It was mostly good news in the Bulls camp on Monday regarding injuries following their warm-up match against the Lions in Windhoek over the weekend, but they were waiting anxiously for an X-ray report on Bryan Habana’s ribs.
The star winger was injured in the Bulls’ last warm-up match before the Super 14 competition starts on February 15. However, team doctor Tommie Smook was optimistic that the prolific try-scorer would be up and running in a few days’ time.
”We have to wait for the X-rays to be absolutely certain, but I think his ribs are just bruised and not broken,” Smook was quoted as saying on the Bulls’ website.
Also on the upside, Smook said he was happy with the way utility forward Danie Rossouw and prop Gurthro Steenkamp (both World Cup Springboks) and number-two scrumhalf Heini Adams came through the game against the Lions after long lay-offs.
However, the news on their other World Cup winger, Akona Ndungane, was not as good. His ankle was swollen after the match in Windhoek and he did not train with the team on Monday.
Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, who injured the same knee that kept him from the field for most of last season, and prop Rayno Gerber, who injured his Achilles tendon against the Boland Kavaliers 12 days ago, started their rehabilitation on Monday morning.
It’ll be a race against time, but the Bulls management was optimistic the two front-rowers would be fit for the Bulls’ first Super 14 match against the Stormers at Newlands on February 16.
Richard Bands was working hard to regain full fitness after a stop-start 2007 season due to various injuries, and Smook said Bakkies Botha’s rehabilitation was going very well.
Springbok Pierre Spies will know by the end of the week when he will be able to play again. He has an appointment with a specialist on Friday. — Sapa