The Springboks know exactly what’s coming this Saturday and SA’s Mobi-Unit coach Duane Vermeulen, who is embedded with the team, isn’ sugar-coating it. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
Scotland arrive with pedigree, cohesion and a recent scalp that should silence any talk of altitude being a free pass.
“They played really well against Argentina away [last week] and they played well in the Six Nations too,” Vermeulen said at a media conference in Sandton on Tuesday. “They’re on the up, and a team you definitely need to make sure you know your roles against.”
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That warning carries extra weight given what Vermeulen watched unfold at Loftus not long ago.
“Glasgow came here and played the Bulls [in the 2024 Vodacom URC final]. The first half was fantastic for the Bulls, and then in the second half, Glasgow got their voice, got their energy and altitude didn’t play a big role. They actually beat the Bulls.”
The message is blunt: the thin air won’t save South Africa if intensity drops.
Vermeulen paints Scotland as a side built for chaos and control in equal measure.
“They’re a really fit side, a skilful side, they want to take the ball wide, touchline to touchline, and they’ve got really mobile forwards.”
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It’s a complete game, he warns, not just the eye-catching backline threat everyone talks about.
“Everyone looks at the attack, but they’ve got a really strong defence as well. We’ve assessed that, and we’re working really hard on it.”
Then there’s the ferocity up front. Edinburgh and Glasgow’s forward packs, Vermeulen says, simply don’t buckle.
“They stay in the fight. Obviously we want to take them physically, but they’re well coached and they know exactly what they want to achieve.”
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With new maul laws in play, he’s expecting a Scotland side willing to lean on that extra structure more than usual.
But the coach’s real emphasis is on the collisions and the fight for scraps.
“It’s not being played off set-phase, first-phase strikes anymore. It’s about who can transition the quickest off turnovers. That’s a big thing every team is working on.”
For the Springboks, Saturday isn’t just about winning the ball. It’s about winning it back, faster, every single time.
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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Boks expect Scottish chaos appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Springboks know exactly what’s coming this Saturday and SA’s Mobi-Unit coach Duane Vermeulen, who is embedded with the team, isn’ sugar-coating it.
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