Vermeulen close to return, but Du Toit, De Klerk set to miss Rugby Champs start

While Duane Vermeulen may be ready to return to the Springbok set-up for the Rugby Championship opener against Argentina next weekend, there is little chance of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Faf de Klerk being cleared for action.

Vermeulen returned to the Bok set-up earlier this week after recovering from an ankle injury picked up a few weeks ago but was not considered for the third Test against the British and Irish Lions this weekend.

Jasper Wiese will again don the No 8 jersey, as he did last weekend, after Kwagga Smith started at eighthman in the first Test.

Vermeulen, while actively training with his Bok team-mates, simply isn’t ready for Test action, explained Bok coach Jacques Nienaber.

“Duane is in the process of making a return to play. He has done his rehabilitation work and is now in the next phase, which is the training phase,” said Nienaber.

“The rehab guys did a great job with him and it’s nice having him back in the group, but we’ll never play him if he’s not ready. He also has to be confident in himself to play.

“Remember he hasn’t been in this environment for a while and needs to get up to speed with what’s been going on in the squad as well, regarding calls and certain plays.”

If all goes well though the big No 8 may play next weekend in Nelson Mandela Bay.

ALSO READ: Is the scene set for Morne Steyn to repeat 2009 Lions series show?

There is, however, some concern about the injuries suffered by Du Toit and De Klerk last weekend. Neither will play in the Lions series decider, Du Toit’s place being taken by Franco Mostert and De Klerk’s by Cobus Reinach.

“Pieter-Steph is still getting his shoulder checked out by specialists and we’ll have more clarity by the end of the week,” said Nienaber.

“And Faf has a soft tissue issue and he’ll be out for three to five weeks.”

Reinach said the Bok game-plan wouldn’t change much with him coming into the side.

“It doesn’t matter who is at nine; Faf is left-footed, I’m right-footed, but we all know our roles, even Herschel (Jantjies)… it doesn’t matter who plays. We still have to go out there and execute.”

The Boks this week called into the squad additional players Dan du Preez, Johan Grobbelaar and Jaden Hendrikse to cover for the injured men.