Vermeulen: Take Twickenham in

 

The Springboks were clearly overwhelmed by the Irish in their first game of the year-end tour as they succumbed 15-29 in Dublin and for Vermeulen it is important to move forward quickly and to gain some composure.

 

"We have to take it game by game – what is in the past is in the past," The No.8 said

 

"We had a hard look at each other, and ourselves, and we need to work hard to rectify things for this coming weekend.

 

"Hopefully we can do a lot better on Saturday."

 

Much has been made about the conditions that the Springboks faced in Dublin, not only the weather but the playing style of the Irish, but with England it is the additional Twickenham factor that they need to overcome.

 

"I think playing at Twickenham – with the conditions – means that some of the newer guys, or younger guys, have got to absorb that atmosphere and get on with it.

 

"It is a hard game, it is massive up front."

 

The Springbok hard-man made mention of the forward-dominated game plan that is in play in the Northern Hemisphere and how that differs from the Bok's traditional game.

 

"Our Championship and Super Rugby is a hell of a lot different to what the rugby is up here," Vermeulen added

 

"Up here it is a very forward dominated game.

 

"We love playing with our forwards, but it is still a different game."

 

With that in mind the Springboks have already adjusted their training to bring their forwards game plan into line with the Northern Hemisphere.

 

"We have changed our training slightly and the stuff we needed to focus on with the forwards.

 

"Hopefully we can show that on the pitch on Saturday. "