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'The thing is you cannot replace Duane because you just can't'

By Chris Jones
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Schalk Brits believes the return of the “phenomenal” Duane Vermeulen can deliver a third test win and a 2-1 series triumph over the British and Irish Lions in Cape Town on Saturday.

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Vermeulen and Brits helped South Africa win the Rugby World Cup in Japan where the No8 was a key weapon in the forward battle that saw England beaten 32-12 in the final. Now, having missed the first two tests which the teams shared, Vermeulen has recovered sufficiently from ankle surgery to be added to the Springbok squad for the titanic decider.

The 54-cap back-rower joined the Springboks camp in June only to suffer the injury, and has been undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a bid to be fit to face the Lions.

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Brits gave RugbyPass an insight into the impact his former World Cup roommate (“he was until he started snoring”) can have on the vital third test saying: “The thing is you cannot replace Duane because you just can’t. There are certain players like that and Duane is one of them and I believe he is in the prime of his career.

“He brings a phenomenal presence and captaincy to the team because his leadership has a big role in the Springbok group and then there is his physicality which is exceptional. Also, when things are going south in a game, it means there is another guy next to Siya (Kolisi) that players can look at.

“The third test is going to be about the gain line and who can dominate an that is where Duane has a big part to play because he can win the gain line and also put in the big tackles as we saw in the World Cup final against England in 2019. He puts his head in there.

“Duane’s value to the team is clearly seen when he isn’t there and things are not going so well. He brings it to every game and I don’t think there was someone putting their hand up like Duane to take the high balls in this series.

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“Peter Steph du Toit is a phenomenal rugby player and it is unfortunate he is injured and going forward how do you get the right combination? In the first test our pack did not dominate and then it becomes hard for the back row but in the second test the replacements made a massive difference and the use of the bomb squad was the way we normally did it (in the World Cup). Getting Lood de Jager and Duane into the mix means the Boks will have four line-out jumpers for the final test and that makes it so difficult for the Lions to compete against us.”

Having lost the physical battle and the first test to the Lions, Brits was delighted to see his former teammates rediscover their fight to come out clear winners in the second test with the second half replacements playing a major role in setting up the deciding match.

Duane Vermeulen
Duane Vermeulen on the charge /PA

Brits added: “The guys were very motivated after being thumped in the second half of the first test and then we saw a complete role reversal in the second test last Saturday. I don’t think that tactically anything is going to change and both teams have the same kind of game plan and once again it will be who can dominate the set-piece and the kicking game.

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“The culture of the Boks group is amazing with their never say die attitude and from that perspective, it will be an amazing final test. In terms of the talk about the referees, there was a cat and mouse before the two tests and I don’t think that will change for the last one and it is vital to manage the referee not take the attitude that he isn’t there. For the last ten years the New Zealanders have managed the referee better than any other team.

“It will be important to start on the right side of the French referee on Saturday and stay there! Of course I am going for a Springbok win and once again it is question of can the Lions match our physicality when we are on song. If you want to beat anyone you have to front up and get stuck in which is why I was so surprised in the first test when Cheslin Kolbe was man-handled by Mako Vunipola and none of the Boks went in. In the second test they corrected that.

“There was a lot of niggle last Saturday and it will be the same in this final test.”

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Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

34 Go to comments
j
john 4 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 6 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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