Du Plessis jumps Bulls' No.4 queue
The freak injury that has ruled out Springbok Flip van der Merwe, has opened the door for a few youngsters to step onto the Super Rugby stage.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, speaking to rugby365 in an exclusive interview as his team stepped up their pre-season preparations, said they will back the youngsters to fill the void left when Van der Merwe tore a pectoral muscle while working out in the gymnasium late last year.
Van der Merwe, who turns 30 in June and has 35 Test caps, had recovered from knee surgery that sidelined him for most of 2014 when the accident happened.
Ludeke admitted that the injury is a loss, as the veteran lock is a "key member" of their team, both in terms of his leadership and experience.
However, it now opens up an opportunity for other players.
Top of the list to wear the No.4 jersey is 21-year-old Jacques du Plessis, who featured on the flank throughout 2014. He is followed closely by 20-year-old Nico Janse van Rensburg, who played for the South African Under-20 team last year, and Irné Herbst, 21, who featured for the Baby Boks in 2013.
"It is a golden opportunity for Jacques du Plessis, especially in the warm-up games, to show what he can offer us at No.4," Ludeke told rugby365.
"He's always been an option for us in that position," the coach said, adding: "Last year we had so many injuries among our loose forwards that he did duty for us at No.7 [as blindside flank] throughout the season.
"Then [there is] Nico Janse van Rensburg, who played one or two Super Rugby games off the bench and the whole Currie Cup competition as a replacement.
"He can develop into a good No.4.
"Also there is Irné Herbst, who is coming through our junior ranks.
"We do have options and we will back the system and the young guys who are coming through. We have all the confidence that our recruiting and junior systems will get us through."
Ludeke also confirmed that Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss, one of several high-profile recruits in the off-season, is struggling with a calf strain and will be rested for his side's pre-season match against the Cheetahs in Polokwane next Saturday, January 25.
The injury is "not serious" and Strauss is expected to return to action in early February, the week before their opening league match against the Stormers in Pretoria.
Bok flyhalf Handré Pollard will also not be in action in Polokwane, as he is recovering from a sprained foot.
The news is much better on other injured players – with hookers Callie Visagie and Jaco Visagie, lock Grant Hatting, prop Marcel van der Merwe, loose forwards Pierre Spies and Arno Botha, fullback Jurgen Visser, as well as midfielders Dries Swanepoel and Burger Odendaal all having returned to training this week.
"We had a few guys we've nursed through the off-season, but now in the second week of the year we see all the guys coming back," Ludeke said.
Pre-season games:
January 24: Bulls v Cheetahs in Polokwane
January 31: Blue Bulls XV v Saracens in London
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
