Duane Vermeulen © Gallo Images Play our Super Rugby games and WIN 'As good as can be expected...' - Dewald Potgieter Super Rugby: Week 13 in pictures Vermeulen ruled out of June tests by Gavin Rich 12 May 2013, 16:17
DHL Stormers No 8 Duane Vermeulen must wonder what he has done to anger the rugby gods so much that on what now seems like an annual basis he is ruled out of consideration for the Springboks’ series of incoming tour test matches in June.
Vermeulen suffered serious knee injuries at similar stages of both the past two seasons that ruled him of the reckoning, and in 2011 it could well have cost him a World Cup place.
At least he has the security of knowing he is now an established Springbok, but he won’t be happy that again he will be missing out on the start of the international year after sustaining another knee injury against the Waratahs in Sydney at the weekend.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee confirmed on Sunday what was already obvious to viewers who saw Vermeulen, with a dejected look on his face, helped from the field following a collision late in the 21-15 defeat that on Saturday just about confirmed that the Stormers won’t be taking part in the playoffs this year.
If they do somehow manage to seek into the top six – they are currently 10th – Vermeulen will probably be back to play for them, unlike the past two years, when he was effectively ruled out of the playoff stage.
In a cruel twist, he will be joined on the plane that brings him back to South Africa by fellow bruising Stormers loose-forward, Rynhardt Elstadt, who sustained exactly the same injury in Sydney.
They will be replaced by young Western Province Vodacom Cup player Gerbrandt Grobler, who has already been capped by the Stormers after playing as a replacement during the home leg.
>Grobler left for Australia on Sunday morning and may be required to sit on the bench in the final tour match against the Rebels. Don Armand is likely to start on the flank in Elstadt’s place, with Nizaam Carr coming in at No 8.
Deon Fourie left the field late in the Sydney game with a suspected fractured rib but on Sunday Coetzee reported that he was feeling a lot more comfortable.
He can provide loose-forward cover for the Stormers, which is why no additional loose-forward was flown to Australia. Elstadt covered both lock and flank, which explains why Grobler, a specialist lock, has been called in.
Armand, like Elstadt and the other injured Stormers blindside flank, Michael Rhodes, plays both flank and lock.
“Both Rynhardt and Duane will be out for six to eight weeks, which is a massive blow for us at this stage of the season,” said Coetzee from Australia.
“As we saw in the final 10 minutes in Sydney, losing that pair has a massive impact on our game, on defence and with ball in hand, but I have full confidence that Nizaam and Don can step up to the plate in the starting team should they be required to do so.”
Grobler is only 21 and is considered a player with a bright future so being part of the squad for the Rebels game will be a good advance to his rugby education.
“Gerbrandt will provide much needed cover from the bench for us against the Rebels,” said Coetzee.
“He is a good lineout forward and won’t be short of match practice after playing a key role for our Vodacom Cup side up until now. We look forward to his arrival and getting him up to speed for Friday. We’ve got to stay positive and keep working hard for the next game, despite it being a short week.”
Coetzee said that the condition of Fourie would continue to be monitored on a day-to-day basis.
“He was in less discomfort today so we will see how he feels on Monday,” said Coetzee.
