A host of injuries, uncertainty about the availability of the Springboks in their squad and a run of defeats all confront the Vodacom Bulls as they head home from England to prepare for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the Hollywoodbets Sharks this Saturday.
Top of the list of injuries is newly acquired flyhalf Kade Wolhuter, who limped off the field and is on crutches at the moment, with management fearing the worst on the injury front for him.
While Wolhuter was always a gamble to sign on loan from the Lions because of his chequered injury history, the former schoolboy star also struggled to grasp the pace and intensity of the game and not only missed touch twice with penalties, but failed to keep his side on the front foot. One of his kicks was returned for the first try and while it may have been harsh to throw him in at the deep end against last season’s beaten finalists, his absence because of injury will be a massive blow for the Bulls.
Wolhuter was signed as cover for Johan Goosen, whose calf injury may well end up forcing him into retirement, and with Handre Pollard on enforced leave last weekend, there are few options left to coach Johan Ackermann ahead of the game at 10.
The hope is that Pollard will be available for the big derby game - it wouldn’t make sense not to use him, while Keagan Johannes - who has been considered only at 10 this season after covering at 9 over the past few seasons, is the other option.
The Bulls also have the option of playing Springbok centurion Willie le Roux at 10, but it is likely he will feature at 15 this weekend.
The Bulls have also lost young rising star Cheswill Jooste to a shoulder injury and tighthead Francois Kloppers to an infected toenail, while there are a number of niggles from the Northampton loss that need to be assessed when the side gets back to Pretoria on Tuesday. Ackermann didn’t mention names, but said there were at least three players from the match that would be unavailable because of injuries.
With Jan Serfontein also out for eight weeks, the Bulls may have a number of problems to face before they select a squad.
Ackermann said he was satisfied with Wolhuter’s performance, but added that he feared the worst on the injury front.
“It was a big challenge for him, to play against a team like this in the UK, a quality team like Northhampton, they were last year’s finalists, so it was a big challenge. I think he did very well, and of course, there were mistakes as well, like any player. The big mistake that everyone will look at were the two times that he missed touch with penalty kicks.
“I think he can still do well for us, there's work to be done, as a 24 year old, but unfortunately, the time that he ran back to get the ball, he injured his knee.
“He’s on crutches at the moment, I'm not exactly sure what went wrong, I think it's just a precautionary measure for now, not to put pressure on the knee, but of course,we have to get back to Pretoria and then see if he can play this coming weekend.
“ I have to be honest, I think, right now, I don't know if he'll be right next week, but let's hope it's not too bad.”
Ackermann also laid out the challenge for the Bulls, in that they have a very short week before heading to Durban to face a Sharks side that is buoyed by a win over Saracens.
“Yeah, we arrive on Tuesday, so we'll have only Thursday and Friday training, and then fly down to Durban. We'll have to reassess. There's a lot of injuries, a lot of niggles at the moment in the team.
“We'll have to see who's fit, who's ready to go, and then pick a team and then I think more get the minds positive, get the bodies healed up and full of energy, and then go and challenge a good Sharks side in Durban.
“If we can get through that game, we've got a week off, and then it's a big challenge against the Stormers that are obviously in great form. So it's not an easy two weeks, but the only thing we can control now is getting 23 players fit and healthy.
“Like I said, we've got at least three guys probably tonight that won't be available next week, but I don't want to speculate. We'll see once we get the full medical assessment, and then see who's fit and ready to go and play.”
The Bulls will name their side on Friday for the Sharks clash.