Injuries mount in Bulls camp

After the exertions of three games in little more than a week, two forwards and two backs will not be available for the Blue Bulls for Saturday’s match against the Free State Cheetahs, which is a re-run of last year’s Currie Cup final.

Fullback Duncan Matthews was given a one-game suspension for a dangerous tackle yesterday, but he was probably not going to play anyway thanks to a knee injury picked up against Western Province last weekend. Matthews is having scans, but team doctor Herman Rossouw said the injury did not look serious.

Wing Travis Ismaiel is not as fortunate, with his knee injury expected to keep him out of action for four weeks.

Among the forwards, hooker Jaco Visagie has re-injured his shoulder and will be sidelined for a couple of weeks, while flank Jannes Kirsten sprained his ankle at Newlands.

Springbok Sevens star Tim Agaba (above) has joined the camp and is expected to replace Kirsten as a ball-carrying loose forward.

The 45-34 defeat at Newlands has seen the Bulls fall to fourth on the Currie Cup table, only ahead of Western Province on points difference.

Coach Nollis Marais said defence is the area his team is most falling short on at the moment.

“We’re scoring a lot of tries, but it doesn’t help if you’re conceding a lot too. I know John Mitchell is concerned about the defence as well. We’ve changed our system in terms of how we defend and it will take a while for everything to fall into place, but we must continue with it otherwise we will keep struggling and we’ll battle in Super Rugby too,” Marais said.