Duane Vermeulen is allowing for no complacency after a big win over the Wallabies as, with over a decade of experience with the Springboks, he knows there will still be twists and turns in the Rugby Championship.
The Springboks are bracing for a backlash in their second Test against Australia in Perth, after powering to their joint-biggest away win over the Wallabies in Brisbane – which was their first victory in the city since 2013.
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While impressed with the way that the Springboks physically dominated the Wallabies, Vermeulen said there is still plenty to work on, especially as they got pinged at the breakdown during the second half.
“The scrums were good last week,” said Vermeulen. “We earned a few penalties and got some advantage from that area, but I’m sure Taniela Tupou will start this week and bring a new dynamic to their pack.
“In terms of the lineouts, we lost two, and we’ll continue to work towards the perfect lineout.
“On the downside, we left quite a few chances out there and we were pinned at some defensive breakdowns, so there are a few areas we need to be sharper in going forward. We are working closely with Jaco Peyper (national laws advisor) and the referees going into this match, so we can improve our performance this weekend.”
The opening-round victory in Brisbane has seen the Springboks in pole position, five points ahead of New Zealand, after the All Blacks suffered a surprise home defeat to Argentina in Wellington.
South Africa have not won the tournament since the truncated version in 2019, but Vermeulen is wary of looking too far ahead.
“It’s still early days,” Vermeulen said. “New Zealand also selected a few young players compared to the side they played in the World Cup, so they’ll probably make some changes this week.
“From our perspective, obviously the last game put us in a good position (to compete for the title), but there’s still a long way to go.”
Now part of SA Rugby’s coaching mobi-unit after calling time on his 76-Test career last year, Vermeulen is enjoying his role on the sidelines.
“It’s been an easy transition (from a player to management member) because I only played a year ago. It’s nice to still be in the mix. I’ve been learning from the coaches because they see things from a different angle, so I’ve really been enjoying this journey.”
“There’s a lot more to being a waterboy than simply carrying water,” Vermeulen added. “There’s a lot of communication in the role, and to be the link between the players and coaches is great. It’s a position I’m enjoying.”
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
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