Duane “Thor” Vermeulen will face the Stormers in a Captain America outfit in Sunday’s superhero clash in Cape Town.
And it’s not going down well with Stormers fans.
Having signed for north-south rivals the Bulls at the start of the season, Thor, as he is nicknamed, will square off against his former teammates, who will play in the outfit of the superhero Vermeulen is named after.
The 32-year-old, who played for the Stormers between 2009 and 2015, knows he will get some stick from fans at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday (4.15 pm).
Having been included in the Bulls’ starting XV for the clash, alongside fellow new signing Schalk Brits, Vermeulen tells SuperSport of the expected backlash at Cape Town Stadium: “You’ve got your critics and guys who will keep following you.
“I spoke to a psychologist before the World Cup and he said 60 percent of people will always like what you do, and 40 percent will dislike [your actions] no matter what you do, even if it is a good cause.
“So if you are happy with 60 percent, then you can live and go on.”
Stormers fans, though, are in no mood to forgive their former star No.8 that quickly.
Bulls:
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Duncan Matthews, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Lood de Jager (captain), 4 Eli Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits and 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Simphiwe Matanzina, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Ruan Steenkamp, 21 Thembelani Bholi, 22 Embrose Papier, 23 Manie Libbok, 24 Dylan Sage, 25 Johnny Kotze, 26 Divan Rossouw.
Stormers fans on social media:
Wendy de Nobrega: “Stormers jersey suits him better!!!! Any time!!!!”
Wendy Weyer-Henderson: “No it’s wrong he belongs in a Stormers Jersey.”
Kevin Stuart Albutt: “He just threw his name and reputation away... end of story.”
Vernon Jansen van Bloemfontein: “Thor can't even wear his own suit... He needs to downgrade to Captain Bulls… Stormers are waiting for the real Thor …”
Irshaad Allie: “He would look better in a Thor jersey.”