VIDEO: Injury-ravaged Bulls heading to Singapore
INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls, desperate to salvage some pride at the end of a failed Super Rugby campaign, have been dealt a series of crippling injury blows.
Two of their key players have returned from Springbok duties with injuries and their captain has also been ruled out of this week’s trip to Singapore – to face the Sunwolves.
Captain Burger Odendaal injured his calf in the domestic Challenge Cup match against the Lions and won’t accompany the team.
Wing Travis Ismaiel (undisclosed niggle) and prop Trevor Nyakane (rib) both returned from the Springbok duty with injuries.
They will be reassessed next week, but will also miss the trip to Singapore.
As if the loss of Odendaal and Ismaiel is not bad enough, the Bulls will field a virtual second-string pack against the Sunwolves.
Springboks Lodewyk de Jager and Lizo Gqoboka are both out for the rest of the season with injuries.
They are joined on the long-term injury list by Roelof Smit (knee), Frans van Wyk (ankle) and Hendre Stassen (ankle).
Also out for the rest of the year, are Sevens Bok Tim Agaba and Gerhard Steenekamp.
“We have been decimated by injuries in the front row and loose trio,” coach John Mitchell said.
“We’ve lost a lot of forwards all through the year and the challenge is that we have to use younger guys who are still developing,” he added.
The Bulls will announce their touring squad on Tuesday.
