Frustrated Vermaak eyes return
3 Feb 2010
Jano Vermaak won’t see Super 14 action until early March, but the Lions scrumhalf is positive about his progress.
Vermaak tore two ankle ligaments against Griquas on 19 September, an injury that ruled him out of the Springboks’ year-end tour. The Emerging Bok joined his Lions team-mates in training last month and began running two weeks ago, and although he’s not happy to be watching from the sidelines, he admitted he needed a break.
‘I haven’t pushed myself since returning and in three weeks I’ll take contact,’ Vermaak told keo.co.za. ‘Dick told me he’ll fly me over to join the squad during the middle of the [Australasian] tour, but I’ll also get a game or two in the Vodacom Cup for match fitness.’
If everything goes according to plan, Vermaak should feature in the match against the Valke on 5 March. Thereafter he should fly out to meet his team-mates in Sydney for their third match Down Under against the Waratahs on 12 March.
The Lions have brought JP Joubert in from the Cheetahs, ensuring he and Chris Jonck will handle the No 9 duties in Vermaak’s absence.
‘I actually like having two back-up scrumhalves, it will be good for me,’ said Vermaak. ‘The competition will bring the best out of me. I also played all the Super 14 games last year. Your body needs some time to rest.’
Although no player relishes a serious ailment such as this, Vermaak admitted the time off will rejuvenate his body. In addition to his provincial duties over the last two years where he started the majority of matches, he also played two physical fixtures against the touring British & Irish Lions.
‘I’m ready to return now, but I actually enjoyed the time out. I played 30 odd games last year. I told my dad, my body couldn’t actually take it anymore – I needed a break.’
During the enforced lay-off, the Lions’ leading try-scorer during last year’s Super 14 had his ankle in a cast for two months. For four weeks he had to lie on his back with his leg elevated, only standing up to go to the bathroom.
‘I couldn’t do much over that time. My muscles were pretty sore when I first started walking as they weren’t used to it,’ he said.
Once Vermaak could eventually drive his own car two and a half months after the injury occurred, his sponsor bought him an automatic to make the long drive to Johannesburg easier. Vermaak lives in Pretoria with his parents and does the lengthy trip there and back each day for training.
This was the second occasion he had injured his left ankle, the last time came on SA U19 duty where he broke a bone and was forced to be a spectator for three months. Vermaak is in no doubt the injured joint and the rest of his body will be stronger when he returns to the park after what would’ve been at least five months out.
‘This injury was much more serious than the one in U19, I didn’t have an op then and I could do rehab as soon as I was out of the cast.
‘But I’ll definitely be stronger for it and the doctor told me I wouldn’t have lost any pace. I’m also doing explosive exercises.
‘It’s been frustrating watching from the sidelines seeing the guys enjoying themselves. I can’t wait to get back out there, but at the same time I can’t rush back too early.’
By Grant Ball
30 Comments
3 Feb 2010, 05:47 am
Five months off for torn ankle ligaments sounds like malingering to me.
3 Feb 2010, 06:18 am
No we only have to wait for Pearl Rose’s “super quota” post…
3 Feb 2010, 06:54 am
Vermaak can do sweet things on the rugby field , maar hy verloor sy kop gereeld soos Kockott. Te veel stupid penalty’s
3 Feb 2010, 08:08 am
fantastic player this Jano.
By the way….JDV will be back in June.
Now need F steyn,BJ,CJ,….AND bUTCH
then 2011 ON….big time
3 Feb 2010, 08:29 am
@stampmielies:
Kyk jy rugby?
Hy is een van die mees gedissiplineerde spelers in die land. In 2009 het hy 5 strafskoppe afgestaan.
3 Feb 2010, 08:45 am
The Sharks are apprently signing Isma-eel Dollie to add to their 10 stocks…
That is sadly desperate. Shame!
3 Feb 2010, 08:46 am
This is a huge loss for the lions, apart from maybe King Carlos he could`ve been the most talented player in that young backline of theirs . . .
3 Feb 2010, 08:47 am
@WP_: wp…did you see the cape times headlines today….JDV back by June…but i cant see the fineprint….so want to know if it means he back to Stormers?
3 Feb 2010, 08:52 am
@grant10: Well if it`s June it`ll be for WP not the Stormers.
Same scenario as BJ Botha and the Sharks.
I wonder if it`s worth it though, I mean surely the Bokke won`t be allowed to play CC anyway so does this mean the unions would have to pay these guys but never get to use them?
3 Feb 2010, 08:53 am
8 Grant10
Yes, saw the headline, didnt see the details, but I doubt he’d be available for the Stormers… Although I wish he could be…
Will be a big boost for the Boks tho. At least we wont have to endure Jacobs at 12… That was hell.
3 Feb 2010, 08:59 am
@Original Pierre: @WP_: to be honest i am more concerned that he be available for boks….just glad the big guns all coming back….
3 Feb 2010, 09:02 am
Grant
Looks like the boys are keen to defend our title. It’s great to see the overseas guys coming back. Wikus is another
3 Feb 2010, 09:08 am
@WP_: ja….heard cj will be with bulls in june as well…
3 Feb 2010, 09:10 am
13 Grant10
Is that for sure? Initial rumours were that he might come down here…
3 Feb 2010, 09:15 am
@WP_: ja…i read it in Die Beeld yesterday….at this stage strongly rumoured he is heading to loftus….bloody bulls putting together a mean machine that side of the Jukskei….Gary Botha, Juandre Kruger, CJ, Jaco vd westhuisen…ai !!
3 Feb 2010, 09:18 am
15 Grant
Yeah, they’re definately going to be strong for a while.
I’m confident we’re building similarly down here, not all big names… But rising stars
3 Feb 2010, 09:23 am
@WP_: absolutely….we will give it a full go…no doubts..
3 Feb 2010, 09:36 am
17 Grant
Cant wait for the proper rugby to start now. It’s going to be huge!
3 Feb 2010, 09:49 am
Bulls need a tighthead not another no 1 prop! Would like them to get that u19 prop from the Lions Louis Alberts….. watch that kid!!
3 Feb 2010, 09:50 am
naw….. Bulls need WP (speenvark) Nel!
3 Feb 2010, 10:01 am
@Staal: Agreed, but we need an understudy as well, do you know this Alberts kid??
3 Feb 2010, 10:49 am
@Tisme: CJ plays TH.
3 Feb 2010, 13:49 pm
Salivating at the thought of JDV and JF as Stormers centre pairing, Added to this is Habana, Pietersen and Aplon. C’mon Rassie, with that backline we dont need De Waal, we need a flyhalf wh can play to his backline.
3 Feb 2010, 14:36 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): Nope, he is a LH, had a couple of games at TH, but he is not a specialist TH!
3 Feb 2010, 14:37 pm
@fuzzy: Morne will never go to problems ;-0
3 Feb 2010, 18:42 pm
i strongly believe Vermaak is the 2nd best scrumhalf in the country. He is so quick and very dangerous when he runs and his boot not too shabby. This is my order of scrumhalves in the country:
1. FDP
2. Jano
3. Sarel pretorious
4. Rory kockott
5. Heini adams
6. Pienaar
3 Feb 2010, 18:43 pm
correction, instead of Adams, Frans Hougaard
3 Feb 2010, 18:59 pm
Rugbyidiot
Thank goodness you dont coach the Boks. Phew!
3 Feb 2010, 19:25 pm
@wpw: #28 lmao!!!!!!!!!!!
3 Feb 2010, 20:55 pm
@WilladieLeeu: Ja en van daai 5 het een van die strafkoppe die lions die game gekos.
En om die bal te vat nadat jou span die lions n strafkop voor die pale te kry en dit in die ander span se speler se gesig te gooi en die game kos , is nie gedissiplineerde spel nie.
So ja ek kyk rugby.
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