With Vermeulen fit, who should be the loosies against Wallabies?

DUANE Vermeulen, speaking from the Gold Coast in Australia this week, said he had been impressed by his No 8 replacement Jasper Wiese during the Springboks’ triumph over the British & Irish Lions.

Wiese almost came of age against Argentina in the first two Rugby Championship matches in Gqeberha, though, where his trademark ball-carrying was more evident than against the Lions.

He produced a man-of-the-match display in the first Pumas encounter as well. But now that the 35-year-old is fit and healthy again after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of the Lions series, what should the Bok loose trio look like for next Sunday’s first clash against Australia at Robina Stadium?

With 2019 World Player of the Year Pietersteph du Toit a long-term injury absentee, blindside flank is probably the most contentious position at the moment.

Seeing that Vermeulen is 100% ready to play, he should slot in at No 8 against the Wallabies – although there is some merit in him operating at No 7, as he did play a lot of rugby there in the first half of his career.

Wiese first came into the national reckoning when he outplayed Vermeulen for the Cheetahs against the Bulls last year, where after he joined English club Leicester.

Vermeulen said he hoped to “share some tips and tricks” with Wiese on tour in Australia. And considering the latter’s performances against Argentina in particular, is there a case for him to line up at blindside flank against the Wallabies?

It is a tough call, as he has just truly found his feet as a No 8 for the Boks. While some players may say there aren’t major differences between the three loose-forward positions, there are some nuances – especially at Test level. The running lines are a bit different for a No 7 compared to a 8, while jumping in the lineouts is another factor. What complicates matters further for coach Jacques Nienaber is the fact that RG Snyman has not made the trip Down Under due to personal reasons.

So, there is one less lock to choose from, which makes Franco Mostert a key figure off the bench behind Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager. The loose forwards in the squad are Vermeulen, Wiese, captain Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Dan du Preez, Jeanluc du Preez and Rynhardt Elstadt. Both Du Preez brothers can fulfil a blindside flank role, as they are tall enough to jump in the lineouts and are aggressive ball-carriers and tacklers. But someone like Van Staden – and Smith, for that matter – brings a different dynamic, as he is a classical fetcher who has also improved his agility and physicality in recent seasons.

And that might be useful against a Wallaby loose trio that boasts one of the best scavengers in the game in captain Michael Hooper. Nienaber was happy to employ Mostert as a No 7 in recent matches, but with the quality loose-forward specialists available in the current squad, it’s not worth risking him to get injured out of position. The best way to go for Nienaber may be Kolisi, Jean-luc and Vermeulen, with Wiese and Van Staden on the bench.