Vermeulen and Steyn still in Bok picture

WHEN Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named his 43-man squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against Wales, there weren’t many surprises although there were a handful of interesting revelations.

For the most part, and as expected, the Bok mentor stuck to his core players, save for eight uncapped players including long-term injuries in Johan Goosen and Cobus Reinach; and omitting veteran World Cup winners Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn.

Both, it was later explained, will not play against the Welsh due to injuries and on Thursday Nienaber opened up on the role of the two Bok warhorses in the coming months. Unsurprisingly, both Vermeulen and Steyn are very much in the picture and on Nienaber’s mind.

“Duane, I’m not sure what I am allowed to reveal (due to POPI) but he underwent surgery where they cleaned his knee up,” Nienaber explained in Afrikaans in Pretoria at a Springbok Meet and Greet with the media.

“As a physio, I can tell you the first two weeks will be about moving it without pain; the next phase will be to get power and strength back into that leg; the third phase will start by running on it; and the fourth will be to finally do functional movements. If all goes well, I think it will take between six to 12 weeks.

“The time frame is that wide because I don’t know what operation they did – it isn’t our place to say. I hope everything goes well and he is back with us in four to six weeks but it could be longer depending on his rehabilitation.”

In the absence of the burly No 8, Nienaber called upon Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee and Evan Roos, and it is conceivable that either could pack down as the eightman. Jasper Wiese

is considered the front runner for the starting berth, but his selection could be complicated due to his English club Leicester Tigers refusing to release him early.

He is expected to arrive in the squad on Monday. Moreover, Kwagga Smith has also been used at the back of the pack and could fulfil that role.

Utility-back Damian Willemse, meanwhile, is expected to slot into the role left vacant by Steyn as the

Stormers man can play at full-back, centre or flyhalf.

On Steyn, Nienaber was tentative in his explanation, revealing that the 35-year-old will avail himself to the Boks when ready and as required after recovering from injury.

“I had a good discussion with Frans and I will be as transparent as possible: Last year was tough on him in the (bio-bubble) without his family.

“So, with the hamstring, he said to us that he is available at any time (but) he will do his rehab to completion (at home) and the moment he is ready, we will pull him back into the squad and I promise you, we will place him somewhere within the team.”

Nienaber also revealed that the coaching staff will discuss their matchday 23 for the first Test next week Saturday at Loftus Versfeld this weekend, and officially announce it early next week.