Bulls flanker Jacques Potgieter revealed this morning via Twitter that he will undergo an operation on his troublesome groin tomorrow, with SuperSport’s Brenden Nel then confirming that the Rugby Championship Bok squad member will spend two months on the sidelines as a result.
As a result, Potgieter will miss out on the end of year tour, where the Boks will play tests against Ireland, Scotland and England next month.
When Potgieter was ruled out with a first occurrence of the injury after the away leg of the Rugby Championship, Heyneke Meyer brought in young Bulls loose forward Arno Botha as cover, a move which prompted an outcry since the feeling was that Sharks man Keegan Daniel was in far better form. Daniel completely overshadowed Botha for the second time in a month during Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final, whilst even forgotten Springbok Jean Deysel made a far more compelling case for tour inclusion than any of the loose forwards in the Bulls squad, including Botha.
Let’s hope that Meyer has the balls to make the right decision for THIS tour and will restore Daniel – and perhaps even Deysel – to his squad.
Tweet
Daniel does deserve it. I hope Meyer takes him. We need to reward provincial performances. Send out the right message.
That being said, I’m pretty sure he’ll take Arno Botha.
And Jean Deysel, I’d imagine, hasn’t got a shot unless there are a few more injuries.
@hendrikp (Comment 1) : I know he’s going to take Botha. He seems to share your infatuation with the kid. 👿
@hendrikp (Comment 1) : Or if Deysel wears a blue jersey
Just once again going to show that, with the amount of rugby being played by these guys, running into the opposition phase after phase will break you, it is not sustainable.
When last did Keegan sit out a game due to injury? Then look at Alberts, how many times he’s injured.
Time to wise up!
All comes down to whether Meyer bases his selections on currie cup form or on his ‘plan for the future’. His charges so far have delivered average results so maybe taking the in form players on tour isn’t such a bad idea? I’d certainly pick those in form!
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
I think you’ve chosen to look past him Rob
It’s nothing against Daniel. If it were me, I’d take Daniel and demand some strong performances from Arno Botha in a starting capacity at Super Rugby level.
But I can understand Meyers thinking in wanting a bigger guy that suits the style of loose-forward he is looking for.
And I do think Arno Botha is a hell of a player. Going to play a lot of tests at 8 for the Boks I think. Now we just need Pierre Spies to get out of the damn way.
@KingRiaan (Comment 3) :
Don’t think Sharks Supporters can complain too much at this stage.
@hendrikp (Comment 7) : Nope, I helluva glad he wears black-and-white and not baby blue
@KingRiaan (Comment 8) :
I meant with numbers in the Bok squad 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
You know anything about Frans Steyn injury?
Vrede seems to think he’ll be fit for the EOYT.
@hendrikp (Comment 10) :
Scratch that. He went ahead and edited the article afterwards.
@hendrikp (Comment 11) : oh ok. Nah, I’ve heard nothing to suggest that he’ll tour
@hendrikp (Comment 7) : Jy sit die pot heel mis… Dit gaan nie oor hoeveelheid Sharks in die Bokspan nie. Maar wel dat HM verkies om eerder ‘n Bulls speler te kies. Al is daar duidelik ander spelers wat beter is. Wat my veral moerig gemaak het, is hoe hy sekere Sharks spelers behandel het op toer… 👿
I think Keegan definitely deserves to tour but in Marcell, Alberts and Vermeulen we have quite a few bruisers which is why Deysel will probably miss out.
Just my opinion of course! 🙄
@wpw (Comment 14) : I’m not advocating for a call-up for Deysel. I’m just saying that even he is more deserving than Botha, based on what he actually does on the field.
For the England tests the squad had a majority of Sharks players. Then HM gradually started filtering them out and replacing them with WP players. The boks were strong against England and then gradually got worse.
So if there is ever a 50:50 call between a Sharks (Deysel or Keegan) or another (Botha) you would be mad not to take the Sharks player.
@hendrikp (Comment 11) : What do you think will happen if Keegan wins player of the year? HM could not possibly ignore taking him.
@Seth101 (Comment 17) : What above Bosman?!
@Seth101 (Comment 17) : of course HM would ignore him, he goes against all normal. He sees magic in the bulls.
when are they announcing touring squad? Is it after cc final?
@Original Pierre (Comment 18) : 😯