The Bulls look set to be boosted by the return of a Springbok in just over a week’s time, while several other players are expected to also regain fitness before the Rainbow Cup SA resumes next weekend.
There’ll be a one-week break in play and for the Bulls the interval came at just the right time.
The Pretoria-based team slumped to their first defeat of the campaign by the Lions this past Saturday, while injuries have also taken its toll on the Bulls squad depth.
Now with a week off, the Bulls will have enough time to regroup before their home game against the Stormers on 4 June.
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Bulls new recruit Marcell Coetzee, who had been granted permission for an early release from his Ulster contract due to an injury, is nearing full fitness and, according to coach Jake White, the abrasive loose forward could make his debut when they host the Stormers next Friday.
Other Springbok-capped players in the Bulls squad also on the comeback trail from injury are backs Ivan van Zyl, Travis Ismaiel and Gio Aplon.
‘This break is really going to help us,’ White said. ‘All these experienced Boks are coming back from next week onwards, so this bye week has worked out well for us. It helps us with depth.’
White also confirmed that the injury to influential prop Lizo Gqoboka is not as bad as initially feared. He rolled his ankle against the Lions at the weekend and had to be replaced in the first half.
‘I was going to change props at half time anyway, so as soon as he felt the problem instead of keeping him on for the final seven minutes or so, we just took him off.
‘He looks all right, I didn’t want his foot to be under undue pressure anyway.’
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