The real reasons for Vermeulen and Steyn's absence
REACTION: Injury and not form is the real reason for the absence of two World Cup winners from the latest Springbok squad.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named a 43-man squad – for the three-Test series against Wales next month and the Rugby Championship in August and September – at the weekend.
There are eight uncapped players in the squad.
These players are loose forwards Evan Roos (Stormers) and Elrigh Louw (Bulls), locks Ruan Nortje (Bulls) and Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), utility forward Deon Fourie (Stormers), utility Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), scrumhalf Grant Williams, and prop Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks).
The surprise omissions from the squad are veteran No.8 Duane Vermeulen and utility back Francois Steyn.
The Bok coach, Nienaber, did not explain their absence in his weekend’s media release – resulting in inaccurate speculation.
However, Steyn – who played key roles for the Boks in the 2007 and 2019 World Cup victories – has been struggling with a hamstring injury since last month.
Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie told @rugby365com it was “doubtful” the two-time World Cup-winning Bok, Steyn, would be fit for this week’s Currie Cup semifinal showdown with the Pumas.
Steyn, who last month signed a new one-year deal in Bloemfontein, suffered a hamstring injury early in the first half against Griquas in Round 12.
The 35-year-old missed the loss to the Pumas and the past weekend’s impressive 35-5 win over the Bulls.
“We’ll see this coming week what happens with him,” the coach said of Steyn.
Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, the recalled Andre Esterhuizen and Jesse Kriel have been listed as the centres in Nienaber’s squad.
Rookie Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse are listed as the ‘utility backs’ in the team – the role Steyn fulfilled off the bench.
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The other veteran, Vermeulen, has been struggling with a knee injury while playing for Irish province Ulster in the United Rugby Championship.
He has not been at his best, including the heartbreaking 15-17 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town at the weekend.
While initial speculation has pinned his absence on a ‘loss of form’ and his ‘advance years’ – or past his sell-by date as some spiteful cynics would have it – it has been revealed that Vermeulen may well be going under the knife for some “clean-up” work on the troublesome knee.
The absence of the 61-times capped Vermeulen has opened the door for the recall of in-form Bulls skipper Marcell Coetzee. The 31-year-old has 30 Test caps to his credit and can play across all three back row positions.
Newcomers Evan Roos and Elrigh Louw, along with Jasper Wiese (26, 11 caps) are among the loose forwards that can also cover No.8.
Other loose forwards in the squad include established stars and World Cup winners like Pieter-Steph du Toit, captain Siyamthanda Kolisi and Albertus Smith.
Smith, 29, started on the flank in place of the injured Du Toit in the Boks’ last five Tests last year – two Rugby Championship encounters with New Zealand, along with the year-end tour matches against Wales, Scotland and England.
* To see the full Springbok squad, CLICK HERE!
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