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Triple blow for Bulls

The Bulls, the defending South African conference champions, will start their campaign without three players.

The Bulls will face the Sharks in Saturday's season opener of the Super Rugby competition without Arno Botha, Morné Mellett and Jesse Kriel.

According to Bulls team doctor Org Strauss, flank forward Botha will undergo surgery on his injured ACL on Monday.

He will be out of action for at least six months.

Mellett is two weeks away from returning to action as he is recovering from a back injury.

Kriel's contused calf will take another three weeks to heal.

The rest of the squad has been declared fit, although Deon Stegmann will only train on Wednesday – as he is recovering from a groin strain.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke is expected to name his team for Saturday's clash on Wednesday.

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