Duane undergoes surgery but vows to be back in time

The Springboks have feared the worst, but it seems there may be a little light at the end of the tunnel for talismanic No 8 Duane Vermeulen.

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Vermeulen was scheduled to undergo ankle surgery on Tuesday afternoon and then start a minimum of a six week rehabilitation to try and be fit in time for the test series against the British and Irish Lions.

Vermeulen confirmed that he would need surgery after limping off the field during last Friday’s Rainbow Cup game for the Bulls against the Stormers, and faces at least six weeks on the sidelines.

“It’s not great news, they’re going to have to operate,” Vermeulen said on Tuesday.

“I’m not sure how long it means I’m out but I’m going to do everything in my power to be ready to play against the Lions.”

While Vermeulen’s optimism is understandable, a tear in the syndesmosis - the part between the shin bone and outside leg bone - would take at least six weeks to heal. Given that the first test between the World Champion Boks and the Lions takes place in just under seven weeks, it would mean that even the most optimistic physician would say it is cutting it very close.

The news will come like a hammer blow to the Springboks, and would be the last thing that Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber would want, especially as much of the Boks' game plan is built around the big No 8.

It is understandable then that Erasmus made it clear on Saturday night that he was “fearing the worst” ahead of the news of how serious the injury was.

Losing Vermeulen also exposes the Springbok back row and will force the Boks to search for alternatives. His ability to steal ball on the ground and act as a big ball carrier is something that allows the Bok pack to go forward almost at will and he will be hard to replace. Vermeulen is also a strong voice in the leadership group and even captain Siya Kolisi has often spoken of how he plays a massive role in supporting him in leading the team.

While the most likely candidate to replace Vermeulen is former Ulster backrow forward Marcell Coetzee, who recently returned to the Bulls and played his first game alongside Vermeulen last Friday night, the door could also be open for Leicester Tigers’ barnstorming youngster Jasper Wiese.

Wiese had “kicked the door down” - according to Springbok coach Nienaber - and made such a visible impact that there was no way of ignoring him.

While the Boks are likely to stick to the majority of their side that won the World Cup in November 2019 by beating England 32-12 - the last time they played a test match, there may now be some scope to include Wiese in their plans.

"We just couldn't ignore the form Jasper is in," Erasmus said after announcing his selection on Saturday.

"He’s just been that outstanding South African player in England, knocking the door down weekly. We're also really lucky that he's versatile.

"He plays openside and he can play at No 8, which is now very useful given the situation with Duane."

Coetzee was the shock omission from the squad but the move was explained as strategic, given he had only last week returned from a thigh injury. The plan is to let him play in the Rainbow Cup and in the Bulls game against the touring Lions before possibly bringing him into the Bok camp.

“For us to draft a player in, it is a day. If we have an injury, the player can draft in the next day if he has a negative covid test. That is why we are keeping it as 46 until the first SA A game against the British and Irish Lions,” Erasmus explained.\

“For guys like Marcell, some of those guys may be very disappointed now, but there is some strategic thinking about them getting more game time - for some of them getting over long-term injuries.”