Playmaker concern for Bulls ahead of URC quarterfinal
REACTION: The Bulls’ medical staff will be keeping a close eye on flyhalf Johan Goosen ahead of their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against the Stormers.
The 30-year-old Springbok was not at his best during the Bulls’ 7-31 defeat to Western Province in a Currie Cup match in Cape Town on Saturday and he was eventually replaced by Chris Smith.
After the match, Bulls assistant coach Hugo van As revealed Goosen had an issue with his hamstring ahead of the match.
“Johan Goosen picked up a knock in the first half and we wanted to protect him,” said Van As.
“I am not 100 percent sure about it. In the warm-up, he felt a tweak in his hamstring, but he got cleared by the medical staff to play.
“At half-time, he was complaining. When I left the changeroom they were busy examining him and making a call on him, but I think he should be fine.”
Western Province seemed to expose some weaknesses in that flyhalf channel during the match.
“We all know he [Goosen] is a really good defender, but that is the way Province play,” Van As explained.
“They attack and they build confidence and energy on the fact that they can put you under pressure in that channel either by defence or carrying hard and we allowed them to do that very successfully on the night.”
Van As admitted that the home side were much more clinical when it came to the attacking side of things.
“You got to be honest and you got to compliment the WP team.
“Defensively they were brilliant and tactically they used their opportunities far better than what we did.”
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