VIDEO: Bulls face midfield crisis
INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls could be forced to field a new midfield combination in their Super Rugby Round 12 encounter with the Waratahs.
Coach Pote Human confirmed that both starting centres, Burger Odendaal and Springbok Jesse Kriel, are doubtful for this coming Saturday’s home game against the Australian franchise.
They suffered injuries in the Bulls’ 23-24 loss to the Stormers at Newlands at the weekend.
Human said the full extent of the injuries will only be known later on Monday.
“Jesse will go for a scan,” Human said of Kriel, who was linked with a move to Japan after this year’s Rugby World Cup.
“He injured his ankle, so we will see,” the coach added.
Weekend media reports suggested Kriel is likely to join the Canon Eagles, who are coached by former Springbok coach Allister Coetzee.
Meanwhile, Kriel’s midfield partner is also a big doubt for this week’s outing.
“Burger [Odendaal] got a really bad knock to the eye and we’re really worried about that, because there was blood inside his eye.
“He’s going to the hospital.”
There is also concern about wing Jade Stighling, who suffered a concussion when he took a blow to the cheek at Newlands.
Should both Odendaal and Kriel be ruled out, the Bulls will have to look at the likes of Sevens convert Dylan Sage and Erich Cronje, who played for the Blue Bulls XV in their 21-29 loss to the Pumas in a domestic Challenge match at the weekend.
John Jackson, who started at flyhalf against the Pumas, can also function in the midfield.
The Bulls coach, Human, said they did not play well at Newlands, but he was “pleased” they managed to salvage a losing bonus point in the end.
However, he was adamant that they have to win their remaining games, especially their home games, if they are to stay in the play-off hunt.
They face an unpredictable Waratahs outfit this week, then the Crusaders (also at home), before going on tour – where they face Rebels (in Melbourne), the Brumbies (in Canberra), Blues (in Auckland) and Highlanders (in Dunedin).
“There are plenty of games remaining before the play-offs,” Human said.
“I feel we have the team to make the play-offs.”
@rugby365com
