Hanro blow for thrilling Bulls
New game plan has fans purring but there is a high injury toll to be paid
THE BLUE Bulls may be riding the crest of the wave after their perfect start to this year’s Currie Cup competition, but yesterday they were dealt a severe blow with news that Junior Springbok captain Hanro Liebenberg might miss the remainder of the competition.
Liebenberg yesterday underwent an operation to repair a torn intestine which he sustained during the Bulls’ 47-29 win over Western Province at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Blue Bulls team doctor Org Strauss said that Liebenberg would be out of action for at least six weeks and could possibly make a return in the knockout stages of the competition.
While Liebenberg had initially undergone a scan to his stomach in the aftermath of the Loftus massacre, it was discovered upon conducting a second scan on Sunday that the robust loose forward had actually torn his intestine and it was leaking fluid into his stomach.
The 20-year-old Liebenberg had formed a formidable loose forward combination along with captain Lappies Labuschagne, Deon Stegmann and of late Roelof Smit, and was quickly becoming a vital cog in the rejuvenated team after also putting in good performances in Super Rugby this year.
As much as the results are in favour of the Bulls so far this season, they seem to be coming at an expensive rate especially for their loose forwards with Stegmann having been ruled out for six weeks last week after fracturing his cheekbone while Springbok flank Arno Botha has sat out the last three weeks due to a knee injury.
Smit had also hobbled off the field on Saturday after sustaining a hip injury but he is expected to make a full recovery, returning to training today and being available to start against Griquas.
A handful of players – flyhalf Tian Schoeman, prop Dayan van der Westhuizen, fullback Warrick Gelant and centre Dries Swanepoel – failed to make training yesterday, an indication of the severity of the collisions and high intensity of Saturday’s win against Province but all are expected back at training this morning.
Strauss also confirmed yesterday that hooker Callie Visagie will miss the remainder of the season and will have to undergo another operation to his troublesome right foot which has kept him out of action from the beginning of the season.
Even though Visagie had not featured for the Bulls in the Currie Cup his absence will leave their hooker stocks depleted with Bandise Maku and Jaco Visagie the only hookers with any senior rugby experience at the moment.
But coach Nollis Marais will feel slightly relieved at news that Botha could be available for selection for Saturday’s encounter in Kimberley.
Botha has been struggling with knee injuries for the past three years.
These have not only stymied his playing time at the Bulls but also cut short a promising Springbok career after long being earmarked by Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer as a player he would have wanted to take to the Rugby World Cup.