Duane Vermeulen

As one of three players to have played in all 12 of South Africa’s Test matches in 2014 it is safe to say No.8 Duane Vermeulen is now an integral part of Heyneke Meyer’s plans for the World Cup.

A stellar year that included a man-of-the-match performance in October’s win over the All Blacks, and culminated in his nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year.

The next goal for Vermeulen will be impressing on the World stage in his first ever World Cup tournament after only making his debut in the Rugby Championship in 2012 at the age of 26.

“It wasn’t always a dream to play for the Springboks – that developed later on, and now I want to play in a World Cup. Hopefully I can stay in the team,” he said,” Vermeulen said.

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The 28-year-old has as many caps as he has years on the clock, meaning Victor Matfield’s tally of 120 caps looks well beyond his reach. But, being a relatively late-starter in international rugby terms, he hopes to carry on playing for as long as possible.

“I think it’s amazing that he (Matfield) is still playing at 37. It’s definitely something that motivates you. I’d love to play until I’m 37 but I don’t know if my body will keep up.”

The 2015 World Cup in England may well be Vermeulen’s only chance to shine at the prestigious tournament as he will be over 34 by the time the 2019 competition in Japan rolls around.

Most South African fans would love to see Vermeulen wrapped up in cotton wool from now until Rugby World Cup 2015, but the Stormers ace, who weighs 116kg and stands 1.93m tall, will continue to keeping doing what he does best: battering the opposition into submission.

“I like running into people,” the Springbok strongman said.

“Rugby is a collision sport, otherwise I could have gone and played chess or tennis or whatever.

“Yeah, you do feel it and sometimes it is difficult to get out of bed.”

Heavy-duty carrying is in Vermeulen’s DNA, with his natural strength originating from his early days on the family farm.

“I don’t really like the gym. Growing up on a farm you do a lot of different stuff that you can link to gym work, like picking up bags of food for the animals, so that was my gym in the younger days,” he continued.

“There was never time for watching TV and stuff like that, it was always get up early and go to tend to the sheep or whatever. It was an outdoor life and I did all the sports you could think of.

“I even tried hammer throwing.”