Vermeulen a chance to play
Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen will be managed this week, as he recovers from injury – in the build-up to the final Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Vermeulen had to leave the field just after the hour mark in the Springboks’ 28-10 victory over Australia at Newlands in Cape Town last Saturday.
"Duane fell awkwardly and injured a rib cartilage," explained Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts.
"Due to discomfort he was unable to continue playing and was substituted.
"He’s responded well to treatment, but we will still manage him through training this week before making a final call on his availability to face New Zealand on Saturday."
The only other injury concern at this stage is Bryan Habana, who took a blow to the head while making a tackle in the 27th minute.
"Bryan left the field and the standard head injury assessment was conducted by the match doctor, which cleared Bryan to return to play," said Roberts.
"Although Bryan returned to the field late in the first half, he developed some symptoms of concussion at the break and we decided to replace him permanently with JP Pietersen.
"He will need to follow the standard stepwise post-concussion return to play protocol before being considered for the Test at Ellis Park."
The Springbok team to face New Zealand will be named on Wednesday.
* Meanwhile, Roberts had good and bad news on the injury front for the end-of-year tour, with fiery loose forward Willem Alberts set to recover in time, while open side flank Francois Louw would miss the tour.
Louw underwent surgery last Monday after he had suffered a pinched nerve in his neck in the previous Test against the All Blacks in Wellington.
"Flo is doing well, his surgery was a success, we are very happy with how it went, he is probably not going to make the end-of-year tour. He is one or two weeks short of making that," Roberts said.
"He is not available for that last game on tour because it falls outside the window."
Alberts suffered a hamstring tear during the captain's training run on the eve of the Test in Pretoria against Argentina in August and experienced lower back nerve irritation, which required surgery.
Roberts said feedback from the Sharks on Alberts' progress was positive and he should be ready for the tour of Europe in November.
