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Jamie George hails double RWC-winning Bok as greatest ever opponent

By Josh Raisey
Jamie George - PA

England captain Jamie George has named former South Africa No 8 Duane Vermeulen as the best player he has ever faced.

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The 76-cap Springbok went head-to-head with the Englishman numerous times during his career, coming out on top in some of the biggest occasions – notably the 2019 World Cup final and the semi-final four years later.

Now a member of Rassie Erasmus’ South Africa coaching staff following his retirement after winning his second World Cup last year, Vermeulen has been praised for having an “unbelievable understanding of the game” as well as being a “freak”.

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Joining his former England team-mate and good friend Danny Care on the Hits Different podcast, George overlooked the likes of Brian O’Driscoll and Jonny Wilkinson when picking his toughest-ever opponent.

George will lead an England team coached by the legendary No 8 for the first time in November when England host the Springboks at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

Fixture
Internationals
England
11:40
16 Nov 24
South Africa
All Stats and Data

“It was really cool when I was younger to play against some of the GOATS,” the England hooker said.

“I played against O’Driscoll and Wilkinson, all those boys were the guys I grew up supporting, but I think the best player that I played against was Duane Vermeulen.

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“That guy honestly, he hits different. Talk about physicality, he is ridiculous but also his game feel, his understanding. However many kilos he is and he still jumps in the lineout, he’s got everything.

“He genuinely has everything, a bit mind-blowing really.

“He wasn’t overly outspoken on the field but he let his rugby do the talking and he’s a freak.”

Related

Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)

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T
Terry24 1 hour ago
'Bad as it gets': Sexton teammate holds nothing back slamming Ioane

RESPECT

Respect for team-mates, opponents, match officials and those involved in the game is paramount.

This is the standard that World Rugby expects all rugby nations including New Zealand to adhere to.

Further to this, a code of conduct has been created for players:

Code of conduct 1.11           shall not use crude or abusive language or gestures towards Match Officials or spectators;

Players are expected not to abuse officials or spectators.

Doing so is misconduct:


Misconduct 18.4 (b)     acting in an abusive, insulting, intimidating or offensive manner towards referees, assistant referees, Citing Commissioners, members of Disciplinary Tribunals or other officials or any person associated with the Host Union, the Rugby Body or the Unions participating in the Match or spectators;

Sexton was banned for abusing/disrespecting Peyper in what was the identical version of this for the Chamions League competition.

As Ioane made derogatory gestures two times towards Irish spectators in Stade De France, he is citable under the same misconduct regulation.


Finally individual Unions have reponsibility for their players actions:


18.5           Unions are responsible and accountable for the conduct of their Players and all Persons within their jurisdiction. Unions, Players and Persons must conduct themselves in a disciplined and sporting manner and ensure that they do not commit any act(s) of Misconduct.

World Rugby does not agree with your 'Sticks and Stones' view. Sexton's actions to Peyper was misconduct, and for the exact same reason Ioane's actions to Irish supporters are citable as misconduct.


Let's review what happenned again: After the final whistle when players were shaking hands Ioane shouted 'Enjoy the flight home you c**t' at the back of the Irish team captain's head. Retallick also shouts 'Four more years, f**kwit' to the Irish.

This absolutely contravenes the paramount principle of respect.


Ioane also makes disrespectful gestures to the Irish crowd twice, which is a citable offense and misconduct under the same regulation that Sexton was disciplined for abusing Peyper.


NZ are responsible and accountable for the conduct of their players. Foster did not appear to understand this when he defended Ioane. He obliquely referenced Sexton's incident with Peyper seemingly unaware that Ioane was citable under the exact same offence.


In short, NZ rugby did not take responsibility for the disrespect shown to Irish players, Irish supporters and Ireland. They actually double down on it.


The reason they were not made accountable is that Ireland did not bother to cite Ioane. Irish rugby left the stage quietly. That is why you didn't hear of this incident.


Given the hoopla in NZ over O'Mahony sledging Cane, if Ireland had simlarly abused NZ players and supporters after one of the matches in the test series we can assume the uproar would have been heard from space.


The upshot is that NZ have demeaned themselves and their tradition of humility in victory and defeat by their disrespect and mocking of another rugby nation after beating them. If you believe the Irish players have forgotten, then read Mack Hansens intreview on this website. Would NZ forget?

Finally you have lost the respect of a lot of the Irish rugby community. That's neither here nor there because NZ rugby and their fans (if this site is a reflection) don't value our respect.

See you in Dublin. We will shake hands afterwards. Hopefully NZ will respect us enough to do likelwise without abusing Irish players or abusing our amazing supporters again.

94 Go to comments
C
CO 1 hour ago
South Africa should be everyone's second favourite team

They're definitely gaming the system as much as possible. They use the HIA system to rotate players after they empty their bench and they milk penalties via guys like Kolbe running into props and pretend to have been flattened. Kolbe being the same guy who deliberately slaps down passes.


They also are producing a steady stream of positive drug tests.


Definitely admire some of their play, the blend of attacking flair coming through makes them better to watch than last year.


As an Allblacks supporter I don't give much thought to a second team to support. I thought England played tremendously well this year and were unlucky to lose both tests to the Allblacks by a whisker.


Argentina have really lifted their peak but are still troughing straight after their highs.


Fiji are always a great watch.


But for sheer technical brilliance and quality with a small player base the Irish would be first pick if it wasn't for the poaching of overseas professionals and the bitter Sexton.


So, with some brilliance, all legit homegrown talent, brilliant backs, quality homegrown coach with Contempi, tough warriors like Matera and the even more terrifying loose forward it would have to be Argentina. The puma on the jersey being a cool touch.


The Puma's will definitely win RWC and it's not far away. They are not afraid of any team, have beaten all the other top sides and their country are prolific football talent with football giving the rugby team a real boost with footwork, goal kicking, clearance.


They regularly make the semis and yes they choked against the Allblacks at RWC but NZ rugby is rapidly weakening as evidenced by it's top super side signing a retired Wallaby at ten due to its lack of confidence in it's homegrown pivots and it's increasingly one dimensional player depth.


It would be of no surprise that the Puma's dominate the Allblacks within a decade of the direction of travel continues as expected.


38 Go to comments
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