Newcastle - If the Springboks are going to be a threat at this Rugby World Cup and more so a formidable foe for Scotland then they will have to return back to basics according to Springbok hardman Duane Vermeulen.
Those basics were laid to bare in the Springboks 46-6 win over Samoa last weekend at Villa Park and Vermeulen believes it is those very same basics that will win them their crucial World Cup clash against Scotland at St James Park in Newcastle on Saturday.
Vermeulen is adamant that if the Springbok pack of forwards dominate the set-pieces, breakdowns, the collision and give their backs enough space and time on the ball, then the Springboks will be well on their way to sealing their second win of the tournament and in the process all but secure their place in the quarter-finals.
“I think the most important thing is just going back to basics. Going back to the way we as South Africans play. You need your forwards to dominate and your backs to get good ball on the front foot and to execute those good balls into tries. It is also a bit of a combination with that and a good perfect kicking game,” said Vermeulen at Friday’s press conference after the captain’s run at the stadium.
Beyond the return to basics and playing to their strengths, the Springboks also have another mental obstacle to overcome on Saturday, they are yet to win two matches back-to-back this year.
The return of Vermeulen to the Springbok pack after sitting out the international season due to a neck injury could mean a change in fortunes for the two-time world champions after Vermeulen’s Herculean contribution to his team’s win last week.
“It has been a problem for the Springboks to win back-to-back but hopefully we can change that. It has been an uphill battle and it was also not nice seeing that from the side. It is great to be part of the team and I can share what I saw from the outside and I can bring one percent extra to the team. If one percent can make a difference then it is the one percent we are striving for,” Vermeulen said.
The 29-year-old Vermeulen has taken little or no regard for Scotland and how they have fared in the tournament up until now and believes that the Springboks should only focus on what they need to do to win.
“I don’t know much about how the Scottish team looks and I don’t really care much about the opposition. It will be about what happens on the day on the field. Every men for himself and you have to go out there and play as a team,” Vermeulen said.
Even after being hit by yet another setback this week with the injury and retirement of captain Jean de Villiers, Vermeulen says the team is in a good place but their position in their pool is still uncertain and a desperate one.
“It has been a great week for us especially after our first week with the loss against Japan, it wasn’t a great vibe and really quiet. After Samoa we turned it around but we haven’t achieved anything yet because we are in the same position as we were a week before. The vibe has been a lot better this week but the focus is on how we want to play and what we want to achieve.”
Independent Media