Bulls' injury count mounts
The three-time champion Bulls were dealt another double injury blow, following their 11-16 Super Rugby loss to the Highlanders in a bruising encounter in Dunedin on Saturday.
Bulls loose forwards CJ Stander (hip) and Dewald Potgieter (AC joint) will both undergo scans on Monday to confirm their participation in the last week of their tour in New Zealand.
Potgieter, who has just returned from a hamstring injury, came into the side after the Bulls lost a number of other loose forwards – including Jacques Potgieter (dislocated knee cap) and Deon Stegmann (fractured forearm).
The Bulls – who won both their matches in Australia, against the Rebels and Waratahs – play the Chiefs on Friday in Hamilton before returning home.
They have collected 10 points so far on tour, but captain Pierre Spies bemoaned their error-riddled performance in Dunedin.
He felt they were their own worst enemies against a very willing Highlanders outfit.
The Highlanders hung on gallantly in a tense and bruising clash.
It is the second year in a row the Highlanders – who came into the game on the back of two losses – have proved to be the Bulls' bogey team, after ending their 19-match winning streak when they beat them in Pretoria last year.
They also put a dampener on Morné Steyn's celebrations in his 100th Super game for the Bulls – as he was uncharacteristically off-target with the boot, missing a conversion and two penalties that could have changed the outcome.
The Bulls, who started the weekend as the championship leaders, took home a bonus point but slipped behind the Chiefs, who picked up four points for having a bye.
In a tough showdown, the Highlanders did not hit the lead until the final quarter when Jarrad Hoeata scored their sole try.
They were then left to stave off a late charge by the Bulls that produced one try and nearly resulted in a second before captain Pierre Spies gave away a penalty on the line.
"It was a physical game and fast," said a relieved Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh.
"It was a pretty big game for us. Obviously, we had lost two on the trot and the way the competition is we're still in the hunt and we've got big games coming up."
