/ 10 March 2004

Injuries put off naming of Bulls squad

Bulls coach Rudy Joubert has put off naming his squad for Saturday’s Super 12 clash against the Brumbies after a spate of injuries made picking a side almost impossible.

Already ruled out of the clash are fullback Johan Roets (ankle) and centre Frikkie Welsh (fractured thumb) but Joubert’s plans of bringing back Springboks Victor Matfield and Richard Bands are still in the balance.

Matfield is set for a half-hour return after injuring himself against the Stormers in Dubai, but with captain Anton Leonard nursing a badly bruised shin, the lock might well find himself now captaining the side again.

Bands, while playing 70 minutes in Boshoff on the weekend, injured his hamstring and is unlikely to play as well.

But centre JP Nel has been declared fit and is likely to replace Welsh in the midfield, while Willem de Waal, who replaced Roets in the 16-all draw with the Highlanders, is set to come in at fullback.

If Leonard is ruled out then Jacques Cronje will move to number eight with Pedrie Wannenburg, another Springbok, moving back to his normal flank position. — Sapa