Duane Vermeulen has thrown his weight behind Rassie Erasmus’ refreshed Springbok line-up, insisting the mix of youth and experience is tailor-made to bounce back against the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.
The newly appointed SA Rugby Mobi-Unit coach, a double World Cup-winning No 8, dismissed concerns over missing senior names, saying the Rugby Championship clash offers the perfect stage for emerging stars to prove themselves under fire.
“We need to look at the future,” Vermeulen stressed.
“There are young guys who’ve put up their hands, and this is their chance to show if they can handle the pressure.”
He welcomed Jasper Wiese’s return from suspension.
“He gives us real go-forward” and praised the bold lock pairing of Lood de Jager and Ruan Nortje, with RG Snyman providing impact from the bench.
“It’s about rotation. You can’t run Eben (Etzebeth) every week, and this gives others the opportunity to step up.”
Vermeulen admitted mistakes from both youngsters and veterans proved costly in last week’s Auckland defeat, but remains bullish that the “exciting backline” can shine if given front-foot ball.
“I believe this team has the balance to compete,” he said.
“It’s not about discarding experience, it’s about building towards 2027.”
The Boks face the All Blacks at Sky Stadium, with kickoff at 09h05 (SA time), live on SuperSport.
