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'Your perspective': Vermeulen fires back at 'strange statement' over Boks
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Duane Vermeulen has dismissed suggestions that South Africa could suffer a comedown against Australia after the intensity of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, insisting the Springboks are treating the Wallabies with the same respect as any Tier 1 opponent.
Rassie Erasmus’ side head into the Perth Test off the back of a demanding four-match series against the All Blacks, while Australia have had the benefit of watching both southern hemisphere heavyweights closely over the past month.
The Boks have made changes for the clash, with only Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker remaining in the starting XV that triumphed over the All Blacks in Baltimore, but assistant coach Vermeulen believes Erasmus’ rotation policy has ensured every member of the squad understands exactly what is expected of them when given an opportunity.
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The former South Africa No.8 also rejected the notion that facing Australia immediately after New Zealand could lead to a drop in intensity, pointing to the Wallabies’ recent improvement and the preparation that has gone into the Test.
Vermeulen was equally dismissive of any suggestion that any disrespect has been shown to Les Kiss’ side with the team that has been named.
“No one plays this game to lose, so anyone who talks about losing is making a strange statement,” said Vermeulen.
“The big thing is that Australia had a good opportunity with RGR to prepare for the Boks, and after this match, they play the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand, so they’ve had a nice chance to take a good look at both teams and work out how they want to play against us, and also the Kiwis.
“They’ll definitely go into this game with a proper plan. From our side, we’ve just come off the Greatest Rivalry series and yes, we are making a few changes, but the guys understand their roles, so everyone knows exactly what to do and when.
“At the beginning of the year Rassie said everyone would get an opportunity to play, and this is a testament to him staying true to his word, so hopefully the guys take the opportunity and show us what they’ve got.”
On suggestions the Springboks could fall flat after facing the All Blacks, Vermeulen added: “That may be your perspective, but it’s not as if we go into a Wallabies Test and say, ‘let’s just throw the ball around and have fun because it’s not the All Blacks’.
“They are a tier-one nation, a team on the rise, and they are playing really well, so we’ve been preparing hard. The time since the Baltimore Test was not a break. It was a case of giving the guys time to run through their plays and understand their roles. They will be up for it, and we are looking forward to it as well.”
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