New Springbok stars are emerging ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023.
Jacques Nienaber will announce South Africa’s Rugby World Cup squad on Tuesday and there is no shortage of competition for selection, especially up-front. South Africa has no shortage of physical forwards to choose from including a colossal battle for the No.8 jersey.
Duane Vermeulen: Who is his understudy?
Darryn te Roller makes a case for the contenders.
Prime Candidates for the jersey
Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese, and Evan Roos are the prime candidates for the number eight jersey.
South Africa has never won a Rugby World Cup without a physical, big, and influential N08. Wiese and Roos have proven themselves capable of filling the key role of Springbok No.8. However, there is one monumental mountain standing in their way on the road to the jersey. That mountain is known as Duane ‘Thor’ Vermeulen.
The Springboks gave both Wiese and Roos a run on Saturday against Argentina. The Boks secured a 24-13 win in the first of three warm-up games. The fixture was a momentous occasion celebrating Bongi Mbonambi’s debut as South Africa’s captain and Los Pumas’ veteran Agustín Creevy earning his 100th test cap.
Wiese shows growth against Los Pumas
Wiese started the game at 8 with Roos replacing him halfway through the second half. Jasper Wiese had a conservative but effective game. A clear indication that he is maturing into a quality Test rugby player. The robust and explosive young loose forward has been exceptional for Leicester Tigers both as a ball carrier and a defender.
One of Wiese’s strong points is also at the breakdown where he excels at turnovers and winning penalties. However, giving away unnecessary penalties is a part of his game that needs adjusting. Giving away penalties loses possession, territory and gives the opposition a chance to put points on the board.
Rugby World Cup games are won and lost via penalties, so it’s a positive sign that Wiese was more cautious on Saturday. Perhaps it’s a sign that the young eighth man is growing into the jersey. He is definitely learning valuable breakdown lessons from veterans in the squad like Kwagga Smith, Deon Fourie, and Malcolm Marx.
Jasper Wiese is showing signs of a maturing Test match rugby player. Based on his most recent performance, he definitely has a future in the green and gold. If that future includes the RWC2023 remains a question, until Tuesday.
Evan Roos’ talent tainted by foul play
Evan Roos is an undeniably gifted rugby player. He has the size, skills, pure athleticism, and a ferocious competitive streak. A simple browse on Youtube will direct you to compilations that display his abilities. He carries the ball through and around would-be defenders with perplexing ease. Apart from his ball-carrying abilities, Roos is a solid defender and is not one to shy away from a contest at the ruck.
Roos came on in the 56th minute on Saturday and his presence was certainly noticed and felt. Evan Roos made an impact without ruffling any feathers or giving away unnecessary penalties. Roos, like Wiese, shows signs of a maturing Test rugby player. A player who is willing to keep learning and growing in the Springbok jersey.
The young Springbok may not be looked at as a starting 8 but he definitely would be one immense member of the bomb squad. Unleashing him in the 60th minute of a game is a tactic that wouldn’t be surprising to see. The young man is the kind of player to turn a game on its head by pulling off something spectacular when it’s least expected.
However, it’s the nature of the unexpected that casts a shadow of doubt over his place in a competition like The Rugby World Cup. Blistering solo runs, although great to watch, rarely win Rugby World Cup matches. He has made headlines for a few instances of foul play (including a quickly dismissed rivalry with Vermeulen). Roos is a competitor by nature, he will just need to learn to keep calm on the field.
Foul play and giving away unnecessary penalties are not something coaches want to see when selecting a Rugby World Cup squad.
Duane Vermeulen ready for one more RWC
Vermeulen has made clear his intentions to end his career with one more Rugby World Cup appearance. He has gone as far as joining Durbell Rugby Club, in Durbanville to remain eligible for selection.
Duane Vermeulen successfully captained the Springboks against the Wallabies and Argentina during The Rugby Championship. He consistently proves his worth not only as an older player with the ability to lead the team but also as a rock-solid loose forward capable of being at the right place, at the right time. Vermeulen proves, once again, that he is the man to call if you’re looking for a tall order of big-match temperance.
It’s small factors like leadership ability and composure that keep older players in their national teams for a lot longer than their younger, stronger, and fitter countrymen (a prime example would be John Smit and Bismarck Du Plessis)
Springboks announce World Cup squad on Tuesday
Jacques Nienaber will announce South Africa’s squad for The Rugby World Cup on Tuesday, 7 August 2023.
Duane Vermeulen possesses a wealth of experience and is a leader in the Springbok set-up both on and off the field. It would be foolish to not have him in the squad. As a captain and leader, Vermeulen thrives under pressure. He has an undeniable aura about him that radiates a calm sense of confidence.
Roos and Wiese will most likely compete for the second available spot in the squad due to the availability of utility forwards like Deon Fourie and Franco Mostert which rules out the possibility of having three eighth men in the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup squad.
Roos, Wiese, and Vermeulen are all quality players and have stepped up to the occasion when called to do so. The decision now lies in the hands of South Africa’s coaching staff. All we can do, as fans, is to wait in anticipation for the reigning World Champions to announce the squad for RWC2023.
Main Photo credit: SA Rugby
