Duane glad to be ‘with my people’

Duane Vermeulen during the South Africa Rugby afternoon Training session at Belhar Rugby Club, Belhar on 6 June 2016 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Duane Vermeulen during the South Africa Rugby afternoon Training session at Belhar Rugby Club, Belhar on 6 June 2016 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Published Jun 7, 2016

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Cape Town - Duane Vermeulen cuts an awkward figure when speaking to the media. He would rather not if he could avoid it.

Those questions in English don’t help either for the man born and bred in Nelspruit – although the seven years spent in Cape Town has helped a lot in that regard.

But in those sparkling green eyes, there is no doubt about the passion he has for the Springboks, despite having made the big-money move to Toulon in France at the end of last year’s Super Rugby campaign.

Vermeulen almost didn’t make it to Cape Town this week after Toulon billionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal threatened to withhold salaries to those international players who joined their countries for the June Test window.

The players are well within their rights to play in the Tests as it is an official window stipulated by World Rugby, and Vermeulen is sure to have a strong case for compensation from Toulon if Boudjellal goes through with his threat.

On one of those magical sunny and windless winter mornings at the equally majestic Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday, Vermeulen said that there was no way he would miss the first Test of Allister Coetzee’s reign, against Ireland at Newlands on Saturday.

“Nice winter’s day, sun is shining, so awesome to be back in Cape Town, back in South Africa with your people,” the big No 8 said with a smile.

“It wasn’t even an option for me to stay on that side. I said from the start that I want to play international rugby, and if I could represent my country – it doesn’t matter where they play – I want to do it with everything I have.

“So, everything is in binding contracts. I just want to represent my country, so I’m unbelievably lucky to be here, and hopefully it will be an exciting time with a new coach and new captain.”

That new captain may have been Vermeulen – who turns 30 next month – had he still been running out for the Stormers in Super Rugby. But Coetzee and SA Rugby feel that the Bok skipper should be playing in South Africa, and rightly so.

Instead, Bulls leader Adriaan Strauss has been made the Bok captain for the Irish series only, perhaps to leave the door open if Vermeulen and SA Rugby are able to find a way to bring him back home, although that will be a long shot considering the reported R14 million and upwards annual salary that he is believed to be earning in France.

You could sense in his body language and tone that Vermeulen is a bit disappointed to not run out in front at his old stomping ground on Saturday, but sometimes life gives you lemons, and it’s up to you to make lemonade out of it.

“I don’t have a problem about the captaincy and things like that. It wasn’t my decision at all and it was all out of my hands. It is after all the coaches and SA Rugby’s decision on who they feel is the right guy for the job,” Vermeulen said diplomatically.

“I think Adriaan Strauss is a good captain. He led the Cheetahs and Bulls, and knows how things work at international level. I support him 100 percent and if he needs help at all from us other senior players, then we are there for him.”

There is also the pressure being applied by Lions captain Warren Whiteley for the No 8 jersey, but it is something Vermeulen welcomes and feels is “a good thing for the older guys”.

But at least Vermeulen is able to work with his old mentor Coetzee from their Stormers. He says that the Bok coach has changed “a lot of things in the game plan itself a bit”, with Coetzee having stated that he wants his team to make better use of their possession on attack.

“I have walked a long road with Allister. I know a bit about how the man things, what his vision is, and what he wants to achieve. It’s really great to work him again, especially at the Boks at the end of the day. It’s wonderful to see that his passion is still there, and hopefully he can get us in line to get to where we want to after the first year and at the end of the four years.”

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