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Johannesburg - The Vodacom Bulls will be waiting on a medical report ahead of their daunting task of facing the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday.
According to the SuperSport.com, the Bulls will be hoping the injuries to Jason Jenkins and Bjorn Basson aren’t too critical as they need both to be ready to face the Brumbies this week to continue with the momentum they picked up from beating the Force last weekend.
Jenkins pulled out of the squad late last week before the game with a pectoral muscle, and while the Bulls coped well with Marvin Orie putting in an inspired performance in Jenkins’ absence, they will want their first choice lock to return.
Basson is just as critical to the cause for the Bulls, especially as they only have two wingers on tour after Jamba Ulengo returned home following a family bereavement and should Basson not be available, the Bulls will have to call for a replacement or play Dan Kriel – normally a centre – out on the wing for the clash.
Both don’t look too serious and it was felt before the weekend that with a bit of rest the injuries would subside, with a final decision to be taken on Tuesday as to their fitness.
Given the Bulls sit now in a pretty position, one point behind the Stormers with a game in hand in Africa conference one, a win against the Brumbies will be an exceptional achievement for them and will give them confidence going into their final tour match with the Stormers yet to tour.
But it is clear their next few weeks – against the Brumbies and Waratahs, and returning home to face the Stormers and Lions – is likely to determine just how well they fair and how close this young side comes to the playoffs.
Coach Nollis Marais has done well thus far but knows the team is in a transition phase and needs to back itself more to play the sort of rugby they did in Perth if they are to continue on their upward curve this season.
“The big thing is that the guys must play with confidence. My belief has always been that if it is on, we should go for it. But at the moment we’re trying to put so many things in place, the guys are looking for space and using it well,” Marais said after the win over the Force.
But the Bulls won’t get carried away with the victory, knowing they need to follow it up with a good performance in Canberra if they are to be taken seriously.
