Bok camp remain mum over Bulls hit-out

REACTION: The Springboks’ management team is working hard at a plan to get in some valuable game time before the British and Irish Lions Test series.

Following an outbreak of coronavirus that has produced 26 positive cases, South Africa were forced to cancel last Friday’s second Test against Georgia.

However, in an effort to combat that cancellation and boost players’ match fitness, South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus was hoping SA ‘A’ could play a second match against the B&I Lions on Saturday.

This will mean that the ‘A’ team will replace the Stormers as the B&I Lions’ opponents.

Unfortunately, Warren Gatland turned down the offer.

Instead, reports have been circulating that SA ‘A’ have requested a match against the defending Currie Cup champions the Bulls.

The Pretoria side’s fixture against the B&I Lions was postponed due to Covid-19 earlier this month.

Both the Bulls and SA  ‘A’ can do with some extra game time – given that the Springboks’ stars have only played one Test match against Georgia since the World Cup final in November 2019.

When asked about the reports regarding SA ‘A’ facing the Bulls on Saturday, Mzwandile Stick revealed any game time would be beneficial and ‘appreciated’.

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“As a team, we would take any opportunity we can get to reach the level we would like to be at, ” Stick told reporters during a media briefing.

“We are far off from where we were in the World Cup final.

“We have a lot of room for improvement and any opportunity we get to get closer to the desired level before our first Test match we will appreciate it.”

Stick could neither deny nor confirm a prospect of an SA ‘A’ versus Bulls match.

“The decisions on the warm-up against the B&I Lions is solely up to the executives. I think Rassie as the Director  is dealing with those logistics

“At the moment we haven’t heard any reports from them.

“But if we get an opportunity to play on Saturday – irrespective if it is the B&I Lions or Bulls, which I’ve seen rumours of  – we will take it.

He added: “Hopefully, we get closer to where we want to be come that first test against the B&I Lions.”