Few coaches would relish the prospect of having to make do without a player of the calibre of scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, but for Frans Ludeke, at least, the news of his star link-man’s tournament-ending injury would have been softened to an extent. In tenacious young Francois Hougaard, after all, the Bulls have a more-than-capable scrumhalf replacement, who is a Bok in his own right to boot.
Picture, then, the nightmare scenario that unfolded at Bulls practice yesterday with the self-same Hougaard also going down with what looks like a serious ankle injury. Should the mulleted wonder indeed also be ruled out of Saturday’s home game against the Cheetahs, it would leave Ludeke scratching his head pretty hard to find a suitable scrumhalf to deputise.
Third-choice Ruan Snyman is also injured, having picked up a groin injury that will probably require surgery, leaving the inexperienced Dustin Jinka as the only fit number 9 unavailable. SA Under 20 star Loha Jacobs may well need to come into the match 22 as well, leaving the former champions woefully short on experience in a key position.
Ludeke is not panicking just yet, though and will wait on further scans to establish exactly how bad Hougaard’s injury is.

That’s a big blow.
This will require Steyn to step up his game and start making more decisions. Wonder how that will play itself out? At leadt for the Bulls there is a lot of experience arroudn whoever the 9 will be.
Ja no; we will stick our structures – we believe in our game plan and our systems, and our replacement will fit with the structures and form part of the game plan – we have the systems… Ja ja ja – just say you are in kak and be done with it!
What is it with sports managers and their endless riddles?
Another Plum quote from yesterday…..is he shifting the blame to the players?? I read this article yesterday and his attitude really bothered.
“There’s been quite a lot of self analysis after the weekend. There’s a lot of pressure and the onus is now definitely on the players,” said Plumtree.
the rest of the article on
http://www (dot) sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Plumtree-No-more-slip-ups-20110524
I thought Hougie came out of his ankle injury way too quickly, from crutches into preseason.Not smart.Go Jinka!Another Cape Town boy playing for the Bulls
Give Dustin a Chance!!!
Sarel must be loving this LOL!!
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : We can’t blame plum for the slapgat attitude of the players.
@Honey Badger (Comment 7) :
You can’t blame the players for the k*k tactics either.
It goes both ways I reckon.
@Pokkel (Comment 8) : jip,but why are we not playing with any intensity like the cheetahs or bulls.
That’s whats bothering me
I see Hougaard is in the Bulls team for Saturday so the injury couldn’t have been that bad.
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : hey pokkel check out the comments off the 2011 get to gether, would u wanna go to loftes
@franshark (Comment 11) : I see Ice got an article up. I’ll have to speak to ‘The Boss’ first.