Mighty ‘Thor’ back to boost Boks in crucial away contests
On Sunday, 12 September, when the Springboks face the Wallabies in Australia for the first time in two years, 680 days would have passed since Duane Vermeulen last played a Test. The bruising No 8’s last Test outing before this weekend was a memorable man-of-the-match performance against England in the final of Rugby World Cup 2019.
Since then, Vermeulen has won the 2020 SA Player of the Year award and was expected to star in the recent British & Irish Lions series. An ankle injury put paid to that hope, but after two months of rehabilitation, he is making a return.
He was 33 when he last played a Test and is 35 now. Most players would be contemplating retirement in their mid-30s. But Vermeulen has never been “most players”.
Generational player
a generational player and a strong character. He will be one of the leaders captain Siya Kolisi leans on in the huddle if things get tough at the Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on Sunday and for the rest of the Rugby Championship.
Of course, his lack of game time could be an issue, but if he’s fit, he will play. And a fit and firing Vermeulen against the All Blacks in the historic 100th Test between the teams later this month would add to the occasion.
Vermeulen was in no doubt that he will cope but admitted that, after such a long time out of the game at Test level, both he and Bok coach Jacques Nienaber will be honest in their assessments of his performance.
“I will keep on pushing as long as I can, until I just can’t keep up any more,” Vermeulen said. “I will try my best and play my part in the squad and if the coaches see that I am falling behind and slacking, and falling off the pace, then they can sit me down and talk it through with me and tell me my time has [come].
“In the meantime, I am looking forward to playing alongside my team-mates again... The next couple of challenges that lie ahead are big ones. And I am looking forward to [confronting] those challenges.”