Wrecking ball Duane on nerve’s edge
INFLUENTIAL No 8 Duane Vermeulen is likely to miss what is left of the Stormers’ Super Rugby campaign due to a neck injury.
Vermeulen was a late withdrawal from the Stormers team that drew 19-19 with the Lions at Newlands on Saturday. The result secured their place in the play-offs and the South African Conference title. He is now likely to miss the play-offs as well, unless there is good news after further medical assessments.
The latest setback, which flared up during Friday’s captain’s run, is a further complication from a “stinger” Vermeulen sustained against the Bulls six weeks ago.
“We did an MRI (scan), which showed he had a bulging disc at the C5 level,” Stormers doctor Jason Suter said.
“The disc is bulging onto the nerve root and that is causing intense spasm. Based on that he was removed from the game (against the Lions), as he was not functional.
“At this stage he has no neurological symptoms, so he has no fallout that requires urgent intervention or surgery. However, the next 24 hours will tell us a lot of how we are going to manage him and how long the expected time for recovery is.”
The natural question that hung in the air was, will Vermeulen be fit for the Rugby World Cup?
Suter was loathe to make a projection until after Vermeulen had seen a neurosurgeon today, but said his experience suggested it was unlikely the player would miss the tournament starting on September 18.
“You can’t rule it out (missing the World Cup) but it would be unlikely,” said Suter.
“The fact is, at this stage he has no nerve signs and because he has no nerve signs it could recover quickly. However, if it doesn’t, then you have to do something about it and surgery becomes an option.
“The neurosurgeon says we can’t be sure the spasms are coming from that nerve root, because he is not localising to any signs.”
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee will select a virtual secondstring side for the match against the Sharks on Saturday knowing a play-off berth is now guaranteed and finishing second in the overall standings is no longer in the Stormers’ control.
The draw against the Lions left the Stormers on 45 points — two behind Australian conference leaders the Waratahs who face the struggling Reds on Saturday.
Last year, Coetzee sent a virtual second team into action in the final pool game of the Currie Cup with a home semifinal already secure. Western Province lost that match but won the Cup a fortnight later.
Knowing they must now win three play-off matches to win their first Super Rugby title, the coach is likely to do the same.
Flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis is concussed and won’t play against the Sharks anyway, while flank Schalk Burger and lock Eben Etzebeth have to sit out as part of a resting agreement with SA Rugby.