Hougaard setback for Bulls...RUGBY UPDATE.
The Bulls will head into
Saturday ’s opening Vodacom
Super Rugby match knowing
they will not have the
services of their mecurial
utility back Francois
Hougaard.
While Hougaard pulled up
with a stress fracture in his
foot a few weeks ago, there
was some hope he would
have recovered in time for
Saturday ’s opening clash
with the Lions at Coca Cola
Park.
Team doctor Org Strauss
confirmed Hougaard would
still be on crutches this week
and would only return to
training next week.
But the bad news for Bulls
fans is that he will only be
able to play in week three of
the competition if his rehab
continues as well as it is
currently doing.
This means the Bulls will
need a new winger in his
place, and that their new
signing Bjorn Basson, who
scored a hat-trick in his
debut pre-season game for
the defending champions, will
take the left wing spot.
Gerhard van den Heever is
likely to be the right wing for
Saturday ’s game.
While the Bulls were hoping
for Hougaard ’s return, it now
means that Ruan Snyman and
Dustin Jinka will fight it out
for the halfback position on
the bench, the other option
where Hougaard could have
been used.
“He is responding well to his
rehab, but will need to be on
crutches for another week
before he returns to
training, ”Dr Strauss told
SuperSport.com.
Hougaard is itching to get
back onto the field and
wasn ’t a happy figure at
Loftus Versfeld over the
past few weeks but should at
least give the Bulls some
good options early on in the
tournament.
The news over fullback Zane
Kirchner is still unclear after
he injured his ribs. Kirchner
will be given until Friday to
prove his fitness, but it is
doubtful whether he will be
ready to face the Lions. If not
then Jaco van der
Westhuyzen will take his
place for the game.
There was however good
news about locks Bakkies
Botha (knee) and Flip van
der Merwe (ankle) who both
were declared fit for the
match while midfielder Jaco
Pretorius will undergo a
fitness test on Wednesday,
but should be right for the
game.
The team did receive
another setback, among its
reserve players as last
year ’s Vodacom Cup captain
Gerrit-Jan van Velze broke
his thumb in a pre-season
game against Namibia on
Saturday and underwent
surgery on Monday, putting
him out of action for four
weeks.
Saturday ’s opening Vodacom
Super Rugby match knowing
they will not have the
services of their mecurial
utility back Francois
Hougaard.
While Hougaard pulled up
with a stress fracture in his
foot a few weeks ago, there
was some hope he would
have recovered in time for
Saturday ’s opening clash
with the Lions at Coca Cola
Park.
Team doctor Org Strauss
confirmed Hougaard would
still be on crutches this week
and would only return to
training next week.
But the bad news for Bulls
fans is that he will only be
able to play in week three of
the competition if his rehab
continues as well as it is
currently doing.
This means the Bulls will
need a new winger in his
place, and that their new
signing Bjorn Basson, who
scored a hat-trick in his
debut pre-season game for
the defending champions, will
take the left wing spot.
Gerhard van den Heever is
likely to be the right wing for
Saturday ’s game.
While the Bulls were hoping
for Hougaard ’s return, it now
means that Ruan Snyman and
Dustin Jinka will fight it out
for the halfback position on
the bench, the other option
where Hougaard could have
been used.
“He is responding well to his
rehab, but will need to be on
crutches for another week
before he returns to
training, ”Dr Strauss told
SuperSport.com.
Hougaard is itching to get
back onto the field and
wasn ’t a happy figure at
Loftus Versfeld over the
past few weeks but should at
least give the Bulls some
good options early on in the
tournament.
The news over fullback Zane
Kirchner is still unclear after
he injured his ribs. Kirchner
will be given until Friday to
prove his fitness, but it is
doubtful whether he will be
ready to face the Lions. If not
then Jaco van der
Westhuyzen will take his
place for the game.
There was however good
news about locks Bakkies
Botha (knee) and Flip van
der Merwe (ankle) who both
were declared fit for the
match while midfielder Jaco
Pretorius will undergo a
fitness test on Wednesday,
but should be right for the
game.
The team did receive
another setback, among its
reserve players as last
year ’s Vodacom Cup captain
Gerrit-Jan van Velze broke
his thumb in a pre-season
game against Namibia on
Saturday and underwent
surgery on Monday, putting
him out of action for four
weeks.
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