Silver lining to Springbok injury cloud
DU PREEZ, VERMEULEN TRAIN
FOURIE du Preez and Duane Vermeulen are well on track to be ready for the Springboks’ World Cup opener against Japan on September 19.
A cloud of doubt has hung over the fitness of the experienced Bok duo, on whose shoulders coach Heyneke Meyer’s hopes of World Cup success rest.
Yesterday the pair took part in the team’s first training session of their last week of preparation at home before jetting out to the United Kingdom.
With both players in high spirits as they went through a full session of contact, team doctor Craig Roberts was also confident that they would be ready and available for selection for the side’s opening match in just under two weeks.
“We are building the guys up slowly, so we are happy this week – we started progressing some of the guys to full training,” Roberts beamed.
Vermeulen has not played a game of rugby since injuring his neck just before the Stormers’ Super Rugby play-off match against the Brumbies in June this year.
The 33-year-old Du Preez, who has also not seen any international rugby action this year, has been plagued by injury over the past 18 months.
Both the team doctor and coach Meyer would have been happy to see the two charges take contact at training yesterday.
“Fourie has done very well,” Roberts said of the veteran scrumhalf.
“He obviously hasn’t played a lot of rugby. For him we are trying to get more and more simulated game time in training.
He did a full training session today [yesterday], including lots of contact with some nice hits.
“He’s building his confidence as he goes. I’m happy with his progress
“We are two weeks away and he is doing very well.”
Roberts promised a fully fit squad of 31 by the time the World Cup gets under way.