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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town - Despite positive noises around his rehabilitation, Duane Vermeulen may still be fighting an uphill battle to be fit for consideration for the World Cup.
Normally one of the toughest and least injury-prone of South African rugby players, the Stormers’ stalwart No 8 - he can also double as a blindside flank - had the mortifying experience in mid-June of damaging a knee and requiring surgery in the last ordinary-season Super Rugby fixture against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The setback came at roughly the same time that Peter de Villiers, the Springbok coach, was beginning to speak in more and more complimentary terms about the qualities the Emerging Bok might be able to offer at senior level for the World Cup.
But then the 25-year-old was sidelined and a place in the squad to travel to New Zealand in defence of the trophy was always going to be a dark horse scenario for him.
The situation can probably be said to be unchanged, several weeks later.
The good news is that Vermeulen appears to be responding at the required rate of knots to his rehabilitation, thus keeping his fan club on tenterhooks.
Western Province marketing general manager, Gavin Lewis, told Sport24 that the player was progressing “well”.
He said: “Both the specialists and trainers are happy with progress. He is back on the bike and rower, and training.
“Duane will see a specialist again in four weeks.”
Meanwhile Vermeulen himself tweeted on Friday (translated from Afrikaans): “Rehab going very well and probably have five weeks or so ... then I’m back on the field. Can’t wait.”
The problem from a possible Springbok point of view is that five weeks from last Friday takes his return to action to around September 9, which is a mere two days before the Boks open their RWC account against Wales in Wellington.
Whether a risk would be worth taking on the hitherto uncapped Vermeulen, perhaps for integration to the team a little further down the World Cup line, arguably depends on just how significantly De Villiers has swung into “pro-Duane” mode.
His high work rate and physicality, if acceptably fit, could yet prove useful against such uncompromising opponents as Samoa, whom the Boks meet in their last group match at North Harbour on September 30.
Pierre Spies has almost always been the first-choice No 8 for the Boks in recent seasons, but the Bulls player has his critics, who see him as a “fits and start” sort of customer who is best utilised as a rampaging attacking weapon when the national side has front-foot momentum.
But Bok forward play has regressed a little, if anything, and the chances of their establishing a true stranglehold on top-notch opponents in the engine room at the World Cup are receding.
Few could deny that if Spies does have one clear advantage over Vermeulen it is in the area of explosive pace.
But Spies is currently embroiled in fitness concerns of his own, with reports emerging that a groin problem he has is proving more irksome than anticipated.
Loose forward is usually a department where the Boks have blissfully few concerns - their depth has been astonishing for many years.
But it is suddenly looking like a major problem area, if mainly because of the swollen tally of top candidates who are in “recovery” mode and, as with Vermeulen, rather racing the clock to assure of their readiness.
If the Boks are going to take a chance on one loosie who may not be fully match fit at the very outset of the World Cup, it is much likelier to be seasoned Juan Smith (the lanky Free Stater hasn’t seen action since as far back as February 25) than the international novice Vermeulen.
But you can also bet that the WP man will not give up easily in his long-shot quest to make the cut ...
Cape Town - Despite positive noises around his rehabilitation, Duane Vermeulen may still be fighting an uphill battle to be fit for consideration for the World Cup.
Normally one of the toughest and least injury-prone of South African rugby players, the Stormers’ stalwart No 8 - he can also double as a blindside flank - had the mortifying experience in mid-June of damaging a knee and requiring surgery in the last ordinary-season Super Rugby fixture against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The setback came at roughly the same time that Peter de Villiers, the Springbok coach, was beginning to speak in more and more complimentary terms about the qualities the Emerging Bok might be able to offer at senior level for the World Cup.
But then the 25-year-old was sidelined and a place in the squad to travel to New Zealand in defence of the trophy was always going to be a dark horse scenario for him.
The situation can probably be said to be unchanged, several weeks later.
The good news is that Vermeulen appears to be responding at the required rate of knots to his rehabilitation, thus keeping his fan club on tenterhooks.
Western Province marketing general manager, Gavin Lewis, told Sport24 that the player was progressing “well”.
He said: “Both the specialists and trainers are happy with progress. He is back on the bike and rower, and training.
“Duane will see a specialist again in four weeks.”
Meanwhile Vermeulen himself tweeted on Friday (translated from Afrikaans): “Rehab going very well and probably have five weeks or so ... then I’m back on the field. Can’t wait.”
The problem from a possible Springbok point of view is that five weeks from last Friday takes his return to action to around September 9, which is a mere two days before the Boks open their RWC account against Wales in Wellington.
Whether a risk would be worth taking on the hitherto uncapped Vermeulen, perhaps for integration to the team a little further down the World Cup line, arguably depends on just how significantly De Villiers has swung into “pro-Duane” mode.
His high work rate and physicality, if acceptably fit, could yet prove useful against such uncompromising opponents as Samoa, whom the Boks meet in their last group match at North Harbour on September 30.
Pierre Spies has almost always been the first-choice No 8 for the Boks in recent seasons, but the Bulls player has his critics, who see him as a “fits and start” sort of customer who is best utilised as a rampaging attacking weapon when the national side has front-foot momentum.
But Bok forward play has regressed a little, if anything, and the chances of their establishing a true stranglehold on top-notch opponents in the engine room at the World Cup are receding.
Few could deny that if Spies does have one clear advantage over Vermeulen it is in the area of explosive pace.
But Spies is currently embroiled in fitness concerns of his own, with reports emerging that a groin problem he has is proving more irksome than anticipated.
Loose forward is usually a department where the Boks have blissfully few concerns - their depth has been astonishing for many years.
But it is suddenly looking like a major problem area, if mainly because of the swollen tally of top candidates who are in “recovery” mode and, as with Vermeulen, rather racing the clock to assure of their readiness.
If the Boks are going to take a chance on one loosie who may not be fully match fit at the very outset of the World Cup, it is much likelier to be seasoned Juan Smith (the lanky Free Stater hasn’t seen action since as far back as February 25) than the international novice Vermeulen.
But you can also bet that the WP man will not give up easily in his long-shot quest to make the cut ...
