A Thor point: Injured Boks Vermeulen and Reinach both need clearance for Kiwis Test
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MAJOR WEAPON: Duane Vermeulen
The Springboks are playing a waiting game for injured stars Duane Vermeulen and Cobus Reinach to return to their setup ahead of the Rugby Championship.
Kicking off their southern hemisphere campaign against New Zealand at the Mbombela Stadium on August 6, South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber says they are still not sure whether No.8 Vermeulen, or Thor as he’s known, and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will be part of the squad.
Both missed the Springboks’ 2-1 series win over Wales, with injuries.
Vermeulen, 36, underwent knee surgery in June, while Reinach, 32, also went under the knife in late April for a dislocated shoulder.
Following their 30-14 win over Wales in the deciding Test in Cape Town, coach Nienaber revealed: “We’ll assess all the injuries in the next couple of days. The selectors will sit and have a discussion around the plan going forward into Rugby Championship.
“Cobus [Reinach] needs to pass exit medical from [French club] Montpellier, Duane Vermeulen [as well at Irish club Ulster].
“A lot of guys are busy with rehab…”
Of their readiness for the All Blacks, who lost their series to Ireland 2-1, Nienaber adds: “There’s a lot to build on, it wasn’t the polished performance against Wales.
Job done in Cape Town! 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 16, 2022
The @Springboks beat a battling Wales 30-14 to win the series! 👏#RSAvWAL pic.twitter.com/01QB83eHRV
“Our set pieces functioned well, but there were still some hiccups. In the scrums, we are getting used to the brake-foot thing. We will get better at that.
“We will have to build a lot still in terms of where we are...”