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South African star Duane Vermeulen will not play against Argentina in the opening round of the Rugby Championship. The bruising no8 has injured his knee playing for his French club Toulon and has been withdrawn from the Springbok squad. An MRI has confirmed the damage and Vermeulen will undergo surgery next week, leaving any participation in the tournament in doubt.
The news is a major blow to South Africa’s Rugby Championship hopes. Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has not named a replacement at this time, leaving Warren Whiteley as the only specialist no8 in the squad and the man most likely to replace Vermeulen in the run-on side. The Lions captain has been in strong form during Super Rugby but prefers a more running style than the direct Vermeulen, which could require a different tactical approach from Coetzee.
