Vermeulen gets thumbs-up to face Samoa

Birmingham - Springbok loose forward Duane Vermeulen, voted the country's best player last year, has been cleared to play against Samoa in the Rugby World Cup in Birmingham on Saturday, team officials said.

Vermeulen missed Saturday's shock 34-32 defeat to Japan in Brighton.

"He was feeling it a little bit and we didn't want to risk him and potentially rule him out for the whole tournament," South Africa team doctor Craig Roberts said on Sunday.

"We made the decision to be a little bit cautious rather than risk him."

Vermuelen had a neck operation two months ago.