End of Sadie's Bulls road?
Talented centre Johann Sadie may already have played his last game for the Blue Bulls, although coach Pine Pienaar has left the back door open.
Pienaar this week axed the gifted, but often off-kilter, player – opting to play Ulrich Beyers at outside centre for the Currie Cup Round Six encounter with Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.
It sparked rumours that Sadie, who will move to Bloemfontein to join up with the Cheetahs at the end of the season, will not feature again in the Pretoria outfit – whom he signed for from the Stormers this year for a reported R1.4-million per season.
However, Pienaar revealed that Sadie still feature in the last month of the season.
"He had a number of injuries this year and it has been a tough season for him," Pienaar told this website, when asked about Sadie's absence from the matchday 22 for the trip to Kimberley.
"I know he is trying his best and have no doubt about his commitment [to the Bulls]," the coach said, adding: "I have told him, there are four [Currie Cup] games remaining [after this week] and anything can happen.
"There could be injuries and then the picture will be very different – the other player, in the seat, could lose form.
"The fact is this week we are going with this selection [Beyers], but next week it could be very different … you never know.
"He admitted that it is tough, but he understands my decisions."
Pienaar said Sadie could still feature in the Bulls team later in the season.
"I felt we must give Ulrich [Beyers] a chance," he said, adding: "He [Beyers] did well in the games against the Lions, Griquas and Free State Cheetahs."
The exciting midfielder, Sadie, arrived at the Bulls amid huge expectation and hype.
He was regarded as one of the brightest stars in backline play in South Africa and Bulls fans were be keen to see if the elusive playmaker could continue his rich vein of form shown in Stormers and Western Province colours in 2011.
However, injuries curtailed his season and he lost confidence – which meant he was a shadow of the massive attacking force from a year ago, while little was seen of his distribution skills. His commitment on defence was also called into question.
His transfer from the Bulls to Bloemfontein was confirmed in July.
By Jan de Koning
