Adriaan Strauss

It appears Cheetahs hooker Adriaan Strauss will make a U-turn and decide not to move from the Cheetahs to the Bulls.

It was reported earlier that Strauss’s move to Pretoria was a done deal, but business interests in Bloemfontein now look likely to keep Strauss at the Cheetahs.

According to reports, the Cheetahs also significantly upped their offer for Strauss and he said that he’ll make a final decision on his future this week.

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Should Strauss not go to the Bulls it would be a setback for the union as they are set to lose the services of Bongi Mbonambi, who will leave for the Stormers after growing tired of sitting on the bench.

Bandise Maku and Callie Visagie are the other hookers in the Bulls squad.

The Bulls may lose out on Strauss, but it appears a done deal that two of his team-mates at the Cheetahs, prop Trevor Nyakane and Lappies Labuschagné, will head north to Loftus Versfeld.

The Blue Bulls will be without wing Bjorn Basson when they start their challenge to the Currie Cup against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on 9 August.

Bjorn Basson

Basson, who holds the record for most tries (21) scored in a Currie Cup season, is suffering from an ankle injury that will keep him on the sidelines for the next four weeks at least, team doctor Org Strauss confirmed.

Flank Jacques du Plessis is also expected back in four weeks as he is recovering from a broken jaw.

Hooker Callie Visagie, who is battling with a back strain, will be rested for two weeks, but should be fit to take on his old province.

Centres Dan Kriel (calf) and JJ Engelbrecht (contusion) as well as utility back Jessie Kriel (ankle) will sit out for a week.

The long-term injury list at the Blue Bulls is:

• Tiaan Schoeman (ankle, 5 weeks)
• Pierre Spies (bicep, 4 months)
• Arno Botha (knee, 4 months)
• Frik Kirsten (neck, 4 months or retirement)
• Jaco Visagie (knee, 3 months)
• Flip van der Merwe (knee, 5 months)