career landmark.
“That match for the Emerging Boks was quite special,” Vermeulen recalls. “It was a superb conversion by Willem de Waal from the touchline in pouring rain [to draw the game]. The Western Province match was also close; we gave the Lions a good run for their money and in the end lost by three points.
“But facing the British and Irish Lions in a Test match has always been something I would love to do. Now that I’m returning to South Africa, I hope I can play well enough to be selected to face them next year.”
That news will have been noted by Lions head coach Warren Gatland, after Vermeulen produced some of the best rugby of his career during the World Cup, going on to be named player of the match in the final.
The 33-year-old back-row forward has signed a two-year contract with the Bulls franchise, based in Pretoria, with the three-time Super Rugby champions recently announcing the appointment of 2007 World Cupwinning coach Jake White as director of rugby.
Vermeulen returned to South Africa from Japan in March, scrambling to get on a flight home following the cancellation of the Japanese Top League season because of coronavirus, where he was playing for Funabashibased Kubota Spears in a side that featured Australia fly-half Bernard Foley and New Zealand centre Ryan Crotty.
Vermeulen’s second season with Kubota was under way only a few weeks after the World Cup. Reflecting on the final, Vermeulen paid tribute to England, highlighting a crucial passage towards the end of the first half as pivotal to success.
“I wouldn’t say England were far off their best. Perhaps it was more a case of us being close to playing the perfect game. Everything just clicked and when we got the upper hand in the scrums, things started falling into place,” he says.
“It was an amazing game to play in, but we still had to work very hard for the win, especially late in the first half when we were made to defend for what felt like hours – that’s where we probably laid down a very important marker in the match itself. They only came away with three points, which was pivotal. And after that, we scored two more penalties late in the half which gave us that extra spring in the step going into the break.
“England had a very good team, but the fact that we had the upper hand in the scrum was a massive advantage. Being on the back foot is tough in rugby and with that foundation, we were allowed to play more.”
Jacques Nienaber, the Boks’ former defence coach, will be in charge against the Lions next year, having been promoted to head coach after Rassie Erasmus decided to revert to his director of rugby role with South Africa Rugby, a move that Vermeulen believes will benefit all parties.
“I’ve known Jacques for a long time and always enjoyed working with him,” Vermeulen says. “He is probably one of the hardest-working coaches I’ve ever come across. The structures put in place by Rassie will remain and it’s great for SA Rugby that they’ve managed to get some coaching continuity after the four-year World Cup cycle. Now we just need to get back on the field.”
As for Vermeulen, with the season in Japan cancelled and Super Rugby suspended, the No8 has had some rare extended time with his family in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. He has also had the chance to reflect on South Africa’s recent success given the Springboks’ nationwide trophy tours before he returned to Japan.
“When we were in the moment, it was great, but looking back it feels almost unreal,” he says. “Sometimes I have to check my medal, almost having to pinch myself. It’s been a roller-coaster of emotions – the support we received when we arrived back in South Africa was amazing. I’ll never forget those few days.”
All going to plan, Vermeulen will be making more invaluable memories against the Lions next summer.