Bok No.8 Vermeulen starts fitness race after successful surgery

Duane Vermeulen is hopeful of making a rapid recovery after undergoing successful neck surgery but the Springboks number eight realises the hard rehabilitation work starts now if he wants to be fit for the World Cup. The South Africa Player of the Year is the biggest concern on a long injury list for the Springboks, who have also been rocked by the news that fellow loose-forward Willem Alberts is a doubt for the tournament in England starting on Sept.