Duane Vermeulen, the celebrated Springbok No.8 who clinched two World Cups, is being considered for a possible return to the rugby field this weekend, playing against Wales in the Quilter Nations Series if required.
The esteemed 39-year-old, having retired after the 2023 Webb Ellis Cup victory, has since joined Rassie Erasmus’ coaching setup. He’s now listed as one of the reserve players for South Africa’s upcoming match at the Principality Stadium.
As the game falls outside the official Test window, a number of South Africa’s key players won’t be available in Cardiff. They’re set to rejoin their respective clubs following their win against Ireland the previous week.
Erasmus has had to opt for a 7-1 split on the bench due to the available player pool. Furthermore, Vermeulen is listed as the 25th player in the squad, following Ntuthuko Mchunu, who joined the Springboks squad in mid-November, as the 24th man.
Throughout his career, Erasmus has been known for making unconventional calls. If Vermeulen does play on Saturday, it would undoubtedly be considered one of the most surprising decisions of the Springboks coach.
Wales
South Africa
“I don’t believe we initially intended to go with a 7-1 split against Wales at the start of the year,” Erasmus stated after announcing his team. “It’s essentially due to the availability of players after discussions with our franchises.
“We were almost compelled to do it. Player 24 is [Ntuthko] Mchunu, and player 25 is Duane Vermeulen. An injury to one player, and [Mchunu] is in, and another injury, and Duane joins.
“That’s a risk we were prepared to take for our franchises, enabling them to have a good start in the URC.
“Essentially, we’re taking a gamble, as we only have 24 players with us. Ntuthuko Mchunu is the 24th player, and Duane Vermeulen is currently the 25th, in case we have an injury before Saturday.
“We only have two scrum-halves available, and Damian [Willemse] is covering fly-half.”
