Bakkies blow for Bulls
8 Mar 2010
Bakkies Botha will miss the Bulls’ Australasian tour.
Bulls team doctor Org Strauss told keo.co.za Botha will miss the trip abroad as he is making slow progress in his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury.
The Springbok lock was expected to be fit by the end of March, but that return date has now been shifted to mid-April.
‘We’re not considering Bakkies for the tour,’ Strauss said. ‘He’ll stay home and carry on with the rehab programme he’s on.’
In other injury updates, Pierre Spies will be available for the Bulls’ clash with the Highlanders at Loftus on Saturday, but there’s still bad news for Jaco Pretorius.
Spies injured knee ligaments a fortnight ago in the Bulls’ match against the Waratahs, but the injury was not as serious as initially feared and he’s likely to start against the Highlanders at Loftus on Saturday.
Pretorius, however, will miss his third successive match, as a quadricep injury he sustained a month ago is healing significantly slower than expected.
‘There is bleeding in the muscle which is complicating the healing process,’ Strauss said. ‘He’ll definitely miss this weekend and there is a chance he won’t be ready by next week either.’
Stephan Dippenaar will continue to start at outside centre in Pretorius’ absence, but Strauss doesn’t believe Pretorius is in danger of missing the Bulls’ Australasian tour, which starts with a match against the Force on 27 March.
Meanwhile, there was encouraging news on the progress of wing Akona Ndungane (leg) and hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle (foot). Both will start training next week and could feature for the Bulls’ Vodacom Cup side against the Leopards next Saturday, although a final decision will only be taken next week.
By Ryan Vrede
41 Comments
8 Mar 2010, 10:45 am
Happy for Pierre, he’s going to rip those Highlanders apart.
8 Mar 2010, 10:46 am
The Bulls missed Spies, Potgieter and Stegman the previous game. Flip vd Merwe played good rugby so they do not miss Bakkies that badly. Now the other three?
8 Mar 2010, 10:47 am
pretorius, I believe, is a key link in the bulls defence. Will be good to get him back fit and ready asap. Nontheless, Diepenaar gets another chance to impress and gain experience.
flippie also keeps his spot which is good seeing as he is right on form.
Can’t wait to get Ndgane back though, his experience and intelligent play out wide is very underrated.
And Spies can still be handled softly as Dewalt Potgieter is back with plenty of options in the backrow.
8 Mar 2010, 10:59 am
Good for Bakkies, keep him back for the return games…. gonna need him!!!!
Pretorius…. keep him injured please…
sorry – just joking…
Akona,,, yip we need him as well…
Chilli…. please make sure he is 100% fit before he starts!
8 Mar 2010, 11:04 am
Pretorius is no big loss…. I miss JP Nel!
Bakkies can rest, Flippie and Pakslae are more than able replacements!
8 Mar 2010, 11:05 am
I think young Flip VD Merve has been exceptional. No need to rush Bakkies back; keep him in the wings for the semi’s and final.
And let’s hope Pierre can stay injury free for the remainder of the S14. The Bulls have great depth though; rest him gents.
8 Mar 2010, 11:14 am
Chiliboy Ralepelle (foot).
It has been what, 3 years and still to start a match for the Bulls in the S14. He like Petoors and Willemse before him just love visiting the doctors office.
8 Mar 2010, 11:15 am
Stick with Dippenaar. He is getting better with each game.
Let Bakkies recover properly. Between Victor, Pakslae and vd Merwe, we have good depth at lock. Wonder who will replace Victor if he is rested, though?
As for Akona: I think he will only play in the games that Fourie du Preez is rested and Hougaard has to move to scrumhalf.
I’d play Spies off the bench if he isn’t 110% yet. No need to risk him.
These Highlanders are going to unleash everything they’ve got against us on Saturday. They rate their chances after their convincing victory over the Bulls last year.
But this ain’t Dunedin, and the Bulls will have something to prove as well. I think we’ll win by a significant margin, but I’m worried about injuries to key players, as always.
Going to be brutal, I reckon.
8 Mar 2010, 11:19 am
@Tacitus: Nah we will give them a rugby lesson…. Landers are the whipping boys from sheepshagging island
8 Mar 2010, 11:30 am
Don’t be too confident. BBRU also wouldn’t play Spies, or any rugby player who isn’t fully fit. I don’t know why people always think a professional union will. Besides Spies said his website he is feeling great. Will be good to see Ou Grote back
8 Mar 2010, 11:38 am
No! I want my Bakkies, hurry up and fix yourself.
8 Mar 2010, 11:41 am
Still not quite sure why Spies still played on for 17 minutes againts the Brumbies, showing some faith. Dippenaar is good, no line breaches in his lane so far,and that with the wiley Mortlock and co. targeting him on purpose.
8 Mar 2010, 11:42 am
@Agile ***-Tyrant:
That game was still in doubt, and we didn’t have adequate replacements left on the bench.
8 Mar 2010, 11:44 am
@Tacitus: I agree… the Bulls must leave the ‘Landers emotionally scarred after the game, the same way they did to the Chiefs last year after the final.
As a result the Chiefs players who got selected for the ABs had not recovered from the scars and consequently played poorly against the Boks..
8 Mar 2010, 11:44 am
@Tacitus:
Potties
8 Mar 2010, 11:46 am
@Agile ***-Tyrant:
He was still injured at the time and not part of the match 22. His first appearance was a replacement against the Tahs, I believe.
8 Mar 2010, 11:48 am
O ja nou onthou ek. Mighty Fudge in daai geval.
8 Mar 2010, 12:04 pm
Ek sien nerens dat Ma’a Nonu gecite is vir die spear tackle op Juan nie. Ek kan dit nie verstaan of glo nie. Het die %$#@ beampte weer aan die slaap geraak voor die TV in sy hotel?
Die Highlanders het verlede jaar baie goed gespeel vs Bulls MAAR die NZ ref het hulle met moord laat weg kom. Hopelik is dit nie weer so nie. Sonder Cohan sal hulle swaar trek, maar die Bulls moenie vergeet om op te daag nie.
Wen eers die game en kry dan die bonuspunt en speel hulle dan stukkend as ‘n reminder vir 2009.
8 Mar 2010, 12:19 pm
Must say that van der Merwe boy has impressed my in Bakkies’ absense. I really miss JP Nel in the midfield – wanted what happened to the man – met him at a social gathering once, really nice guy and one hell of a tackler!
8 Mar 2010, 12:23 pm
JP Nel sal hopelik gou dik raak vir sushi en als wat met dit saam gaan en terug kom Loftus toe waar hy hoort.
8 Mar 2010, 12:47 pm
Byt vas Jaco, jy gaan nog n groot rol speel in die S14.
Groot drieë wat jy nog moet druk die jaar ou maat.
8 Mar 2010, 13:43 pm
Also can’t see whyb the bulls want Pretorius back except as back-up to Dippenaar.
The 1 is the future (the 13 cupboard post 2011 is looking good with him and de jongh), the other is the past.
No brainer in terms of who adds the most to the team set-up, since you already have enough experienced heads in the bulls side.
8 Mar 2010, 13:59 pm
@Mongril:
Dippenaar is weak defensively. I’d feel much more relaxed if Jaco was at center, even though he’s a journey man.
8 Mar 2010, 14:22 pm
@Kobus Kitty: Bulls have outgrown their safety first hand brake this year – let’s hope this is another case where adaring decision is made, rather than just falling into the expected conservative option.
8 Mar 2010, 14:37 pm
bad news for the bulls, but good news for Bakkies and the Boks, they have a hectic schedule ahead of them, and the later he starts the better. the bulls have been coping without him anyway, so there is no rush to force him in early.
oh, and did i mention what a awesome guy Allister Coetsee is?
8 Mar 2010, 14:47 pm
@BlueBlood:
ek mis ou JP hy het lekker by die bulls se agme ingepas en jy kon jou maar altyd reg maak vir n lekker duikslag van hom af leagle of nie.
As die bulle die dinge reg doen die naweek gaan die landers n lang middag beleef, veral as hulle speel soos teen WP
8 Mar 2010, 14:51 pm
agme = game
8 Mar 2010, 15:15 pm
If the Stormers could only muster 33 points against the Landers then the Bulls could easily put up a record score against them. Stormers still threw away several tries.
8 Mar 2010, 15:17 pm
Yawn. Can we not rather talk about the Stormers?
On a serious note, this may be just what we need at SA Rugby. A nice injury enforced layoff from Bakkies. He’s a key man in the bok side and it will definately lack some punch (excuse the pun) if he doesn’t play next year. There’s no obvious replacement for him at 4, with the same “etter’ factor.
8 Mar 2010, 15:44 pm
This is a Blessing in disguise for Bakkies and the Boks IMO. With all the tests this year and WC next year, this fella needs and deserves a huge rest. Same goes for Fourie DU Preez, Juan Smith and Victor. THose guys should be given 3 months off. The BOks don’t lose many games when those fellas are all in action.
Sorry just seen #29 STORMERSBOY comments. SO yep 100% agree.
8 Mar 2010, 16:27 pm
Bakkies
Horwill
Eaton
………….some serious locks going down this S14
8 Mar 2010, 16:37 pm
Hey guys i know this is seriously old but i never found out the reason why jp nel is not in the Bulls anymore, something to do with stefan terreblanche?
8 Mar 2010, 16:54 pm
I’m glad this beast is getting lots of rest.
8 Mar 2010, 17:21 pm
@Partizan: He felt he was unfairly cited and suspended for a tackle on Terblanche in the final game of the group rounds of the Super 14 last year against the Sharks. He was suspended for 3 or 4 weeks and therefore missed the semi-final and final.
He felt he was suspended based on reputation rather than based on the seriousness of the offence and decided that he would rather return to rugby in Japan where his reputation as an alleged dirty player does not proceed him. He also felt that his unfair treatment at the hands of the citing commitee negatively impacted on his teamates and that therefore he could not play rugby in South Africa and for the Bulls any-more.
He was excellent last year in the Super 14, and destroyed Adi Jacobs in the game against the Sharks. Him and Olivier combined to make one hell of a pair of centres on defence, and he always toke the ball up at pace, making some line breaks. Shame he left really, although it does now give Dippenaar a chance who has a lot more talent than Nel.
8 Mar 2010, 18:57 pm
Just read up on jp nel’s history hehe. As for that ashehole katman who thinks everyone’s armguard is for klapping opponents. Spies broke his arm you douchebag. Your sourgrapes attitude towards the Bulls is disgusting
8 Mar 2010, 18:59 pm
Shot thanks wolfman, checked up on his history afterwards. Seems like one heck of a loss for the Bulls
8 Mar 2010, 19:16 pm
Good news all-round. In my estimates it’s a good thing Bakman is getting an extended break from ruggas. Will do the monster the world of good – I’d also prefer for Dippenaar to have an extended run in the 13 jumper, Pretorius haven’t lived up to the hype which surrounded him at the Lions at all.
At the moment, Flip also doing some really nice work in the 4-jumper.
Add to that a possible loosies combo of Stegman, Potties & Spies for the weekend….. yup, the boys starting to hit their groove then…..
8 Mar 2010, 20:10 pm
Yeah a bonus point win will be great and expected but the Bulls mustn’t rape the landers as some people on the blog say. You can’t peak too early in the competition. Only from round 8 or so
9 Mar 2010, 01:38 am
Bakkies has become a bit of a regular limp-wrist softie sick-note recently, hasn’t he? Nowhere near as indestructibly rugged as that veteran tough-guy John Smit. Or that grizzly hard-man Brad Thorn. Bakkies is transforming into a bit of a hairdresser these days…
9 Mar 2010, 02:55 am
@TheTackler:
When you fish you need to use proper bait
9 Mar 2010, 04:02 am
And tell him that to his face you spinless dog!
I am sure there are a few players breathing a sigh of relief that Bakkies is not there.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.