Rugby World Cup: No 8 Duane Vermeulen makes Springboks squad
JEAN de Villiers will captain South Africa at the Rugby World Cup despite fracturing his jaw in a Test three weeks ago. Duane Vermeulen is also included.
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JEAN de Villiers will captain South Africa at the Rugby World Cup despite fracturing his jaw in a Test three weeks ago.
Veteran scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and No 8 Duane Vermeulen also made the Springboks squad announced on Saturday (AEST) despite not playing an international this season.
Vermeulen, South Africa’s player of the year in 2014, had been a big doubt with a neck injury. Du Preez, a 2007 World Cup winner, has been struggling with a knee injury.
Lock Victor Matfield and flanker Schalk Burger were picked for their fourth World Cups.
South Africa heads to the showpiece in Britain after an uneasy build-up, where the Springboks lost three out of four Tests this year, including a first ever defeat to Argentina.
Coach Heyneke Meyer has also been targeted for heavy criticism over his apparent failure to pick enough black players, an ongoing issue of contention in South African rugby.
“We’re going to go out there and do whatever it takes,” Meyer said.
“I know we can (win) and looking forward to the challenge. I truly believe in these guys.”
The surprises in the 31-man squad were uncapped scrumhalf Rudy Paige, fullback Zane Kirchner and prop Coenie Oosthuizen.
The biggest name to be left out was flanker Marcell Coetzee, who had two separate knee injuries this season.
Heinrich Brussow also missed out, as did scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and centre Jan Serfontein.
The two-time world champion Springboks will have three players at the World Cup with more than 100 Test caps: de Villiers, Matfield and South African record tryscorer Bryan Habana. There are nine players in the squad who won the World Cup in France in 2007.
“We’ve got a group of leaders that can do the job,” captain de Villiers said.
De Villiers, Vermeulen and du Preez had all been fitness doubts, with de Villiers also having to undergo an eight-month rehabilitation following a serious knee injury in a test last year in Wales.
“I must be honest, in Cardiff last year I didn’t really think I would be here,” he said at the squad announcement at a luxury beachside hotel in Durban where the team is based for its World Cup preparations.
Powerful No 8 Vermeulen, who is pivotal to the Springboks’ style of play, had neck surgery last month.
Vermeulen, de Villiers and du Preez were all close to full fitness, the South African Rugby Union said.
The Springboks are in Group B at the World Cup with Samoa, Scotland, Japan and the United States.
They start against Japan on September 20 (AEST).
Springboks squad
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss, Duane Vermeulen
Backs: Jean de Villiers (c), Damian de Allende, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Zane Kirchner, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Handre Pollard, Morne Steyn
Originally published as Rugby World Cup: No 8 Duane Vermeulen makes Springboks squad
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