Pretoria – The Vodacom Bulls were dealt a setback when a freak accident ruled out Springbok utility back Francois Hougaard for up to six weeks.
Hougaard was training with his team-mates and mis-stepped during a training move, twisting his knee and tearing his meniscus, the concave part of the cartilage of his knee.
The injury will mean he will be out of action for at least four weeks, but it will most likely be closer to six weeks when gets onto the field again.
This will mean that Hougaard will miss the Vodacom Super 14 opening game against the Vodacom Cheetahs on February 11, deepening a crisis at the Bulls on the wing after the departure of Bryan Habana to the Vodacom Stormers.
Hougaard will undergo a scope to determine the extent of the damage this morning, but team doctor Org Strauss’ diagnosis is a six week layoff.
“He injured the cartilage in his left knee, and he will be out between four and six weeks,” Dr Strauss told Supersport.com.
The injury is particularly bad as the Bulls other Springbok winger Akona Ndungane is still recovering from a broken leg and is likely to be on the sidelines for another two months at least.
This leaves young Gerhard van den Heever on the one wing, and coach Frans Ludeke to decide on the other wing between John Mametsa, young Stefan Dippenaar and utility back Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
Van der Westhuyzen has not returned from his stint in Japan yet, but is expected back soon.
Hougaard, a natural scrumhalf, filled the void for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the Absa Currie Cup last season and excelled to such an extent that he was selected for the Springbok end of year tour.
According to Coach Frans Ludeke, the injury is a major setback for the team.
“It was a freak accident and it happened so quickly,” Ludeke said. “It is at least not a long term injury and luckily he should be back after a few weeks. “
He would not be drawn into who exactly would replace the youngster.
“Luckily we don’t have to make that call right now. There are a number of players still in the system that have a chance to put their hands up.”
There was also another scare for the Bulls when No8 Pierre Spies pulled out of the practice early with a hamstring strain. But Dr Strauss said afterwards his hamstring was a bit tight, and the move was only precautionary.
Pedrie Wannenberg, who has been in the headlines for his confession to using drugs and alcohol in a magazine article, resumed his training with the side yesterday.
The career of Brent Russel comes to mind………is FH a 9 or a 11/14?
When you have a very talented rugby player who is kept on the sidelines by another special player, coaches tend to play them out of position for the sake of having them on the field.
Now this is a common occurence in SA, and it always ends up hurting that specific players career in a certain way. Now I know the Sharks are quilty of this practice, and it seems the same is happening at the Bulls.
I would play Mamaetsa, always thought he was a very solid wing, but it is difficult to know the form of players who hardly feature in topflight rugby.
Mametsa is solid and always gives his all, few players play with more heart than Mametsa, he is however getting older and slowing down a bit but still is solid
Replacing a player like Habana on form is almost impossible. Good luck Bulls, you’re gonna need it this year.
Sniff……….
Bly om te hoor Spies is weer skoon….
So lekker oggend, en dan hoor en lees ek van sulke k@k!!! Gaan lees bietjie hier:
Vir Afrikaans:
http://www.beeld.com/Content/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/1928/e0bbd7203ced4013ac583cbcf73c81bb/13-01-2010-07-54/Bulle_verloor_dalk_hul_blou
Vir Engels:
http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Rugby/264/cc795b56302c490eb3cd22d25560b4f0/13-01-2010-08-00/Blue_Bulls_days_numbered
(comment did not appear directly because it contained more than 1 link to other Internet pages, it was marked as pending, which happens automatically… system is set up this way – obviously I have now authorised the comment – GBS)
Vir wat will hulle nou sulke k@k aanjaag!!! Dom D***erse ape!!
Hehe KP, jy sal moet verduidelik, jou gehoor sal nie verstaan nie…
Lol @ Swanie… Ons is slimmer as wat jy dink… 😉 Ons (Altans Ek) weet wat hy bedoel… lmga
Aag nee hel, die beserings moenie nou al begin nie…
Blou Pastei #6, ek lees nou net die Bulle se nuwe trui gaan ‘n grys trui wees met rooi en pers strepe. Die embleem is ‘n veldmuis, van die klein soort.
11
En die WP se embleem sal seker verander na n jellyvis.
Lag maar, maar as die maligheid werklik gaan gebeur skeur maar daai WP trui ook op, hy sal seker dan so ongewild raak soos die ou vlag.
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