Senior statesmen the most productive Boks
Willie le Roux and Duane Vermeulen are two of the elder statesmen in the South African team, but they are also two of the most productive.
While they are not everyone’s cup of tea – and they do have multifarious disparagers – the seasoned duo certainly produces impressive aggregates.
Vermeulen, at 37, is the oldest member of the team.
Next is the 36-year-old Deon Fourie, followed by, Le Roux, Vincent Koch, Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi (all 33).
Le Roux has proved to be the Springboks’ most prolific playmaker at a time when coach Jacques Nienaber is sampling combinations to establish the team’s pecking order.
The 85-times capped Bok fullback has played 149 minutes in two Tests.
His 20 carries are the most in the 2023 campaign and has produced a 105 metres.
Now add his 41 passes and 15 kicks for 454 kick metres and you begin to get a measured idea about his merits in the team.
His critics will point to the five missed tackles, but conveniently ignores the positive contributions.
(Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on his long-standing relationship with Duane Vermeulen…)
Vermeulen, supposedly past his sell-by date if his couch ‘pundits’ are to be believed, has played 114 minutes – one start and one appearance off the bench.
He will again captain the team against Argentina at Ellis Park on Saturday.
His 12 carries produced 57 metres – beaten by only one forward, Marco van Staden’s 67 metres.
Vermeulen’s 11 successful tackles are beaten only by Pieter-Steph du Toit (15) and Kwagga Smith 14).
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