Vodacom Bulls lock Paul Willemse will be out of action for three months following a knee injury sustained in Saturday’s win over the Southern Kings, but there is a green light to the fitness of Wynand Olivier and Dewald Potgieter.
A MRI scan on Monday revealed a MCL injury to the big lock, ruling him out of action for the next nine weeks. He will undergo an operation on Wednesday.
Official Bulls Media release
Olivier and Potgieter will be available for selection though after recovering from their respective knee injuries. Olivier got injured on tour and Potgieter was a late withdrawal from the side that travelled down to Port Elizabeth, but according to team doctor Org Strauss, will be considered for Saturday’s match against the Waratahs in Pretoria.
Francois Hougaard will also train on Wednesday and pending his fitness afterwards, could be considered for the weekend. He has an ankle injury.
Frik Kirsten (elbow), Deon Stegmann (ribs), Callie Visagie (ankle), Flip van der Merwe (chest muscle), Lionel Mapoe (foot) and Chiliboy Ralepelle (calves) all sat out of training on Monday, but will be considered for selection, Strauss confirmed. Jean Cook (ankle) will also be back to fitness on Wednesday.
Hencus van Wyk (Shoulder, 1 week), Grant Hattingh (thumb fracture, 3 weeks), Zane Kirchner (finger operation, 3 weeks) and Francois Venter (groin, 7 weeks) are all out of action for now, but Marcel van der Merwe (knee rehab) will be back in training for the first time this year.
Not too bad… Willemse is’nt a starting lock
Wynand Olivier can stay in the broader squad, thank you very much, Jan Serfontein is doing a sterling job!
The Loosie combo of Deon Stegmann, Arno Botha and Pierre Spies is potent, the 2 Potties can be on the bench.
Chiliboy really impressed on Saturday and callie Visagie is lively… and old Willie Wepener is a wily old fox at hooker.
My biggest concern is at prop, with Frik Kirsten’s injury and Werner Kruger not in form and on the loosehead side with Mellett a bit of a penalty machine. Hope Marcel van der Merwe gets match fit very quickly!
Must say, the Bulls dicipline in the 1st half against the Kings was exemplary…
Former Springbok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen’s quality of life has deteriorated considerably since his motor neurone disease (MND) progressed to the second phase.
According to the latest YOU magazine, Van der Westhuizen’s daily routine now involves a walking aid, a wheelchair, drinking through straws and people ready to help him around.
Van der Westhuizen, 42, has lost 18kg as eating has become more difficult in recent months.
“I’ve told them (my kids Kylie, 9, and Jordan, 7) that Dadda is probably going to be with Jesus,” said Van der Westhuizen.
Van der Westhuizen was diagnosed with MND in May 2011 and only 20% of MND sufferers live for five years.
Van der Westhuizen played 89 Tests for the Springboks and represented the Bulls on 71 occasions in Super Rugby.
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