The Vodacom Bulls openside flanker and prime fetcher, who had to withdraw from the Bulls lineup the day before the Blues clash 2 weeks ago, due to a hamstring injury, still won’t be risked this weekend against the Reds.
Dr Org Strauss and his medical team have deemed it wiser for Stegmann to rest one more week, to be ready for the Bulls clash at Newlands against the Stormers, rather than cause further damage this week against the Reds.
This comes at the same time as the good news that Johann Sadie and Flip van der Merwe has passed their respective fittness tests in preparation for the Reds match.
Francois Hougaard also returns for the match, following his suspension for a dangerous tackle against the Blues.
With a number of Bulls flankers still out injured, the early speculation is that CJ Stander will retain his starting spot, in place of Deon Stegmann, even though it was clear against the Blues that the Bulls missed their out-and-out fetcher and subsequently struggled at the breakdowns, to secure quality ball.
Luckily for the Bulls, the Reds have problems of their own on the injury front, with effectively their 4th choice flyhalf due a start this weekend.
In addition, Digby Ioane, their mercurial backline weapon has been suspended for 5 weeks, ruling him out of the weekend’s clash as well.
I’m worried… Reds have Pocock.
Bulls really missed Stegmann, more so than anybody else, against the Blues. Bulls just could not establish ground ball dominance at all, making it possible to the Blues to play thier game in stead of the Bulls game.
CJ Stander is a wonderful player, with heaps of potential, but as a Number 8 or a blindsider. Also, I hope the Bulls had a very serious chat to Jacques Potgieter, instructing him to get more involved at the breakdown and not hang around to put in some dubious shoulder tackes around the rucks… he MUST also get stuck in and forage for the ball on the ground, to assist.
Flip’s physicality and Hougie’s all out mongrel will be welcomed back with open arms and I think we’ll see Wynand back at No 12, with Sadie at No 13, sending Francois Venter to the bench. He was also not on par in the Blues game.
Bulls MUST dominate physically, they MUST value possession and go very hard at the breakdowns, that is the only way they will be able to dictate and allow the Bulls to play deep in the Reds half… continiously!
This will be a walk in the park for the Bulls. The Reds have no backline left.
@ grootblousmile: That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking too. They seemed to really miss him. If Morne is over his brain fade from last time they should be Ok though.
As LH said, they just haven’t got any depth in the backline.
Hopefully you guys can soften them up a bit more for us.
🙂
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