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Cape Town - Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen has paid tribute to Lions skipper Warren Whiteley in the build-up to Saturday’s Super Rugby clash between the sides at Newlands.
The Lions, who go into Saturday knowing that only a win will keep their playoff aspirations alive, have been a vastly improved side this season with No 8 Whiteley having received much praise along the way.
“He’s an exceptional player,” Vermeulen said of his opposite number.
“He’s a guy that never seems to tire. He runs around and is happy to lead a perfectly good team that follows him.
“He’s a good leader … exceptional guy and a very good workhorse.”
Vermeulen added that it wasn’t only Whiteley who deserved credit, but the Lions’ other two regular loose forwards Jaco Kriel and Warwick Tecklenburg.
“They have also been exceptional this year and as a combination they just work together and they work hard for each other,” said Vermeulen.
“It’s going to be a tough battle for us and definitely one as loose forwards that we’re looking forward to.”
A Stormers victory on Saturday will secure them top spot in the South African conference regardless of what happens in their final fixture against the Sharks in Durban next weekend, but Vermeulen is approaching this weekend like he would any other.
“Any game in Super Rugby is a big game for us. If you look at a game lightly then you end up losing a game like we did against the Cheetahs,” said Vermeulen.
“You have to take every game seriously. Every game is tough out there.”
The match kicks off at 17:05.
