AUDIO: In time of need, Bulls kingpin plays through 'pain barrier'
The man with ‘knees like crystal’ is willing to play through the pain barrier at a critical time of the season.
Johan Goosen’s battle with knee injuries has been well documented, but according to the 32-year-old flyhalf recovering from this last setback was especially tough.
Goosen was speaking as the Bulls head into a critical period of the season – ahead of their Challenge Cup quarterfinal against Edinburgh.
Last weekend in France Goosen returned to the pitch in the 65th minute of their Round of 16 victory over Bayonne, following more than two months on the sidelines with an injury.
He hobbled off in the Champions Cup match against Stade Francais, at Loftus Versfeld on January 18.
At the time, Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White summarised Goosen’s troubling knees by saying: “He’s got knees like crystal. He has had lots and lots of knee injuries.”
According to Goosen, who spoke to reporters in the build-up to their Challenge Cup quarterfinal face-off with the Scottish outfit, the latest setback was particularly hard and he is still enduring pain.
“I’ve been through this [before]. It’s been tough, this time was very tough for me.
“I’ve still got a bit of pain but I must say the coaches are managing me well and I’m just happy to wear the jersey again and to have got that 10 or 15 minutes on the weekend.
“Hopefully in a week or two, the pain will be better.”
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There is no doubt that the Bulls need the experienced Goosen to take them through their European and United Rugby Championship campaigns, but next season Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard will report for duty at Loftus Versfeld.
Asked how he felt about the Bok No.10 returning to Pretoria, Goosen was in good spirits.
“I’ve played with Polly at Montpellier for three seasons.
”He’s won two World Cups, [he] is a good player and a great signing for the Bulls. I think it is a positive for them.
“In terms of my contract, I still have one season left at the Bulls. I’m just taking it day by day and being the best I can be for the team.”
Looking ahead to the match against Edinburgh this weekend, the Bulls will come up against one of their former coaches, Sean Everitt.
“I’ve known coach Sean for a while. He is a great guy and a great coach,” Goosen stated.
“I think he will have a few tricks up his sleeve. It will be a tough match for us. It is a quarterfinal, anything can happen.
“On a 4G artificial pitch [in Edinburgh] they play a fast game and we’ve got a big pack, so I think they will try to move us around.
“They’ve got dangerous outside backs so we will have to try and keep the ball away from them.
“It’s also a difficult place to play, the wind can be a factor, but we’ve played there before and have some plans.”
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