No game time for Vermeulen

Injured No.8 Duane Vermeulen is clinging to a remote hope of making the World Cup cut, but he will be badly underdone if he does make the squad heading to England in September.

Vermeulen, who will undergo neck surgery on Wednesday, will have been sidelined for more than three months by the time he is ready to take to the field again – meaning that he will not have played any matches when South Africa open their campaign against Japan in Brighton on September 19.

While Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts produced a real mixed bag of injury news on Monday, when the Boks started preparations for their encounter with a World XV at Newlands on Saturday, it was Vermeulen's injury that dominated the media briefing in Cape Town.

South Africa's Player of the Year in 2014, Vermeulen, will face a 'very tight timeline' in his race to be fit for the World Cup.

While the Bok medical staff had initially hoped the neck injury that has trouble him for the past month would settle down with a "conservative management" process, they ultimately had no option but to but go the surgical route.

The flipside is the positive news that could see a number of senior and other players make their comeback from injury against the World XV this week.

Bok captain Jean de Villiers has been cleared to return to the game this weekend.

De Villiers, who underwent a full knee reconstruction after the horrific injury he suffered against Wales in Cardiff in November, is one of six who were cleared by the Bok medical staff for this weekend's encounter at Newlands.

The others that will be considered for the encounter with the World XV are Patrick Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Lionel Mapoe, Schalk Burger and Lodewyk de Jager.

Siyabonga Ntubeni and Francois de Klerk are also over the ankle injuries they suffered at the training camp in Johannesburg last week and took full part in training on Monday.

However, flank Heinrich Brüssow (fractured arm) has recovered well, but is still a week or two away from playing.

Centre Jan Serfontein (hip and knee) is also recovering well from his injuries, but will also not be considered for selection this week.

The team doctor, Roberts, described Vermeulen's setback as the "biggest disappointment" for the team.

"He has what we call a osteophyte complex – when a bone in the spine exerts pressure on the nerve roots," the doctor said – adding that it wasn't an easy decision to take the surgical option, but that gives him the best chance to be available for the World Cup.

"The timelines are very tight," Roberts said, adding: "He would end up going with us [to the World Cup] not having played any games.

"However, the important thing is, medium- to long-term we need to do what is best for Duane.

"The nice thing is he can train really early – after two weeks he can go flat-out cycling and training."

Obviously Vermeulen won't be taking any contact, but he will be able to work on his fitness levels.

"He just won't have any match time leading up to the World Cup," the doctor said, adding that Vermeulen's selection for the World Cup will obviously depend on how he progresses as they get closer to the middle of September.

"The minimum time frame for his return to play is eight weeks, but we are aiming at a more realistic 10 weeks."

With Vermeulen out, Willem Alberts still sidelined with ankle and hamstring injuries and Brüssow also still unavailable, the Boks have six fit loose forwards for this week – Burger, Marcel Coetzee, Siya Kolisi, Warren Whiteley, Francois Louw and Teboho Mohoje.

Alberts still needs a lot of rehabilitation around his ankles and his hamstring and he is not doing any team training.

"We'll take it week by week and see how it goes – he needs a lot of work on his fitness and strength."

The return of De Jager and Reinach from injuries certainly solves two of Bok coach Heyneke's big headaches – lock and scrumhalf.

With veteran Fourie du Preez still a couple of weeks away from being fit to play, Reinach will be a key component in a vital position.

"He [du Preez] is going to start straight-line running this week, a little bit ahead of schedule," Roberts said.

"Depending on how he progresses we'll be able to make the call [on his availability] later in the month."

The biggest boost for the Boks is the return of their captain, De Villiers.

"We were really happy with Jean de Villiers' progress last week," the doctor said.

"We pulled him out of a tiny bit of the sessions last week, just because of volume and workload. The decision's is obviously the coach's if we're going to select him this week."

The other player in a race against time to be at the World Cup is prop Coenie Oosthuizen, who also underwent neck surgery.

"Obviously being a front row forward it's a bit different than Duane's situation," Roberts said.

"The window is still open for him for the World Cup. He'll probably be able to play one or two warm-up games before we announce the squad."

Frans Steyn (pectoral muscle tear) and Pieter-Steph Du Toit (knee surgery) are still doing rehabilitation with the Sharks and should return for the Boks' encounters with Argentina in August.

By Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com