Vermeulen to return for second test against the All Blacks, questions over vacant wing

Springbok veteran Duan Vermeulen is set to make his return from injury in the second test match against New Zealand next Saturday.

According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, Vermeulen completed full training with the squad ahead of the first test with the All Blacks and is now in consideration for the second test at Ellis Park.

The combative back rower underwent surgery on a troublesome knee pain which ruled him out of the test series against Wales and now looks to be ready to tackle the All Blacks. 

Frans Steyn, who also missed the July series, is also in contention for a return to the Green and Gold.

Jacques Nienaber is likely to make at least changes to his starting XV for the second test after Kurt-Lee Arendse and Faf de Klerk were stretchered off the pitch in the win over the All Blacks.

Jaden Hendrikse filled in superbly for de Klerk producing a strong 79-minute performance. Arendse, who scored his first test try in just his second start, was elevated to the starting XV after an injury to Cheslin Kolbe.

This means that the Springboks will start a third test with a third different player lining up in the #14 jumper.

Nienaber suggested Jesse Kriel and Warrick Gelant as potential replacements for Arendse.

“We have lost Kurt-Lee… I’m not sure, we’ll see what happens there and have a discussion around that on Sunday evening,” the Bok coach told reporters on Saturday.

“I’ll sit with the selectors but we’ve still got Jesse, who we’ve played there last year and 2018, and has started there against New Zealand. So he’s a guy who can play there for us.

“We’ve got Warrick Gelant who can help us there, there are a couple of options we have available to fulfill that role.”

Commenting on de Klerk, Nienaber said he was not sure whether de Klerk would be fit for the second test: “We’re fortunate that we have quality scrum-halves with players like Faf, Jaden, Cobus Reinach, Herschel Jantjies and Grant Williams. There’s a lot of competition in the squad.

“I thought Jaden stepped up well. We backed Jaden in the last Test match against Wales and he wasn’t nervous at all when he came on.”