The Vodacom Bulls have called for two replacements for their last match of their Australasian tour against the Brumbies on Saturday.
Official Bulls Media release
Lock Wilhelm Steenkamp and loose forward Jean Cook will left for Canberra today to replace Flip van der Merwe and Grant Hattingh respectively.
Van der Merwe has not recovered from a chest muscle strain while a scan revealed a broken thumb for Hattingh. The experienced Steenkamp has 52 Super Rugby caps under his belt, while Cook debuted for the Vodacom Bulls against the Western Force earlier in the season, scoring a try in the process.
A final fitness call on Bjorn Basson and Deon Stegmann will be made on Wednesday.
Basson still has trouble with an ankle and Stegmann will have to prove that he is over his hamstring strain.
Springbok and Cheetahs flyhalf Johan Goosen underwent reconstructive knee surgery in Pretoria on Monday after seeing an orthopedic specialist for a second opinion.
Dr Daan du Plessis, himself a former Springbok prop, confirmed the severity of the injury and immediately decided to operate.
Goosen last week tore ligaments in his right knee after slipping while practicing his goal-kicks in Sydney, Australia. His kicking coach, Bertus Pretorius, confirmed to Volksblad that a reconstructive procedure was performed.
Goosen arrived in South Africa last Thursday and visited Du Plessis on Monday to make sure an operation was necessary.
“The reconstruction went well and Dr Daan is very happy,” said Pretorius.
Goosen, 20, is expected to be out of action for between six and nine months.
This is Goosen’s third long-term injury within a year after injuries to his shoulder and left knee kept him sidelined for long periods in 2012.
Goosen returned to Bloemfontein on Tuesday and, according to Pretorius, remains positive.
Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie is also confident the young star will bounce back in future. Fourie said the fact that Goosen is still young gives him time to recover and have a successful career.
Losing Flip is huge I think against the Brumbies. If Bulls lose Stegmann then they could be in some kind of trouble even against a tired Brumbies side.
Will wait later and see if Stegmann is starting or not, otherwise after thinking Bulls will win this one now have doubts and might go with the home team on bru by a few.
2 @ Puma:
Wilhelm Steenkamp is an able replacement, much better than Paul Willemse was anyway, and Steenkamp has lots and lots of Super Rugby experience.
The fact that the Bulls also flew Jean Cook over, says to me they are worried about the breakdowns and want to get a fetcher involved… which is good news.
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