Rose waits for Bulls offer

Published 14 September 2010 | By Tripples

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 8:45 (courtesy of iafrica.com)

Forgotten Springbok Earl Rose could pay dearly for the potentially fatal decision to turn down an offer to play Currie Cup rugby with the Leopards.

Leopards coach Chaka Willemse confirmed to iafrica.com that they were keen on signing Rose – recently banished to club rugby by the Lions – on a loan basis for the rest of the season.

However, Rose turned down the offer to play for the Potchefstroom-based team, because he thought there might be an offer from the Blue Bulls.

That offer is unlikely to materialise and Rose could be once again left cooling his heels on the sidelines.

iafrica.com can reveal exclusively that there were “tentative discussions” between Rose and the Bulls management, because of a flyhalf crisis in Pretoria. However, the Bulls are likely to rely on their junior talents to fill the gap in the No.10 channel.

The Bulls’ problems started with Springbok Morné Steyn being placed on a conditioning programme with the national team.

They still felt they had enough cover in Jacques-Louis Potgieter, utility back Jaco van der Westhuyzen (at one stage the first-choice Bok No.10) and Under-21 star Francois Brummer.

Unfortunately, injuries have a cruel way of upsetting even the best-laid plans.

Last week Brummer suffered a hamstring injury and has been ruled out for the next four weeks. Potgieter also left the field with an injury in the 14-20 loss to the Free State Cheetahs at the weekend – leaving the Bulls with Van der Westhuyzen and two untried junior flyhalves in Marnitz Boshoff and JC Roos.

The Bulls were looking for an experienced flyhalf who would be available immediately, and there were some tentative discussions with Rose.

However, we can now reveal that he is unlikely to be brought on board at the Bulls.

It means his decision to turn down the Leopards will leave him without a chance to revive his career at Currie Cup level – after he was dumped by Lions Super 14 coach Dick Muir and also regarded as surplus to requirements by new Lions mentor John Mitchell.

* Meanwhile, the Leopards have managed to obtain the services of Lions flyhalf Ruan Boshoff and he will feature in their side against Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.

The Leopards had also hoped to get the services of Rose and Lions lock Jacques Lombard. But Lombard has been ruled out with a knee injury.

Boshoff, who joined the Lions from the Bulls last year, has not featured in the Lions’ Currie Cup side this year.

The Leopards have also added three scrumhalves to their Currie Cup training squad – Charlie King  and Tiaan Dorfling of Pukke, along with Impala club No.9 Jermaine Appolis.

The Potchefstroom outfit is facing a mini-crisis at scrumhalf, with star No.9 Michael Bondesio out with a groin injury and Jean Tiedt having undergone surgery.


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