The Toyota Cheetahs will welcome a special guest to Bloemfontein next week as they enjoy a well-earned break in the SA Cup, following their emphatic 87–15 win over the SWD Eagles.
After six rounds of action, the team gets a chance to rest – but not entirely. There will still be a couple of important training sessions, and they’ll be made even more valuable with two-time Rugby World Cup winner and former Cheetah, Duane Vermeulen, lending a hand.
Vermeulen – along with Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus – was in Bloemfontein last month for a social visit, enjoying a golf day at the Bloemfontein Golf Club. But this time around, it’s all business.
As part of his role as Springbok assistant coach, Vermeulen is visiting unions around the country to help players refine the finer aspects of their game.
Cheetahs head coach, Frans Steyn – a former teammate and close friend of Vermeulen – told OFM Sport they’re looking forward to the insights the Bok legend can bring.
“I roomed with him when I rejoined the Springboks in 2019. After the British & Irish Lions series, we didn’t, because of the Covid bubble,” said Steyn.
“He’s got so much knowledge when it comes to areas like the breakdown and mauls – especially the breakdown, which we’re currently struggling with. Sometimes it takes someone else saying exactly what I’m already saying for the players to really take it in.
“As coaches, it’s also good for us to get a sense of what’s trending with Rassie and the Boks, and what they’re focusing on. So, spending time with Duane will be a real bonus.”
Steyn, still relatively new to coaching, is learning on the job, alongside his assistant Ruan Pienaar. He added that any help is incredibly valuable at this stage.
“You must remember – Duane’s going back to Rassie after this, and they’re definitely going to chat. What are the Cheetahs up to? Which players are standing out? So for us, it’s a huge opportunity, especially for the players.
“The more often they’re available and willing to come to Bloem and help out, the more we’ll learn. Why wouldn’t we take that chance?”
The timing of Vermeulen’s visit couldn’t be better with the team not preparing for a weekend fixture, giving players the space to focus fully on development.
“There’s no need to rush – on Tuesday, when he’s here, we can slow things down and make sure we get the small details right,” said Steyn.
‘To see how the Boks do things’
“I’m really looking forward to having him here. It’ll be good for the players to see how the Boks do things. It’s one thing for me to say in a meeting, ‘We need to do it like this’. But like I said earlier, sometimes it takes someone else saying the exact same thing for it to sink in.”
Although Vermeulen began his professional career with the Pumas in his hometown of Nelspruit, it was at the Cheetahs where he truly made his mark. He played for the side from 2007 to 2009 before moving on to Western Province and the Stormers.
