Covid-19 rocks Bulls, but Jake’s glass still half full
DESPITE a heavily Covid-19 disrupted build-up to tomorrow's Currie Cup showdown with the Golden Lions, Blue Bulls coach Jake White is confident that his team can deliver a performance that will secure a home semi-final.
The former Springbok mentor named a 28-man squad yesterday that did not include star centre Stedman Gans, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and bench stalwarts like Gerhard Steenekamp, Nizaam Carr, Mornay Smith, Sintu Manjezi and Marco Janse van Vuren due to Covid-19 protocols.
There was some good news, though, as captain Duane Vermeulen is available, while prop Lizo Gqoboka and flank Elrigh Louw return from injury for the Loftus clash. “Every team goes through it – positive, then negative-positive, then positive-positive ... Some guys tested positive, and then the next test negative, and then the next test positive. So, the reality is that because of the uncertainty, is it the new or old strain? Can you still get it,” White, who also recovered from Covid-19, said.
“We are retesting some of the guys, and that is why I've given you that squad as I'm not sure who is going to be available. It has a domino effect for me in that I would like to see certain combinations, but if I don't get to see one of the guys, I might as well keep the two guys who are there anyway.”
The Bulls still top the log on points difference from Western Province despite last playing on 12 December and have a game in hand. That is tomorrow's rescheduled encounter against the Lions, and even though he is still awaiting a few Covid-19 test results to finalise his match-23, White believes his team have proven that they can get through difficult scenarios before.
“There probably won't be additions to the squad for this Wednesday, but for Sunday (against the Pumas in Mbombela), definitely. We are in an extraordinary situation of two games in one week, having not played for a while – which is a lot more strenuous than for any other team,” said the 57-year-old. “Sometimes you can look at the glass as half full or half empty. I've got a couple of guys back, and one thing I've learnt as a coach is that you never have the ideal team.”
Bulls squad: Lizo Gqoboka, Schalk Erasmus, Trevor Nyakane, Jan Uys, Ruan Nortje, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Duane Vermeulen, Embrose Papier, Chris Smith, Stravino Jacobs, Cornal Hendricks, Marnus Potgieter, Jay-Cee Nel, David Kriel, Johan Grobbelaar, Jacques van Rooyen, Marcel van der Merwe, Walt Steenkamp, Arno Botha, Tim Agaba, Ivan van Zyl, Morne Steyn, Keagan Johannes, David Kellerman, Jade Stighling, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Joe van Zyl