Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
32 - 18
FT
18 - 49
FT
35 - 10
FT
27 - 22
FT
34 - 24
FT
47 - 32
FT
30 - 33
FT
19 - 22
FT
14 - 0
FT
29 - 20
FT
11 - 10
FT
20 - 15
FT
29 - 10
FT
24 - 54
FT
21 - 17
FT
56 - 25
FT
21 - 27
FT
24 - 7
FT
20 - 17
FT
23 - 22
FT
15 - 40
FT
28 - 10
FT
20 - 12
FT
3 - 13
FT
33 - 14
FT
39 - 24
FT
Today
15:05
InternationalEnglandSouth Africa

The Springboks verdict on isolated England prop Joe Marler

By PA
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Springboks No8 Duane Vermeulen expects Joe Marler to be unaffected by his spell in self-isolation when he lines up for England on Saturday. Marler missed last weekend’s conclusive victory over Australia after testing positive for coronavirus and will only be able to leave quarantine the day before the Springboks arrive at Twickenham.

ADVERTISEMENT

England’s front row resources have been depleted by injury and Covid so Marler is expected to be included on the bench or the starting XV when Eddie Jones names his team on Thursday morning.

Vermeulen insists the Harlequins prop will not be fazed, citing the Springboks’ own experience of taking to the field soon after leaving isolation. “If I’m not mistaken, our South Africa squad did it against Georgia in the summer,” he said.

Video Spacer

Why Morne Steyn will be remembered as one of the greatest Springboks

Video Spacer

Why Morne Steyn will be remembered as one of the greatest Springboks

“And the guys were in lockdown before they played for the SA A team. They could only get out on the Friday to do their captain’s run. It’s going to have a major effect on you but as an individual, it is a little bit different to a bigger group of guys.

“If you are fit enough… Joe Marler is a good scrummager and loves a bit of banter on the field. He will be happy if he is starting or sitting on the bench.”

South African rugby has been rocked by the news that former prop Jannie du Plessis’ son drowned in a swimming pool on Tuesday. “We haven’t discussed it as a squad yet, but I woke up to a message from my missus about what had happened back home,” Vermeulen said.

“They are in our thoughts and on our minds, and we send our condolences to Jannie and family. It’s obviously a very difficult time and we will stand behind and support them in whatever way we can.”

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

1

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffers new injury setback

2

Initial Immanuel Feyi-Waboso injury update does not sound promising

3

Ex-Wallaby explains why All Blacks aren’t at ‘panic stations’ under Razor

4

Leinster player ratings vs Connacht | 2024/25 URC

5

Fissler Confidential: One England international in, one out for Bath

6

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

7

'Tom has the potential to be better than a British and Irish Lion'

8

Joe Schmidt names 40-man Wallabies squad for January camp

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

Lesser known names must step up if the franchise is to fulfil its aim of winning the URC and Champions Cup this season.

LONG READ

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Enforced rotation, poor results, and logistical and political issues have raised questions over the viability of South African Champions Cup involvements.

LONG READ

Return of 30-something brigade provides welcome tonic for Wales

The enduring class of Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams and Josh Adams on their returns gives Wales hope after a wretched year.

Comments on RugbyPass

D
DA 1 hour ago
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffers new injury setback

he should not be playing 12. He should be playing 10 and team managers should stop playing players out of position to accommodate libbok.

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Aus hasn’t owned the bled in 21 years.

176 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Dupont!!

176 Go to comments
J
Jobe 5 hours ago
Leinster player ratings vs Connacht | 2024/25 URC

I just can't agree with 8.5 for Ross Byrne. A 6 at best I would think.

2 Go to comments
B
Barry 6 hours ago
Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

I wouldn't take it personally that you didn't hear from Gatland, chief.


It's likely he just doesn't have your phone number.


You can't polish a turd. No coach can change that team at the moment.

12 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffers new injury setback

Uhh, he was playing inside centre?


Do you understand the role of a 12?

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

"aside from winning RWCs and playing some really good rugby?"


What a doos.

11 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 7 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Well if you’re correct in that assertion then it blows up all of the numbers in the original post that came from, do you recognise the overall number or even the 300k residual for senior male player numbers in SA?


Tbf, even 300k senior players is an impressive resource, particularly if there is a residual of untapped school talent that could be developed if required and resources allow.

176 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 7 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Now that is a slam dunk response right there!!!

176 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 7 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I’d say SA continuation is pretty much a slam dunk. They have brought much to the table in the URC with revenue growth, fan engagement and player enjoyment - yes, this is a factor too! On top of that there is still much headroom for further growth, both in the URC and especially with EPCR. The only resistance to SA teams comes from the English at present, mainly because they can’t win the CC any longer and their clubs are in real financial shit, but their recent overtures were firmly rejected.


I can only see great things on the horizon for SA inclusion in the URC and EPCR, if the right format adjustments are made. But if they are, then further success will follow and there is a strong likelihood that 6N becomes 7N as well.

176 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 7 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Great post and spot on in your analysis about generations to develop African rugby. There’s a strong argument to say that pursuing the successful URC path they’re already on and getting the EPCR comps to do similar will provide a role model for African countries AND fund SA activities, such as the development tours to Arg you mention, to help grow African rugby in parallel.

176 Go to comments
D
DH 7 hours ago
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffers new injury setback

That's twice he has tried to run at forwards and got his butt kicked. This isn't school boy rugby anymore. Give the ball to the forwards to take up and manage your runners outside of you. Ask Pollard for advice on how, if you don't understand

2 Go to comments
N
NB 8 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Pure fantasy JW.

176 Go to comments
N
NB 8 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Yes that comment bewildered me too! The Rand in bad shape.

176 Go to comments
N
NB 8 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

“I think if you asked me that question maybe three years ago or when I first left Australia, I had so much, I suppose, animosity or professional anger inside of me just because I felt like maybe my talent really wasn’t looked after in Australia.


“But to be honest now I feel like I am where I’m supposed to be, like here in Scotland. And I feel like all those things that happened early in my career were meant to happen because now I’m sitting here talking to you guys in the position that I am.”

From the horse's mouth. It's a better rugby destination.

176 Go to comments
N
NB 8 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

That's a bit of a "NZ" only problem, because those players need to reach such a high standard to be chosen by the All Blacks, were as a country like Ireland wants them a lot earlier like that.

Nah. Ireland had to put in a lot of work on guys like JGP and Lowey to get them to the standard expected. There were areas of their game that were sub-par when they first came over from NZ.

176 Go to comments
N
NB 8 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

They don't go for money, but for lifestyle, and NZ uses PI's a resource like everyone else. They don't belong to you.

176 Go to comments
N
NB 8 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Well I'm happy for it to go on until it naturally stops tbh.

Who on earth fo you think you represent JW?🤣

176 Go to comments
N
NB 8 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

James Lowe is a great example. He may have some Irish ancestors, but he was born, raised, and developed in NZ, and for all intents and purposes is a Kiwi. However, when he was ignored by selectors, he moved to Ireland and only had to wait 5 years before he could play for a different nation. If thats not ridiculous, I don't know what is.

On very thin ice there. I can still recall Frank Bunce , Alama Ieremia, Tuigamala and the Bachops playing for both PI's and NZ in their Test careers! They were interchangeable.


Most guys at this level now are multi-qualified.


And much of Lowe's development as a player occurred at Leinster, so why wouldn't Ireland profit from it?

176 Go to comments
N
NB 8 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

One of OJohn's Kiwi coaching 'moles'!

176 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Does the next Wallabies coach have to be an Australian? Does the next Wallabies coach have to be an Australian?
Search