Image: Planet Rugby
If there is one man qualified to judge what it takes to wear the Springboks’ iconic No 8 jersey, it is Duane Vermeulen.
The double Rugby World Cup winner, widely regarded as one of the greatest loose forwards to pull on the green and gold, believes Evan Roos possesses all the raw ingredients to become South Africa’s next dominant No 8. However, ahead of Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, Vermeulen says the Stormers star still has a few important adjustments to make before he can truly establish himself at Test level.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Vermeulen praised the progress Roos has made while explaining why the 25-year-old now has the perfect opportunity to prove himself against Scotland.
Jasper Wiese has set the benchmark
Vermeulen began by acknowledging the standards set by current first-choice No 8 Jasper Wiese, who has become one of the Springboks’ most reliable performers.
“First of all, Jasper Wiese is proving to be a real stalwart in our team,” Vermeulen said.
“He is one of the guys who gives us a great advantage in getting over the gain line and giving us those front-foot carries. He is a massive asset to the squad.”
With Wiese rested this weekend, Vermeulen believes Roos has been handed the ideal chance to remind the coaching staff why he deserves to be firmly in the World Cup conversation.
“But we want to give everyone in the squad a chance to play, and this week it is Evan Roos’ opportunity to put up his hand and say, ‘Listen, I am also here.’
“This is a good game for Evan to show his worth and the impact he can have.”
Roos has become the Stormers’ primary ball carrier over the past few seasons, regularly producing momentum-changing runs and explosive carries.
“If you look at Evan playing for the Stormers, he is their big go-to guy, so hopefully he can step into that role and also give us good go forward (as Wiese has been doing).
“His energy on the pitch is massive, so we look forward to seeing a lot of that.”
The final pieces of the puzzle
While Roos’ athleticism and power have never been questioned, Vermeulen revealed that the Springbok coaching staff are working hard to round out his game.
He highlighted attack coach Tony Brown’s influence in improving players’ handling skills and decision-making under pressure.
“A lot is being put in behind the scenes with things like Tony Brown teaching soft skills,” Vermeulen explained.
“He is doing that with all the players, by the way. Everyone plays their part in helping the guys in certain areas where they lack a bit of precision and perfection.”
Vermeulen believes Roos’ biggest challenge is adapting from the more open style played in the United Rugby Championship to the structured demands of Test rugby.
“The intensity of Test rugby is much higher than the URC or club level,” he said.
“With the Boks, there is a specific way of playing, and with the Stormers there is a bit of a French way of playing. They get away with it.
“It is nice because it is open field rugby and you can pass and play off guys, but Test-match rugby has more structure.
“And sometimes when you are used to playing a lot more freely, it becomes difficult to go straight into structure.”
Roos has the talent to succeed
Despite outlining the adjustments still required, Vermeulen made it clear that Roos has every attribute needed to become a regular Springbok starter.
“On the day, it has to come down to the player himself, what he can produce and give to the team,” he said.
“Evan is a fantastic player; he has a lot of energy, and you can see what he does for the Stormers.
“But there is a difference between the URC and Test-match rugby, so hopefully we can get him there, and he can produce the goods that we are looking for.”
With Rassie Erasmus continuing to build squad depth ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Saturday presents Roos with arguably his biggest audition yet.
A commanding performance against Scotland could go a long way towards cementing his place in South Africa’s long-term plans.
Vermeulen laughs off Henry Pollock question
Vermeulen also showed that his sense of humour remains as sharp as ever when asked about England’s young sensation Henry Pollock.
Earlier this year, the Springbok great jokingly suggested he would consider coming out of retirement to face the exciting English back-rower.
Asked whether he had been impressed by Pollock after South Africa’s victory over England, Vermeulen sidestepped the question with trademark wit.
“I wasn’t needed, was I?” he laughed.
Rather than discussing Pollock, Vermeulen shifted the focus back onto the Springboks’ performance.
“I was impressed with our boys. I think in the first quarter we managed the game very well, then made a few mistakes in the second quarter.
“When we got our impact players on, those guys brought a lot of energy to the game.
“All in all, we are very happy with how the guys played and executed our game plan, so I wasn’t needed — maybe just a bit with the water.”
His answer drew laughter, but it also underlined the confidence surrounding the Springbok squad, where the focus remains firmly on collective performance rather than individual battles.
Source: www.iol.co.za
