Bulls fit and ready to fight

THE Bulls may be enjoying a break this week due to their bye, but the Pretoria side still breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when the final evaluation of the team after the weekend’s clash against the Queensland Reds confirmed no further casualties to their injured.

Nollis Marais’ side has had its share of injuries already this season – with Handre Pollard (shoulder and knee), Warrick Gelant (jaw) and Burger Odendaal (quad) being the biggest long-term casualties.

The last thing the coach wanted was to head to an Australia tour that will pit them against the Western Force, the Brumbies and Waratahs with further injury blows.

Team doctor Herman Rossouw yesterday gave the squad a clean bill of health. “Luckily we have a bye this week, so we are in a fortunate position to have the guys resting for the week. We are more fortunate to have the whole squad available for selection for the tour of Australia as we had no injuries in the game against the Reds.”

While pivot Pollard will miss the entire Super Rugby season, fullback Gelant is expected back after the Bulls return from their Australian tour and Odendaal is also expected to be back at full fitness in at least a month’s time

After their rest this week, Marais will be naming his squad for the tour Down Under.

He is expected to travel with the 23-man squad that beat the Reds 41-22 on Saturday, with the likelihood of hooker Bandise Maku, prop Pierre Schoeman, loose-forward Roelof Smit, scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl and winger Jamba Ulengo being added to the full complement of players.