The Springboks have depth in most positions as the buildup to the World Cup in Australia next year gathers pace and as a double World Cup winner in that position points out, nowhere is the competition more intense than at his old position of No 8.
Now heading up the Springbok Mobi-Unit, Duane Vermeulen has worked closely with all the loose-forwards in the Bok squad in the past few seasons, so knows better than anyone how they are placed.
What he doesn’t want to do though is single out one over any other, although as it is stating the obvious, he leaves little doubt that the incumbent first choice Jasper Wiese is currently in a league of his own.
“Jasper has been a really big stalwart over the past few seasons, the big advantage he brings is in getting us over the advantage line. He is a massive asset,” said Vermeulen.
Wiese has become a crucial player for the Boks as a ball carrier and it would be no surprise to anyone who was able to transform into a fly in the wall and capable of listening in on team meetings if they heard opposition coaches exhorting their players before games to stop Wiese getting his usual go forward and breaching the line as their first priority.
But it may be more complicated than just saying “stop Wiese and you stop the Boks”, not only because the Boks do have other ball carriers, but also because if you move away from the micro challenges of the here and now and focus on the macro goal of sustained global domination, there are other No 8s available to the Boks who can do a similar job.
EVAN IS A “GO-TO” MAN AT THE STORMERS
Evan Roos, who lines up in that position in what has become a rare start for him against Scotland at Loftus on Saturday is a case in point. His value to the Stormers is often underlined when he is not present. Going forward Ruan Ackermann will be charged with the role when Roos is absent, but the former Lions and Gloucester loose-forward was injured for most of his first season with the Stormers.
In any country Roos would surely be a shoo-in for the starting No 8 position, and the high regard that overseas players and pundits hold him in was underlined when he was both the Player of the Season and Players Player of the Season in the inaugural season of the URC.
But he’s also not alone in being a more than useful No 8. The currently injured Kwagga Smith has filled the role in the past and done it more than adequately, and he will be back to challenge for a place in what will be his third World Cup next year. And then there is Cameron Hanekom. Like Roos, Hanekom is an alumni of Paarl Boys High, but is currently playing for the Vodacom Bulls and excelling for them.
Although he played blindside flank and flourished in the role against England at Ellis Park last week, it is as a No 8 that he will challenge to become a starter going forward. He is 24, Roos is 26 - both have some time on their side and will be around when Wiese, who is now 30, and will be 31 in October, has hung up his boots.
WILL PLAY A LOT IN THE FUTURE BUT HE WILL WANT 2027
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has often responded to critics of his exclusion of Roos from his squads in the past by saying he will play plenty of test matches in the future, and Roos definitely features in his planning for the next World Cup window.
But it is the here and now, the competition for places in the 2027 World Cup squad, that is in focus in the buildup to Loftus, and with such stiff competition from Hanekom, Roos needs to deliver what is expected if he is to keep the challenges of the others, which may even include Munster’s former Stormers No 8 and World Junior Player of the Year Juarno Augustus at bay.
They were once seen to be in competition for the position at the Boks, when Vermeulen was at Ulster, but Vermeulen leaves no doubt that he rates Roos very highly.
“Rassie said he would give every guy an opportunity and this (game against Scotland) is Evan’s opportunity,” said Vermeulen.
“We have intense competition among the No 8s, they are all really good, talented players, and I would not like to separate them. This is his opportunity to show his worth to the Boks. We have seen Evan playing for the Stormers and he has been excellent. He is very much the go-to guy with the Stormers, the guy who gets them over the advantage line.
“We will be looking at him to get us some go forward on Saturday, bring some energy. Against Scotland energy on the pitch will be necessary,” he added.
HE WAS GOOD AT TWICKENHAM IN 2022
It would be a mistake to suggest Roos hasn’t excelled for the Boks before, and in big games too. If anyone watches the video of the Boks’ excellent win over England at Twickenham in 2022, the game that effectively ended coach Eddie Jones’ career with England, it will be noted that Roos made a strong contribution in London.
The problem was that he had both Vermeulen and Wiese ahead of him back then, just as he has Wiese ahead of him now and Hanekom also challenging. To get ahead he doesn’t need to bring more physical presence than he already does, but perhaps work on his soft skills.
And then there’s his discipline - he cost the Stormers on a few occasions last season, particularly in the draw against Ulster, when he effectively cost his team two tries with moments of hot headedness.
NEEDS TO FIT INTO THE STRUCTURE
He also needs to be much better when it comes to protecting possession when he has it, which might arguably be Erasmus’ biggest concern when it comes to backing him for the Bok role.
“We are working on that every day, on Evan behind the scenes, not just Evan but all the players. We are working on the soft skills. In the end it comes down to yourself, what you can produce and give to the team.
"As I’ve said, Evan is a fantastic player and we’ve seen what he does for the Stormers but there is a difference between the URC and test match rugby.”
Vermeulen was asked to elaborate and he did.
“The intensity of internationals is obviously up and it is quicker than URC or club level. At the Stormers there is more joie de vivre in their approach, a lot of open field rugby. In test match rugby there is a little bit more structure. Sometimes when you are used to playing more freely it is difficult to go into more structure.
“But I really like the way Evan plays, and this is an opportunity for him to showcase his ability,” Vermeulen concluded.