/ 21 May 2009

Delport on standby for injured Olivier

A final decision on the fitness of Bulls centre Wynand Olivier will only be taken on Friday — and there is still more than an outside chance that the side to face the Crusaders in a Super 14 semifinal at Loftus on Saturday will be without both the centres who started against the Sharks last weekend.

JP Nel is definitely out following his unsuccessful appeal against his four-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on the Sharks fullback Stefan Terblanche, and Olivier has not trained at all this week.

Jaco Pretorius will therefore definitely play, taking Nel’s place. Former Lions centre Pretorius prefers to be outside centre — and as usual he will be on the outside if Olivier plays. But should Olivier, whose hip was still painful on Wednesday, not be fit for the match, Marius Delport will come in at outside centre, in which case the more experienced Pretorius will be on the inside.

Delport had a good Vodacom Cup campaign after losing his place in the Super 14 side.

The Bulls have Thursday off after three days of short but intensive training sessions and will also have their customary captain’s run on Friday. — Sapa