Pollard massive blow for Bulls

The Vodacom Bulls were hit by a massive blow as they lost their captain Handre Pollard just before their Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Brumbies in Canberra.

Pollard pulled out of training with a calf strain and was due to miss the two games in New Zealand anyhow, meaning he will fly home early and the next time he plays for the Bulls – in their final pool game against the Emirates Lions on June 16, it could be his last for the franchise.

Manie Libbok comes into the flyhalf berth for the Bulls, and JT Jackson will join the team Wednesday night after flying in from South Africa to sit on the bench. The changes are the only ones from the 32-17 win over the Melbourne Rebels last week.

“Handre injured his calf and is struggling to run. We decided it wasn’t worth it risking him on Friday night and decided to bring Manie in,” coach Pote Human said.

“JT Jackson is flying in and will be on the bench. It happened at training, we took him out and we hoped he would be ready for the game, but unfortunately it seems he won’t be. He was going to miss the next two games anyway, so we are sending him home and hopefully he will be ready for the game against the Lions when we return.”

Human said the break would come at the right time for Pollard, who has featured in all but one of the Bulls matches this season.

“He needs the break, he has played most of the games. I think he will be fine when we get home. He will targe the Lions game to be back. He is a world class player and we will want him back for that game.”

Vermeulen has been excellent in the past few games and has captained the Bulls in Pollard’s absence earlier this season. He will also return home after this game on enforced national team rest, but will give his all for the 80 minutes he is on the field.

Burger Odendaal is likely to take over the captaincy for the last two games of the tour.

“It was a bit of a worry that we have lost so much experience this season to injuries, but a guy like Duane has had an incredible influence on the rest of the team. Schalk (Brits) is also here and Burger, who captained the team last year.

“The guys know what they are in for against the Brumbies and we want to win this one because it will mean we have beaten all four Australian franchises this year.”

The Bulls game will kick off at 11.45am (CAT, GMT+2) on Friday.

Vodacom Bulls: Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Johnny Kotze, Burger Odendaal, Rosko Specman, Manie Libbok, Andre Warner; Duane Vermeulen (captain), Handro Liebenberg, Paul Schoeman, RG Snyman, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Schalk Brits, Lizo Gqoboka.

Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Simphiwe Matanzima, Wiehan Herbst, Jannes Kirsten, Marco van Staden, Embrose Papier, JT Jackson, Divan Rossouw.