Bulls to talk with Bakkies
Posted Mon, 11 Feb 2008
It seems highly unlikely that the Bulls and Springbok lock Bakkies Botha will be released from his contract with the Bulls, but the Bulls are prepared to sit down and discuss the request with him.
The lock, currently on the injury list, last year signed a contract renewal which will keep him with the Bulls until the end of 2011.
Reports that Botha had applied to be released by the Bulls were confirmed by their commercial manager Ian Schwartz on Monday morning.
"We will sit down with Bakkies to see how we can resolve the matter (his request)," said Schwartz. He confirmed that Botha was tied to the union until end 2011, and it, therefore, seems unlikely that Botha will be released from that contract after the investment the Bulls had made in him.
It has been reported that Botha wanted to join his Springbok partner and Bulls captain Victor Matfield at Toulon. Hopes that the club would release Matfield to play Super 14 rugby have faded and the Bulls have accepted he is now lost to the franchise.
The news on Botha's ankle injury is that the chances are slim he will be in the side to play the Stormers in the Super 14 opener on Saturday.
But there was some good news for the Bulls. Danie Rossouw has recovered from his neck injury and, with Wilhelm Steenkamp, the Bulls have a competent pairing to fill the massive gap left by Botha and Matfield.
Further good news is tighthead prop Rayno Gerber trained with the squad on Monday morning and should be available for the Stormers match.
Coach Frans Ludeke will only know later this week which of injured players Akona Ndungane, Bryan Habana, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Pierre Spies will be able to play against the Stormers. Ndungane has been struggling with a shin-injury for the last few weeks and Habana picked up a rib injury against the Lions. His chances of playing seem to be good.
Ralepelle is expected to start playing this week but, because of the injury history to his knee, absolutely no chances will be taken. Derick Kuün will probably start at hooker with James van der Walt as his understudy.
Spies is still on medication and, as long as this is the case, he will not be allowed to play. The results of his blood tests were expected on Friday but weren't available.
Schwartz said a media release will be issued as soon as the Bulls have finality on the matter.
Sapa
