­
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER

SA Rugby magazine

South African rugby news, interviews, videos and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER
You are here: Home ∼ RWC memory: Duane’s glorious offload

RWC memory: Duane’s glorious offload

Duane Vermeulen offloads to Fourie du Preez Duane Vermeulen_offload_vs_Wales_RWC_2015
Published on April 8, 2020

In the second instalment of a series looking at our favourite World Cup memories, MARIETTE ADAMS relives Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen’s magic moment in 2015.

Since the inaugural tournament in 1987, the Rugby World Cup has been graced with the presence of the greatest players competing for the sport’s ultimate prize. Along the way and in the tournament’s rich history, there’s been elation, heartbreak, upsets, fantastic tries, dramatic late clinchers, stunning individual and team performances and instant magic moments.

Safely locked away in my memory bank, are a few wonderful World Cup moments that brought and still bring me unbelievable joy. But my all-time favourite World Cup moment comes from 2015 quarter-final between South Africa and Wales.

Dylan Jack’s World Cup memory: Lukhanyo Am’s remarkable play

During every four-year World Cup cycle, there’s talk of how the northern-hemisphere nations will finally pull it together to usurp their southern rivals at the greatest showpiece of them all. In 2015, that sort of talk was even more enhanced because the World Cup was staged in the United Kingdom.

And it was touch and go for a moment there as it looked like both the Springboks and Wallabies would make their exit at the quarter-final stage at the hands of Wales and Scotland, respectively. But Bernard Foley landed a controversial last-minute penalty to give Australia a 35-34 win over the Scots, while Fourie du Preez scored a late try to help the Boks beat the Welsh 23-19. With those wins, the Boks and Wallabies joined the All Blacks (who beat France) and Argentina (who beat Ireland) in the semi-finals. An all southern-hemisphere and Rugby Championship semi-final lineup. Glorious.

Our World XV: The back three

But I digress. As mentioned, Du Preez scored the winning try for the Boks. But it’s the sequence of play in the buildup to his diving effort in the corner that brought a tear to my eye at the time and now will stay with me forever.

Having already suffered a most humiliating defeat in their tournament opener by Japan (JAPAN), Heyneke Meyer’s Boks appeared to be unable to overcome Wales’ resistance. Leading 19-18 with five minutes to go, Wales were poised for only their third victory against the Springboks in 109 years. South Africa hadn’t been playing all that well up to that point and for them to win the Test to stay in the contest for the Webb Ellis Cup, was always going to take a moment of genius. And Vermeulen produced it.

The hulking No 8 broke away on the blindside from an attacking scrum inside the Wales 22, drawing the attention of both replacement scrumhalf Lloyd Williams and wing Alex Cuthbert. Instantly recognising the space on the outside thanks to Cuthbert shooting in off his line, Vermeulen executed the most audacious no-look, reverse-flick offload to Du Preez, who read the play perfectly and ran an equally sublime angle to latch on to the pass before making a beeline for the tryline.

Big players stand up and stand out when the big moments require it and with his clutch play, Vermeulen proved he is as big as they come.


Photo: Getty Images

Posted in Columns, Mariette Adams, News, Test Rugby, Top headlines, World Cup Tagged 2015 World Cup, duane vermeulen, fourie du preez, Rugby World Cup, Springboks, Wales, World Cup

Post by stagingsar

stagingsar

Check out Blackout Rugby Manager HERE!

← Previous Next →

Sevens’ party falls flat

World Rugby shouldn’t have messed with a winning sevens formula, writes SIMON...

Draining format clogs Blitzboks’ blockage

A protracted schedule took the wind out of South Africa's sails at...

England cut Eddie, Razor to stop the bleeding

England have made the rash decision to part ways with coach Eddie...

Rassie ref hom in die rooi

Rassie Erasmus is hardly the embarrassment that some are making him out...

Cut and paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Kurt-Lee Arendse ticks all the right boxes to replace the injured Cheslin...

Rassie auditions for England job

Rassie Erasmus has made the most calculated of public job applications to...

Boks need to make mentality adjustment

The Springboks need to lose their underdog mentality, writes SIMNIKIWE XABANISA in...

Kolbe’s worth every penny

Cheslin Kolbe’s big-money move to Toulon should be welcomed as a massive...

‘Bok gameplan, when executed correctly, is hard to match’

The opportunity to play against the All Blacks is a career highlight...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Bonus-point Bulls douse Dragons
  • Munster maul luckless Lions
  • Stormers sign off 2022 in style
  • Sharks carve Bulls on New Year’s Eve

Jacques Burger’s Perfect XV

    BKT United Rugby Championship, Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland 8/1/2023 Glasgow Warriors vs DHL Stormers Stormers' Damian Willemse Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Craig Watson
  • Highlights: Heartbreak for Stormers in Glasgow thriller

###


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

African Insider
African Insider News

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup
    • Challenge Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER