Bulls lose two more Boks
The Bulls have lost the services of two more Springbok, just one week into their Super Rugby campaign.
Springboks Werner Kruger and Arno Botha, as well as former South African Under-20 star William Small-Smith have all been ruled out of Super Rugby action for the next couple of weeks.
The trio picked up injuries in the Bulls' 17-29 loss to the Stormers at the weekend.
Kruger has been ruled out for at least six weeks, if not longer, after he picked up an ankle injury against the Stormers.
Botha, who also left the field on Saturday, will be out for two to three weeks with a pectoral injury, team doctor Org Strauss confirmed.
Small-Smith, who played for the Blue Bulls team against Pumas in a warm-up match, injured his ankle and will be out of action for at least two weeks.
Another midfielder, Burger Odendaal (knee) was ruled out for four to six weeks.
There is some good news, with Bok prop Dean Greyling set to start training on Thursday and fellow Bok Marcel van der Merwe (knee/hamstring) due to return in two weeks.
Morne Mellett (ribs), Jacques du Plessis (hip), Hanro Liebenberg (back) and Basil Short (eye) will all train on Tuesday.
Bok wing Akona Ndungane and Travis Ismaiel both trained on Monday and will be considered for Friday's match against the Hurricanes at Loftus Versfeld.
Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (shoulder) will also be rested for a week.
Flip van der Merwe (pectoral, mid-April), Hencus van Wyk (foot, three weeks), Pierre Schoeman (knee, five months) and Bandise Maku (pectoral, four months) have joined Kruger and Odendaal on the long-term injury list.
