Vermeulen out of Rugby Championship for 2018

The following from News24:-

"Springbok Duane Vermeulen has ruled himself out of the upcoming Rugby Championship.

READ: Woeful Jantjies still has a Springbok future

The burly No 8 had originally been expected to play a limited role in this year's edition of the tournament, but following Saturday's Test against England at Newlands, Vermeulen confirmed his non-availability.

In fact, Vermeulen's rugby future remains uncertain after he parted ways with French club Toulon following the conclusion of last season.

Vermeulen is expected to link up with an unconfirmed Japanese club in the coming weeks, should he recover from the leg injury he sustained in the second half at Newlands as he manfully played on in the Boks' 25-10 losing cause.

While Vermeulen is very much still in coach Rassie Erasmus' 2019 Rugby World Cup plans, he'll be watching from the sidelines as the Boks start their Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina in Durban on Saturday, August 18."

Vermeulen had a bad injury in 2015 and while on contract in 2016  and 2017 had a series of other injuries resulting in him rarely playing for Toulon.  He did better this year and his first two tests since 2015 was a pleasant surprise - he did exceptionally well in both.

He was much quieter yesterday - perhaps because of the leg injury he sustained yesterday,  The problem is that Vermeulen is at an age where injuries occur more frequently and where it takes players longer to recover from such injuries,   

Meyer was loony in 2015 - he selected a string of players fo r the RWC who played virtually no rugby fir the previous 24 months and he took Vermeulen virtually from the hospital ward  and included him in the squad.   I wish it would never happen again - so I hope he gets ample playing time in Super Rugby next year. 

So who would be the Springbok no 8 in the RC  this year?   My money is on Pieter-Steph du Toit.  

Now that is a damn shame ,we want your boys at full strength so no excuses can be made if you were to lose .Which according to some is unlikely.

We cannot persist with the elderly any way. Exposing younger blood to test m atch rugby is vital.

Besides, Vermeulen may have looked impressive in the first test ... but that work rate was always going take it's toll on the man. He would never be able to maintain that kind of play week in and week out.

Bearing in mind that it was against this poor English side. I think he may have decided to opt out and leave on a high.

Time to move on.

Same goes for Schalk Brits. 

Hmm I don't know Vermeulen is still world class. And if he is good enough, and you can manage his work load why not? As it is I Think Steph Du Toit well be at 8. I am assuming Whitely ain't available? I would expose Cobus Weise. 

Yes of course ... it's not the age, but the player's ability to consistently compete against the worlds best, that determines his usefulness.

However ... if he's only able to compete every so often ... what's the point? One wants continuity ... one wants established combinations ... one wants a settled side ... not one that's disrupted cause player X feels up to it this week.

Vermeulen as far as I now is off to Japan for an extended vacation. Loaf around and rake in the coin. It's a great idea for a tired and battered body.