Vermeulen: Murrayfield is not Marseille

INTERVIEW: It has been nearly a year since Daniel Johannes Vermeulen exchanged his playing gear for a coaching costume.

However, he has settled down in his mentoring role and will play an important role when South Africa fronts up to Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday for the opening match of the Springboks’ year-end campaign.

Speaking at the start of the build-up to the Test, Vermeulen said the four days of training during a ‘pre-season’ training camp in Jersey last week will stand the Boks in good stead.

Their ‘Test week’ started on Tuesday with the first of a number of vigorous training sessions.

Asked if the current Scotland team is better than the one they faced at the World Cup, he answered in the affirmative, but qualified it.

“Sunday will tell [if they have improved], but they will be up for it.”

The venue is the key change for Vermeulen.

“It is a home game for them, in front of their fans [at Murrayfield].

“It is not at a neutral venue [Stade Velodrome].

“We need to be aware of what awaits us on Sunday,” the former loose forward said.

Vermeulen described Scotland as a ‘dynamic’ team with threats all over the park.

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“It is going to be a massive game,” the two-times World Cup winner said.

Vermeulen said his transition from player to coach has been ‘interesting’, but found the metamorphosis a smooth process.

“The coaches and coaching staff have been very welcoming,” he said, adding: “I have learnt a lot.

“I’m not a player [anymore], but sill know the players.

“I am really enjoying my time, learning on the job.”

Vermeulen, 38, says he loves every minute of his new journey and wants to ‘keep growing’.

With both teams having embraced a more ‘expansive’ approach this year, there is credence in the suggestion that it could produce more five-pointers than their last outing – a 18-3 win for the Bok at their World Cup pool encounter in Marseille last year.

“We have different coaches in Tony Brown [attack coach] and Jerry Flannery [defence].

“They bring a different flavour to the game,” Vermeulen said, adding: “We are evolving as a team and you won’t always get the same picture as the last few seasons.

“Like Scotland, we [South Africa] are also in a transition period.

“The tactical game has been a bit of a focus for them, which is an aspect of the game they are doing well in.”

@rugby365com