SPORT Bulls’ kraal looks low on prime beef

THE Bulls will have to overcome injuries to key personnel and an imminent player exodus if they want to win their fourth Super Rugby crown.

The June international window has been particularly brutal to the Pretoria-based side. Captain Pierre Spies and breakthrough star Arno Botha were the biggest casualties from their Springbok duties, and will miss the rest of the season.

In-form scrumhalf Jano Vermaak suffered a serious hamstring injury in the Boks’ first Test against Italy in Durban, but could still participate in the remainder of the Bulls’ campaign.

To add to their woes, Wynand Olivier and lock Juandre Kruger both leave the team for greener pastures after today’s match against the Southern Kings in Pretoria.

Ever the optimist, Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said while the loss of Spies and Botha was a blow to their campaign, he had confidence in their replacements.

“We always knew we needed depth in the competition to be competitive