Duane Vermeulen Fires Back at Claims Springboks Are Taking Wallabies Lightly in Perth
- Springbok assistant coach Duane Vermeulen pushed back at suggestions that 13 changes to the starting XV signal a lack of respect for Australia
- Rassie Erasmus retained only Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker from the side that beat the All Blacks in Baltimore
- Vermeulen warned that Australia's extended opportunity to study South Africa's game before Perth could give Les Kiss a tactical edge
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Springbok assistant coach Duane Vermeulen has firmly rejected the notion that South Africa's sweeping team changes for Sunday's Test against Australia in Perth reflect a casual attitude towards the Wallabies.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus named a significantly reshuffled side, retaining only lock Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker from the starting XV that defeated the All Blacks in Baltimore.
The scale of the rotation, coming off four demanding Tests against New Zealand, led to questions about whether the Springboks could sustain their competitive edge.
Vermeulen Dismisses Talk of Complacency
Vermeulen was direct when the suggestion of disrespect towards Australia was put to him. He linked the selection to a commitment Erasmus made at the start of the year, that players across the broader squad would receive chances to prove themselves. Sunday's fixture represents one of those chances, and Vermeulen made clear the incoming players carry the full weight of Springbok expectations.
When pressed on whether the team might find it difficult to generate the same intensity after the All Blacks series, his response was equally pointed.
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"That may be your perspective," Vermeulen replied. "But it's not as if we go into a Wallabies Test and say, 'let's just throw the ball around and have fun because it's not the All Blacks'. They are a tier-one nation, a team on the rise, and they are playing really well, so we've been preparing hard."
Australia's Knowledge of Springbok Plays a Concern
Vermeulen used the time between Tests to run through plays and bed in new combinations, cautioning that the break should not be read as a period of rest.
He also raised a specific concern about Australia's preparation. Les Kiss' squad had access to all four Tests between South Africa and New Zealand, giving them an extended window to study Springbok patterns before facing them in Perth. Vermeulen expects the Wallabies to arrive with a well-developed plan and views their recent form as a genuine warning sign.
The result is a dual challenge for Erasmus' restructured side: defend South Africa's standards and justify the faith placed in them by the coaching staff.
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Source: Briefly News
