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Exeter deliver 'good picture' injury update on Vermeulen, Wimbush

Exeter back-rower Jacques Vermeulen (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Rob Baxter has expressed satisfaction that injury fears over Jacques Vermeulen and Zack Wimbush aren’t as bad as initially feared. The Chiefs lost back-rower Vermeulen to a 54th-minute setback in last Saturday’s pre-season win over Ulster, while midfielder Wimbush was last involved in the previous weekend’s loss to Ospreys.

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Director of rugby Baxter has now held his media briefing ahead of next Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership opener at home to Leicester and he was happy with the injury outlook surrounding Vermeulen and Wimbush, along with the longer-term prognosis for Henry Slade, Dafydd Jenkins and Tommy Wyatt who are all on the mend following surgery.

“Jacques Vermeulen took a bang at the weekend,” he reported via a Wednesday morning Zoom call. ‘We are still kind of assessing really how bad that is but it is certainly not as bad as out initial fears were, so that’s a good picture.

“Zack Wimbush has got a foot injury. We are still waiting on a surgeon’s input on that, on his opinion, but it looks like it’s unlikely to need an operation. That’s just going to have a good rehab period.

“Outside of that we look pretty good, we are ticking along okay. We didn’t pick up too much at the weekend, the odd bumps and bruises that you would expect from a good physical encounter against a good physical Ulster side, so we feel we are locked in for this weekend.”

Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Exeter Chiefs
10:05
21 Sep 24
Leicester
All Stats and Data

Regarding his longer-term absentees, Baxter added: “They could all be back in and around the same period, which is around that autumn international/our Prem Cup period. That is what we are hopeful of.

“Some guys might be a couple of weeks forward, they might be a couple of weeks back but we are taking roughly those timescales for those three which is surprising how quickly it starts to feel it is coming around.”

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Bull Shark 49 minutes ago
Why Rassie Erasmus should cull some Boks veterans for 2027

I think cull is the wrong word.


I think Rassie and the senior players will be pretty open and honest with each other about their prospects for another World Cup campaign. And, ironically, I don’t think Rassie is thinking as far ahead as 2027 in terms of who is going to go.


There are likely going to be injuries too where players one would assume will be at 2027 won’t feature. Think Marx and Am and 2023.


I think the priority is really having as many players as possible in contention for a spot on the 33 by the time squad selection comes around.


I made this point a while ago, but having double World Cup winners in the setup over the next 3 years is going to be golden for the boks. It’s like having a coach in each position.


Razor was criticized for having too many coaches in his team. Rassie has more than 15 player coaches at his disposal.


I think Siya is being teed up to play the same role Duane did at the 2023 RWC. Invitation to the coaching box this coming weekend included.


I think many of the old guard are playing a role in the team that certainly does not guarantee them a 2027 place but doesn’t hurt their chances at being selected - but they will have to be the no.1 or no. 2 best in that position to be selected at that time. There won’t be any dead weight - whether old or young.


In my mind the strategy would be quite simple. Take everyone who will be over 32 by 2027 and pencil their names in right now in slot number three for their relative position. We know what they can do and they know what they need to do to be in contention for 2027.


Then ask yourself who do we have to take position no.1 and no. 2. Tried and tested or not. Find them and trial them over the next 3 years. Their job is to keep the old guys out. And the old guys job is to help them do just that.


That’s what Rassie has to do and has started well trying 48 players and 11 debutants in year one as the article mentioned (and winning).


I reckon there’ll be another 5-10 new players tried by the end of this year, particularly in November.


2024 ✅

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