Current England captain Jamie George has hailed Springboks legend Duane Vermeulen as the toughest player that he has faced in his career.
Vermeulen was voted player of the match in South Africa’s 32-12 victory over the Red Rose in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, giving the Springboks their third trophy.
The barnstorming number eight continued his career until his 37th birthday, helping capture a fourth World Cup victory in 2023 before hanging up his playing boots and transitioning to the coaches’ box.
Despite leading the charge to England’s defeat in 2019, George has talked glowingly of the former back-rower’s rugby brilliance and toughness on the pitch, describing him as the toughest player he has faced.
Jamie George on Duane Vermeulen
“Obviously, it was really cool when I was younger to play against some of the GOATS,” George told Danny Care on his Hits Different podcast.
“Like I played against O’Driscoll and Wilkinson, all those boys like the guys I grew up supporting, but I think the best player that I played against is Duane Vermeulen.”Like that person, he hits differently. Talk about physicality; he’s outrageous, but so is his game feel and comprehension. He weighs whatever many kg and still jumps in the lineout; he has everything.
“He genuinely has everything and like, yeah, a bit mind-blowing really.”
Care went on to say that Vermeulen has subsequently retired and joined Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks coaching team.
Springboks: Duane Vermeulen is ‘learning a lot’ after seeing the ‘other side of things’
The number eight initially joined SA Rugby’s coaching infrastructure as a ‘roving coach’, working with all national teams, but became significantly involved with the Springboks during the Rugby Championship, which South Africa won.
“And that’s a sign of someone who’s got an unbelievable understanding of the game,” says George.
“And you could see it in the way he played; people would approach him and ask him questions, and he’d have all of the answers.
“He wasn’t overly outspoken on the field but he let his rugby do the talking and he’s a freak, mate.”
Vermeulen got his 76th and last Test cap for the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup final, defeating the All Blacks 12-11 in Paris.
He resigned after winning back-to-back Bok titles, but was unable to participate in the 2021 British and Irish Lions series due to injury. He also captained his country on four occasions and played for the Pumas, Cheetahs, Stormers, Toulon, Kubota Spears, Bulls, and Ulster throughout his career.
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