Current England captain Jamie George has hailed Springboks legend Duane Vermeulen as the toughest player that he has faced in his career.
Vermeulen was named player of the match in South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup final victory over the Red Rose as the Springboks won their third title with a 32-12 win.
The barnstorming number eight extended his career through to his 37th 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day to help clinch a fourth World Cup title in 2023 before hanging up his playing boots and switching them for a spot in the coaches’ box.
Despite leading the charge of England’s demise in 2019, George has spoken glowingly of the former back-rower’s rugby intellect and brutality on the pitch as he ranks him as the toughest player he has come up against.
Jamie George on Duane Vermeulen
“Obviously, it was really cool when I was younger to play against some of the GOATS,” George said on Danny Care’s Hits Different show.
“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 guy honestly, he hits different. Talk about like physicality, he is ridiculous but also his game feel, his understanding. He’s like however many kilos and he still jumps in the lineout, he’s got everything.
“He genuinely has everything and like, yeah, a bit mind-blowing really.”
It was at this point that Care added that Vermeulen has since joined Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks coaching team since his retirement.
The number eight initially joined SA Rugby’s coaching structures as a ‘roving coach’ working with all the national teams but was heavily involved with the Springboks during the Rugby Championship where South Africa emerged victorious.
“And that’s a sign of someone who’s got an unbelievable understanding of the game,” George continued.
“And you could see it in the way that he played, the people would come to him and ask him for answers and he’d have all 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 earned his 76th and final Test cap for the Springboks in the 12-11 victory over the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris.
He retired having won back-to-back titles with the Boks but sadly missed the 2021 British and Irish Lions series through injury. He also captained his country on four occasions and represented the Pumas, Cheetahs, Stormers, Toulon, Kubota Spears, Bulls and Ulster during his career.
