The Vodacom Bulls may well be sitting in a prime position on the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in third spot with two games in hand, but as they head into a week’s break they are counting the cost of a very valuable five points in Johannesburg over the weekend.
The net result of it all - and precise injury periods are still to be confirmed - is that they lost both their captains this weekend - and likely for long periods as well.
Elrigh Louw, who twisted his knee early in the second half, was rushed to Milpark Hospital and was operated on straight away, but the Bulls have been unable to give a final prognosis on the extent of his injury as they are waiting for the swelling to come down before they know.
Ruan Nortje will go for a scan on his knee on Monday and that will determine the length he will be out, although the Bulls are hopeful that it isn’t as serious as initially thought. Nortje was in his second game back from injury and was widely praised by coach Jake White for his leadership of the team.
The Bulls are also waiting on a final diagnosis of Johan Goosen’s knee. The pivot went to clean the cartilage on his knee, and again, the medical team are waiting for the swelling to subside before knowing if the injury is a success or not.
Others, like Springbok flank Marco van Staden, are two to three weeks away from returning, as is utility forward Jannes Kirsten.
While the Bulls have this week off, they face what their president Willem Strauss calls a “summer war” in the next month, which starts off with a game against the Stormers in Cape Town on February 8, followed by visits to Loftus Versfeld by the Sharks, Stormers and Lions in consecutive weeks.
After all the injuries distrupted them on Saturday, the Bulls bench rose to the occasion and pulled the side through, earning them all five valuable points for the Jukskei derby.
It was something that made White proud of the performance.
“I’m really proud. All the disruptions, you lose one guy with an HIA and another guy with blood. There were so many things that were happening, and especially when we went behind and they scored that try. Some teams would have thought that is it, we won’t get over the line today.
“Not only did we get over the line, we got a bonus point, away from home at Ellis Park. There is a lot about the character of this team and it says a lot about them. You have to play well to get a bonus point here,” White said.
But he did admit it “was an expensive game.”
“A lot has been said about how long the season is and how many players you need. That is why I can only say I’m proud of how they stayed in the fight.”
The Bulls can now regroup and plan for the next phase - all the derbies that will determine the outcome of the SA Shield. The Bulls won that last season, and will want to defend it as well as taking valuable points for the URC.
But the first priority is to assess the damage, and that will take precedent this week. Then the planning for the summer wars begins.
With all those players left standing.