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'Pretty impressive wasn't he' - Bok superstar's big shift raises URC smiles
By RugbyPass
Ulster coach Dan McFarland was smiling broadly on Saturday night, but not only because his side had comprehensively beaten Zebre in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter.
McFarland was more happy about the form of his recent signing - Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen a couple of hours before in the Rugby Championship win over the All Blacks.
Vermeulen put in a classic performance, turning over the ball at a crucial time in the dying moments of the game as the Springboks regained their world number one ranking with a win over their arch-rivals.
"What about that in arguably the biggest match you can get in the international calendar - South Africa against New Zealand," McFarland said afterwards.
"He was pretty impressive wasn't he."
Vermeulen will now head to Ulster to hook up with his new team before possibly rejoining the Springboks for their November tests against Wales, Scotland and England.
Still, while he may not play straight away for Ulster, McFarland had seen enough to be salivating at the prospect of him running out in Belfast for the team.
"He makes the two biggest plays in the last five minutes of the game that turn it in the Springboks' favour."
Vermeulen’s signing has been seen as a massive coup for the side, who lost Marcell Coetzee last season to the Bulls and have been searching for a marquee player ever since. While Vermeulen missed the games against the British and Irish Lions, Saturday’s form showed he is almost back to his best.
Ulster thrashed Zebre 36-3 as coach McFarland sounded pretty chuffed with the result.
“What do you want me to say? Can we get better? Of course we can. Did I think some of those great fellows put in a great shift against a team that scored 26 points last week in the space of 40 minutes and we held them to no tries? I'm really pleased with that.
"Second game of the year. Was there some disjointed stuff? If you want that answer, yes."
Another Springbok who made a big impression on Saturday was lock RG Snyman who scored the try that turned the tide for Munster against the DHL Stormers in Limerick.
And his South African coach Johann van Graan was singing his praises afterwards.
“That was a big moment for him and for us," said Van Graan. "Last week was all about getting back on the pitch after such an extended period (out injured) and this game was about contributing even more.
"That try was even one of the reasons why we have him at Munster, to do those type of things. He has a lot more to come but like I said before, he has to keep building his minutes.
“That was a special moment for him tonight to say he has scored his first try for Munster.”
Snyman may well be on the Springboks radar after missing most of the international season and could link up again with the national side ahead of their three test tour of Wales, Scotland and England next month.
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Latest Comments
I think you have gone in the wrong direction here Nick. I think you need to delve down into the rules etc around Moana Pacifica’s selection policies and then you need to understand that a lot of KIWI BORN rugby players have PI heritage. It appears ok for the 4 home nations to pillage NZ born players constantly without retribution but you want to question whether NZ BORN players should be eligible for NZ? Seems a real agenda in there.
Go back and look at the actual Aims and agenda for MP becoming a entity and you see lots of things enshrined in policy that you arnt mentioning here. EG there is an allowance for a percentage of MP to be NZ eligible. This was done so MP could actually become competitive. Lets be real. If it wasnt this way then MP would not be competitive.
There also seems to be some sort of claim ( mainly from the NH ) that NZ is “cashing in” on MP, which , quite frankly is a major error. Are you aware of how much MP costs NZR Financially?
39 NZ born rugby players played at the last world cup for Samoa or Tonga. PLUS plenty for Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.
Taumoefolau is a BORN AND BRED NZer. However I very strongly doubt he will be an AB, but who do you believe he should be allowed to play for? Levi Aumua is ALSO a born and bred Kiwi.
Aumua was eligible to represent Samoa and Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup in July that year but ended up playing for neither. He IS eligible for his nation of Birth too Nick
He is a Kiwi. Are you saying an NZ born, raised Kiwi cant play for NZ now?
Sorry Nick Kiwi born and bred actually qualify for NZ.
Go to commentsYeah, Richie certainly stepped up for the ABs in 2022 and 2023 and proved he could translate his skills into the test arena. You have to understand many fans checked out at that point though, only to tune back in for a directionless WC final.
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