The pre-season warm-up games ahead of the Super 14 may be worthwhile exercises, but often the cost of injuries hampers the teams more than advance their cause.
The Bulls, for instance, have lost three key players in their build-up, with Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Gary Botha all suffering knee injuries.
In stark contrast, their opponents in their opening game of the campaign, the Cheetahs, have enjoyed an unbeaten and relatively injury-free pre-season run. Not only have they accounted for the Spears, the Force and Italian club Benetton, but they also have only one serious injury worry.
Utility back Alwyn Hollenbach dislocated his shoulder in Saturday’s 52-11 win over the Italians in Welkom and will be out for four to six weeks.
Coach Rassie Erasmus conceded that his team have been lucky with regard to injuries and this luck could benefit them in the long haul.
In a repeat of last year’s Currie Cup final, the Cheetahs face a Springbok-laced Bulls team, this time in Bloemfontein, but with injuries wreaking havoc north of the Jukskei, the Bloemfontein team have a decent chance of opening their maiden campaign with a win.
”We have been lucky with injuries and the guys will also have 10 days of no contact,” said Erasmus. — Sapa