The Vodacom Bulls face a mounting injury crisis as coach Johan Ackermann prepares for Saturday’s crucial Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban.
Loanee flyhalf Kade Wolhuter has emerged as the most concerning casualty, currently on crutches with a suspected serious knee injury sustained during the Bulls’ humiliating 50-5 defeat to Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens. Ackermann fears the worst for the 24-year-old, who struggled in his debut against last season’s European finalists.
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His absence creates a significant selection headache at flyhalf, with Goosen’s persistent calf injury threatening to force the veteran into premature retirement.
Handre Pollard, who was unavailable last weekend, represents the Bulls’ primary hope for the position, while Keagan Johannes provides an alternative option. Willie le Roux could feature at flyhalf, though he will likely start at fullback.
The injury list extends beyond Wolhuter, with rising star Cheswill Jooste sidelined with a shoulder problem and tighthead Francois Kloppers ruled out due to an infected toenail. Jan Serfontein faces eight weeks on the sidelines, whilst Ackermann confirmed at least three additional players from the Northampton match will be unavailable.
“We arrive on Tuesday, so we’ll have only Thursday and Friday for training, and then fly down to Durban,” Ackermann explained. “We’ll have to reassess. There’s a lot of injuries, a lot of niggles at the moment in the team.”
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The compressed preparation time compounds the Bulls’ problems as they attempt to recover from their European mauling against a Sharks side buoyed by their victory over Saracens.
The Bulls have struggled at Kings Park, winning only once in four previous URC encounters. The Sharks claimed comfortable victories in the competition’s first two seasons before the Bulls responded with a 26-14 triumph in 2023-24. However, the Durbanites edged last season’s encounter 20-17.
Ackermann must reshape his squad significantly to arrest their current slide before facing the in-form Stormers the following week.
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