Opinion: Duane Vermeulen remains a prized asset for Springboks as Rugby World Cup looms

The Springboks have an array of player options at number eight, but there is little doubt that Duane Vermeulen remains one of the team’s most prized assets as the 2023 Rugby World Cup looms on the horizon.

There are now just over 500 days to go until the highly-anticipated opening game of the global showpiece next year, and make no mistake, that period of time will pass by in a flash.

As defending champions, South Africa‘s preparations and considerations for the tournament are already intensifying, with head coach Jacques Nienaber openly referencing the World Cup when recently discussing the first player selections of this year.

After gathering a group of players for the first Springbok alignment camp at the beginning of April, Nienaber faced plenty of questions around the unexpected omissions of in-form Stormers star Evan Roos and Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee. Both are best suited to a role at number eight, and the Bok coach reiterated that there has to be consideration for the limited spots available in the loose-forward department when casting a long-term view to the 2023 World Cup.

“When we go to the World Cup, there are only five spots available for loose forwards… We honestly believe that Duane can still make France 2023, as is the case with Pieter-Steph (du Toit) and Siya Kolisi… Kwagga Smith was also with us at the Rugby World Cup in 2019. If he continues playing good rugby then he can also still make it to France.

“The fifth guy we used in 2019 was Francois Louw and obviously he retired, but look at the age of those other players. Duane is 35, Siya is 30, Pieter-Steph is 29 and then Kwagga is 28. He’s almost a youngster pushing the three older dogs there.”

Nienaber’s point is that, barring injury, four of the