Injured Francois Hougaard, Dewald Potgieter named in Bulls Squad for Saturday’s clash
Bulls, desperation to win a game can be seen from the fact they have announced their injured players for their weekend clash against the Chiefs.
Earlier today, Bulls coach squad announced the squad for their game against the Chiefs at Pretoria including the names of Springboks Francois Hougaard and Dewald Potgieter who have not trained with the team.
Bulls are coming from the Australian tour in which they were able to win a single game in New Zealand and followed it up by a humiliating defeat by the Crusaders. They lost both their matches in Australia.
Bulls, the current super rugby champions are badly in need of a win of victory this weekend to keep their championships title hopes alive. Bulls will take the field during the weekends under added pressure knowing the fact that a loss would take them out
of the contention of super rugby championships title for this year.
Francois Hougaard and Dewald Potgieter are both suffering from ankle strains and have not participated with teams training sessions. While Bulls coach, Frans Ludeke was confident that both players will recover for Saturday’s game yet both will have to undergo
a fitness test to ensure that they are match fit.
Earlier today, Hougaard Francois was declared "90 percent" fit however if he failed to prove his fitness then Gerhard van den Heever will replace him in the starting lineup. Gerhard van den Heever takes the place of Jaco van der Westhuyzen. Jaco van der
Westhuyzen is dropped from the match 22 as Akona Ndungane start on bench if Francois does not play.
Dewald Potgieter is recovering slowly and probably will miss the match. In his absence, Danie Rossouw will start in the starting lineup. Furthermore, Chiliboy Ralepelle is moved to the bench making way for Gary Botha to come back into the starting line-up.
Additionally, Bulls will be without the services of their midfielder Jaco Pretorius as the neck strain has forced him out of the match. Bulls will have the services of their Victor Matfield who is declared fit after recovering from his calf injury.
Bulls squad for their match against the Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld includes:
Starting XV: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3
Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Francois Brummer, 21 Gerhard van den Heever, 22 Derick Kuun.
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