SA latest – Kirchner doubtful for opener
7 Feb 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises.
Kirchner doubtful for opener – Zane Kirchner injured his ribs in the Bulls’ win over the Premier XV and could miss the first Super Rugby game against the Lions.
The Bulls fullback will go for more X-rays on Monday, but the Bulls medical staff aren’t optimistic. It’s feared that Kirchner may be out for as many as three weeks.
Springbok lock Bakkies Botha twisted his knee, but should make a full recovery in the next few days. The other good news is that Francois Hougaard is recovering well, and that Bulls captain Victor Matfield (neck injury) should be ready for the Super Rugby opener.
Stormers continue to wait on Bash – Peter Grant’s club has progressed to the next stage of the All-Japan Championship and so the Stormers flyhalf will not be returning for at least another week.
Grant’s club, the Kobelco Steelers, beat Toyota Verblitz 27-17 on Sunday with Grant scoring 13 points (two conversions, two penalties and a drop goal). The Steelers will now play the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes this weekend, and if they win, Grant will stay in Japan for the 19 February semi-finals.
If the Steelers go all the way to the final (29 February), Grant will miss the Stormers’ game against the Lions, and possibly the next match against the Cheetahs. It’s a problem for coach Allister Coetzee, as rookie Gary van Aswegen has had an up-and-down pre-season, while Lionel Cronje and Elgar Watts are yet to get a decent run at flyhalf.
25 Comments
7 Feb 2011, 09:16 am
We need this injured Dragon.
7 Feb 2011, 09:39 am
Jaco at fullback. Problem solved.
7 Feb 2011, 09:45 am
yeah Wacko is looking fit and raring to go…
7 Feb 2011, 09:53 am
Not to worry, Jaco vd Westhuizen is looking fit and eager, word has it he can drop it over from his own 22.
7 Feb 2011, 11:56 am
Cant believe we have a guy like Lionel cronje on the bench and when he comes on he is a fullback. Gary and Algar Watts is out of their class. Lional has the x factor.
7 Feb 2011, 14:17 pm
Jaco is a pole-dancer
7 Feb 2011, 14:19 pm
@scar(scar)-6: I thought he was master of the longdrop.
7 Feb 2011, 14:21 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-1: The bulls may need Niknaksman but the bokke……Nope!
7 Feb 2011, 15:45 pm
@scar(scar)-6:
Hey at least Jaco is entertaining.
7 Feb 2011, 15:50 pm
@coma(coma)-4: @rossoneri(rossoneri)-9: @>^..^< katman(katman)-7: @scar(scar)-6: ja, all you people, make fun of jaco, he is so quick that all you see are his swishing yellow boots going past…
7 Feb 2011, 16:11 pm
Jaco is cool. Leave Jaco alone.
7 Feb 2011, 16:21 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-10: Ja, he’s really quick. Before you could say “but it were a droppie!” he was right up that pole, spreading the gospel like it was peanut butter.
7 Feb 2011, 16:28 pm
“Kirchner doubtful”
Did I detect a sigh of relief from the Bulls’ camp?
7 Feb 2011, 20:26 pm
I honestly wish that Kirchner would follow in Jaque Fourie’s footsteps, who also began life as a full-back. I would like to see NikNaks converted to a #13. He has the size, strength and stability. His defence is good.
He has some of the skills to be a fullback requires, but is missing the following which are also required from an international 15: Speed, creativity and a boot.
7 Feb 2011, 23:05 pm
Yakoo – what a losa
8 Feb 2011, 06:33 am
@YoMama(YoMama)-14: Does a test 13 not need creativity and speed? Maybe not in the Bulls team, but anywhere else it’s essential.
8 Feb 2011, 06:35 am
I woulda thought the bulls would buy better cover for Zane?
8 Feb 2011, 06:48 am
@garth(garth)-16: Not necessarily. Mortlock, for example, has never been creative (unless running over the top of two people rather than the usual one is considered creative) and even now that he no longer has a whole lot of speed, I’d still rate him as one of the best in the world. When fit, of course.
8 Feb 2011, 06:59 am
@DonutDunning(DonutDunning)-18:
Over. The. Hill. I hope for the Rebels part he comes to the party but I think as a player he is way past his best.
8 Feb 2011, 07:17 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-19: mortlock should be on a pay as you play contract like andre pretoors, he is too injury prone.
8 Feb 2011, 07:30 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-19:
He left some Sader’s for dead for his tries this last weekend in the pouring rain…
8 Feb 2011, 07:33 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-20:
Too injury prone… like Pretorius… a joke right?
The man has averaged more than 7 tests a year for over a decade with almost 120 Super rugby caps to his name!
8 Feb 2011, 07:37 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-21:
‘their’ tries…
8 Feb 2011, 07:42 am
richie mc caw out for 6 weeks with fractured bone in foot
kirchners ribs okay…
9 Feb 2011, 09:46 am
Jaco V d Westuisen has more skill and vision in his left big toe than most rugby players in SA… Coupled with good pace and confidence to play his move… Check the last minute of the 2007 Super 14 final Bulls v Sharks in Durban…. Habana may have scored the winning try but it all started from Wacko from his own line… He cut flat across the field from Right to left to go up the left flank…. Thats a no no in your own 22 area but wacko doesn’t Know no no. He just has faith in his ability… The result was a thrilling last 30 seconds with most of the Bulls getting in on the act and then Habana over the line…
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