Jacques Nienaber has been left delighted with Duane Vermeulen’s return to form as the veteran No 8 prepares to captain the Springboks against Argentina on Saturday.
A difficult 2022 affected by knee surgery put Vermeulen’s on-field capacity with the Springboks into question, especially with the emergence of Jasper Wiese and Evan Roos. Many thought that, after he was left out of the November tour to Europe, Vermeulen would be more effective in a coaching capacity.
However, the 37-year-old has returned with aplomb, proving to be a more-than-capable stand-in skipper in the 2023 Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Pretoria.
After playing off the bench in the loss to the All Blacks in Auckland, Vermeulen will once again lead the Boks in the final home match of the year against Los Pumas at Ellis Park.
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“I was chatting with the players the other day and spoke about how I already started coaching Duane in 2006,” Nienaber said, after naming the team for Saturday evening. “I think Canan Moodie was four years old.
“We come a long way, as well as with others. I’m happy for him. That’s the Duane I know, the guy I got to know from 2006.”
Vermeulen’s re-emergence is part of a growing trend of veterans in the modern era extending their careers well beyond the age of 35.
Another example is found in Cheetahs scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, who at 40 years old is perhaps playing some of the finest rugby of his career, and has even had shouts for a Test rugby return.
“I don’t know,” said Nienaber, when asked about the criticism of holding to players for too long. “In the northern hemisphere, there are guys who play up to 40. I’m not sure how old Ruan is.
“If you look at the professionalism of the players now and how they look after their bodies and how they manage themselves, it’s different to how it was when I started out in Super Rugby in 1999.
“The players are more professional now and look after their bodies, that’s why their careers last a little bit longer.”
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