Coach happy with Bok veterans Steyn, Vermeulen despite lack of game time

Duane Vermeulen retains his place at No 8 while Frans Steyn is included on the bench for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies in Adelaide, and coach Jacques Nienaber says he is satisfied with where both Springbok veterans are despite a lack of game time.

Vermeulen lasted just 30 minutes at Ellis Park in the Boks' 35-23 loss to New Zealand two weekends ago before he was substituted, looking off the pace in his first fixture since the minor knee surgery that kept him out of the entire Wales series.

Vermeulen's last match before that came in mid-June in the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship when he played for Ulster against the Stormers in Cape Town.

Steyn, meanwhile, was injured in a Currie Cup clash for the Cheetahs against Griquas back on 28 May, and he has also not played since.

His inclusion helps the Boks move away from the 6/2 forwards/backs split they have employed this season to the 5/3, which also sees the return of Elton Jantjies since the first Test against Wales.

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Warrick Gelant, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn

Addressing media in Adelaide on Monday, Nienaber said he was pleased with how Vermeulen had come on at training. 

"We definitely expect more minutes from Duane this weekend," he said.

"He's been training well, and we're looking forward to seeing him again. We all know what quality he is and the