VIDEO: The update that will have Bok fans smiling
SPOTLIGHT: With Duane Vermeulen’s surgery and the ‘fire pit accident’ dominating headlines, Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has some much-needed positive news for Bok fans.
During an online media briefing, Nienaber revealed that locks Lodewyk de Jager (Sale Sharks) and Rudolph Snyman (Munster) were making good progress with their respective rehabilitations.
In April, De Jager suffered a fractured tibia and a torn meniscus in a freak training ground accident and he was in a real race against time to be fit for the British and Irish Lions series.
However, Nienaber revealed that that the 28-year-old could be back playing much sooner than expected.
“Lood is going well,” said Nienaber. ”
“Lood’s current projection – on the last feedback that I got – is that his rehab is on track and he is doing actually well.
“I think he is a little bit ahead of where they thought he would be.
“As I understand it, as a physio, one week you are hitting all your markers and then the next week the moment you go to the explosive stuff and a little bit more power, there might be a little bit of a setback and then you have to pull back a bit on the rehab.
“But if you hit the markers and you progress and there are no complications, if Sale makes the Final of the Premiership, he might be up for selection to play.
“Again, [Sale boss] Alex [Sanderson] must be happy with his form and he must tick all the conditioning boxes and he must be medically fit, but that will be up to Sale.
“As I understand it, his progression is currently spot on and if he continues like he is doing currently then a might be in a position to participate in a semifinal.”
Meanwhile, Snyman, who suffered burns in the ‘fire pit accident’ over the weekend, was in the final stages of his rehabilitation after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last August.
“RG was doing fantastic,” Nienaber added.
“I saw his GPS stats from last week before the burns, so now he has a little bit of a setback and we will just wait for the wounds to heal and then we will assess him when gets over here.”
@rugby365com
