Duane Vermeulen - The Truth About Rassie, Why 2019 Was Never The Plan & The Toughest Player He Ever Faced

Duane Vermeulen joins the Fan Van for a brilliant look back at a career that delivered some of the defining moments in Springbok history. From the extraordinary turnaround under Rassie Erasmus and why winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup was never actually part of the original plan, to thinking his Bok career was finished before being called back for one final shot at glory in 2023, Duane lifts the lid on what made that generation so special. He also reveals how Rassie first discovered him, the evolution of his coaching over nearly 20 years and why the Springboks’ success ultimately comes down to getting the right people pulling towards one goal.

There are plenty of stories from one of the toughest No.8s to ever play the game too: returning from neck fusion to face Samoa at the 2015 World Cup, picking out defenders as his “customers”, naming Richie McCaw as the toughest opponent he ever faced and recalling some unforgettable battles with the All Blacks. Plus, Duane tells the story of refusing Robbie Fleck’s request to repeat himself in English, accidentally drinking his coach’s entire bottle of brandy and the moment Os du Randt was mistaken for his dad. A proper Fan Van episode with one of South African rugby’s modern greats.

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