AUDIO: Ackermann - 'It's probably our best team at the moment'
LISTEN as Bulls coach Johan Ackermann speaks about the injury struggles his side is facing ahead of their Round Seven Currie Cup clash with the Cheetahs.
Ackermann has been entrusted to take charge of the final league round of the Currie Cup following the Bulls’ falling out of play-off contention after their 5-44 defeat to the Lions at Ellis Park.
Ackermann confirmed that there will be some changes in player personnel for the Cheetahs clash, with some United Rugby Championship players possibly up for selection to get minutes under their belt.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing for the newly appointed coach, as he explained the extent of his team’s injury list, which could be labelled as a crisis.
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“It’s not a great scenario we find ourselves in, to be honest.
“The list in red [injured players] is probably the best team at the moment.
“If you start just with Springboks, you have Gerhard Steenekamp, Erich Louw and Cameron Hanekom. Those are world-class players.
“There are another couple of senior [players] and then there are a couple of juniors as well.
“Aphiwe [Dyantyi] just this week suffered a broken cheekbone, which will require surgery.
“Chris Barend Smit has a groin injury, which rules him out, and Cornel Smit is out with a hamstring [injury].
“We aren’t hiding behind it. If we select the list of injured players who are on the verge of the United Rugby Championship setup, it is a big list.
Ackermann added: In saying that, the injuries opened the door for Cheswill [Jooste], JJ [Theron], Abri [van der Westhuizen] and many more young guys that we can now assess.
“Ultimately, they have to become senior players. Some of them are in their last year of being Under-21, and some are Under-20 who can enjoy one more year as U21 players.
“But those guys who are U21, we’ll have to decide whether they are for the future, which is a great opportunity for them.”
