The Vodacom Bulls will get a number of Springboks back this week, but there is growing concern over the knee injury of veteran lock Victor Matfield.
Matfield will only know on Tuesday when he will play again.
He was originally listed as being ‘rested’ for the encounter with the Lions last week, but it has since emerged that the knee injury was the real problem.
It appears to be a major concern for the Bulls management.
The lock, who has a meniscal knee strain, will see knee specialist Dr Daan du Plessis to determine how long he will be out of action.
rugby365
When he will play again? or if?
Father Time waits for nobody.
Shame, the Bulls definitely miss him…..if he was still captain I’m sure they would have come up with some better excuses than this pearler….
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Spies-Lions-used-wrong-ball-20150407
Cape Town – Bulls captain Pierre Spies says the Lions used the wrong ball when they took a quick restart late in their Super Rugby clash in Johannesburg last Saturday.
The Bulls seemingly had the game won when Jacques-Louis Potgieter slotted a 79th minute penalty to give his side a three-point lead.
However, the Lions rushed to restart play and caught the Bulls out with a quick kick-off. It allowed them to regain possession from which substitute hooker Akker van der Merwe scored to give the Lions a 22-18 victory.
Spies though claims the Lions used the wrong ball to take the quick restart. The rules state that if a team wants to take a quick restart, they have to use the same ball which was used to convert the previous penalty kick or conversion.
“I don’t want to make any excuses. We should have secured possession at the last restart, but the Lions used another ball which may have caused us to lose concentration,” Spies told Netwerk24.
“I didn’t have time to ask the referee (Jaco van Heerden) about it.”
Spies nevertheless praised the Lions for their never-say-die attitude and called on his players to focus for the full 80 minutes.
“Despite a few decisions going against us in the last few minutes, the Lions deserve praise. They made sure they used the chance afforded to them. We played well enough to win this game.”
I am wondering which “decisions” went against them in the last few minutes?
The Hollywood act by JLP that won him an best actor award for his role in “My cruciate ligament, my cruciate ligament….my kingdom for a cruciate ligament” certainly didn’t go against the Bulls.
@ nortie:
JLP did put on quite a performance no doubt… but it was still a late tackle.
Credit to the Lions still because they appeared more hungry for the win, but if they used the wrong ball as claimed, then that is pretty bad luck for us. Also unsure what the rule is regarding quick kickoffs.
Spies just made a small mention about it them not using the same ball (if so) post match, no need to kick themselves for it and I am sure they are over it by now, just look at the next game.
If anything, Spies captaincy was found wanting.
“I didn’t have time to ask the referee (Jaco van Heerden) about it.”
Should have made time to go to the TMO.
5… never mind that would be an extremely harsh judgement.
Nortier still bleating 3 days later.
Some things never change.
😆
@ gunther:
Is bleating a new synonym for celebrating?
First the Sharks getting pasted by 50 and then the Lions beating the Bools…..couldn’t have asked for a better end to a Saturday
MacroBull wrote:
Why mention it at all?
As for “just look at the next game” allow me to offer my sincere congratulations to the Bulls and their supporters for what will be a stunning victory over the mighty Reds from Australia.
A wonderful victory against what is considered some serious opposition
@ nortie:
Please if that had happened to to Stormers you would still be farking crying about it 6 months later.
The Stormers got Rogered good an proper by the ref on a few occasions this weekend and I for one will probably still be moaning about it 6 months from now.
The Bulls have been on the receiving end of some generous calls this year, swings and roundabouts.
I am waiting for my roundabout to come my way…..
Lots of snide comments from rentacop here.
Who ate the stormer’s playing next week?
😆
@ Stormersboy:
Hahaha dry your legs.
😆
gunther wrote:
I am drinking extra water as we speak. New delivery soon….
@ Stormersboy
Ja it’s important to hydrate still lots of tears to come for the Stormers.
This was going to be your year.
😆
gunther wrote:
Yes it was!
I demand a commission of inquiry into the blatant manipulation going on……
@ Stormersboy:
Maybe we can tack it onto last year’s enquiry ?
gunther wrote:
The Stormers will be losing to the Waratahs this weekend.
Shame, lots of anger and angst amongst the Bull supporters….cheer up Gunthie, all is not bad…..at least when you Bull supporters get divorced she still stays your sister.
nortie wrote:
So your saying no Stormers supporter mentioned the alleged knock on against the Hurricanes.
Of course Spies should mention it, it was a tough one for the referees, so I’m not all too upset about it, but hopefully they will look at it closer in the future?
Makes sense to me.
@ nortie:
I don’t see any anger here from Bulls fans just resignation that under the current set up we won’t be seeing any silverware soon.
Do you get all your jokes from bumper stickers?
😆
gunther wrote:
…” Former Test referee Jonathan Kaplan says the Stormers have a right to be upset with the officiating in Wellington last Saturday.
The Stormers found themselves trailing 25-3 at half-time after conceding three controversial tries, and went on to lose 25-20.
‘All three Canes tries had huge question marks over them – knock on, forward pass and illegal steal,’ wrote Kaplan on ratetheref.co.za. ‘All three decisions went in favour of the home team. At half-time the game was done.
‘I do not believe the referee [Rohan Hoffmann] deliberately set out to have a poor day, but the consequence of this was a blow out in score, with absolutely no recourse for the victims,’ Kaplan added. ‘It’s not great to be apologising in running as this does little to offset the frustration of the multitude of decisions that appeared to the players to be going against them….”
@ MacroBull:
He’s looking for attention.
Remember it’s not what is said but rather who says it.
😆
@ Stormersboy:
I feel for you guys.
My boy Scarra is having a beast of a season.
Stormersboy wrote:
At least Kaplan came running with a towel in hand 😆
ohhhh
couldnt resist
gunther wrote:
I see Strauss made a few team of the weeks, simply astounding, Scarra by far the form Hooker.
Bulls are losing far too many of their own line out ball.
gunther wrote:
@ MacroBull:
Scarra put in a lot of work over the off season he deserves it Strauss is nowhere.
gunther wrote:
Don’t be so modest….it’s unbecoming and false.
You know you will be getting some silverware in the form of the coveted Conference Cup
@ nortie:
Long way to go yet Nortier we still have to tour.
Besides the only people who covet that are Stormers fans andvthays because they’ve never won the real thing .
😆
Actually I tell a lie.
What does annoy me is that the bulls have a comparatively soft away tour its a shame we didn’t win more home games then we might have been in the running. Probably not though because there is just too much dead wood there.
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