VIDEO: The lessons Evan can learn from Duane
SPOTLIGHT: World Cup-winning Springbok Duane Vermeulen will return to Cape Town this week, where he featured in more than 120 games for the Stormers and Western Province.
However, he will be in the colours of Irish province Ulster, opposing the blue and white hoops of the Stormers.
The Round 14 United Rugby Championship fixture will feature a classic sideshow of an established international against a young upstart.
Watching local hero Evan Roos taking on the seasoned Bok is certainly a big attraction, set to play out at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
Stormers defence coach Norman Laker stated the obvious when he said Vermeulen has been around the block.
Apart from his 58 Bok caps, Vermeulen has accumulated another 300-plus first-class games since 2005 – for outfits like the Pumas, Cheetahs, Stormers, Toulon, Kubota Spears, Bulls and Ulster.
“Duane is a world-class player and has won a World Cup,” Laker responded when asked by @rugby365com about the delectable head-to-head face-off.
“That number of unions won’t contract you until the age of 35 if you are not performing like a world-class player.”
He added that young Roos will relish the opportunity to front up to the veteran, a scenario that occurred before – when Vermeulen was still with the Bulls.
“Any contest against other South Africans is a healthy competition,” the Stormers defence guru said.
While it is an opportunity for Roos to make a statement against the incumbent Springbok No.8, Laker made it clear the young Stormers star has to perform “consistently” before becoming a serious Bok candidate.
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“You can’t just perform against the Springbok No.8 this week.
“You have to be like Duane, who performs week-in and week-out – be it against Ulster, Munster, Benetton, Sharks or Bulls.
“Every week you have to be on top of your game.
“You can’t just have a once-off performance, see it as: ‘Now I can beat the Bok No.8’.
“It has to be every week that will make you the best and put you in the Green and Gold [selection frame].”
The 22-year-old former South African schools player has not yet featured in 50 first-class games – having made his debut for the Sharks in 2019 and then moved to Cape Town in 2020.
However, he has caused a stir on the domestic scene and if he follows the advice of his esteemed coaches, may well come into the national selection frame sooner rather than later.
@king365ed
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