The Vodacom Blue Bulls will need to find a new captain this week ahead of their tough encounter against Griqualand West in Friday night’s Absa Currie Cup action after Gary Botha was ruled out for four weeks with a medial knee ligament tear.

from the official Bulls web site

Botha hobbled off early in his side’s narrow 15-12 defeat by Western Province on the weekend, but the team’s medical staff were more than happy that the injury wasn’t as serious as they were fearing.

Team doctor Org Strauss told SuperSport.com that Botha will not have to undergo surgery to the knee. “Gary has a grade 2 tear of his medial ligaments. It is better than expected and we don’t have to operate. We reckon he will be back in action in about a month’s time.”

There was also good news for the Bulls about Derick Kuün’s knee injury. Instead of being the second casualty to the Bulls line-up, Dr Strauss said the swelling on the knee had subsided. “Derick took a hard bump on his knee, and there was some swelling. But it has come down and he will resume training with the team tomorrow. He should be okay to start.”

Kuün’s availability is a massive boost for the Bulls, as he is likely to be named captain for the game against Griquas. Kuün also captained the side in Botha’s absence against the Leopards two weeks back.

The Bulls will also be anxiously waiting the results of the fitness tests for Dewald Potgieter , who is currently with the Springboks.

Potgieter sustained what Bok doctor Craig Roberts called “whiplash” in the Newlands game and the Bulls will be hoping he comes through fit, and then is released to rejoin them for Friday night’s game.

Fullback Zane Kirchner has been ruled out by the Boks with a knee cartilage injury. Kirchner had a scan on his left knee on Monday after sustaining an injury during an Absa Currie Cup fixture last weekend. He has been withdrawn by the Springbok medical team.