Goosen ruled out of Currie Cup final

The Vodacom Bulls were dealt a massive blow ahead of Saturday’s Carling Currie Cup final when kingpin Johan Goosen was ruled out with Covid.

Goosen tested positive after the mandatory test 48 hours after the game, and will miss the final because he is in quarantine.

None of the other players tested positive and the group will continue to train for the final, with their team to be named on Friday.

But the loss of Goosen is particularly a blow for the Bulls, who are already without Morne Steyn and the former Springbok has injected pace and vision into their backline and was in particularly good form, scoring 23 points in the semifinal win over Western Province last Friday.

Goosen received high praise from coach Jake White after the game and was the man of the match, and his absence will challenge the Bulls more to continue their exceptional run of 21 straight wins under Jake White at Loftus Versfeld if they are to add to their Currie Cup title that they won in January.

Chris Smith is likely to come in to replace Goosen, while the Bulls are unlikely to make too many changes to the side that beat WP for the final.

On Saturday, White was full of praise for Goosen, who previously also played for French clubs Montpellier and Racing Metro.

“When I coached the Brumbies, I coached with Stephen Larkham,” White said after the game.

“Larkham used to run the attack in the B side against us, and he was a retired player. I saw the value of having a No 10 that not only sees the space, but has the ability to put the ball in that space as well, especially when he is so close to the line.”

White said at the time that Goosen’s talent - despite only being in the side for a matter of months - has shifted the Bulls to a new level and opens up more options on attack for them, something they will need in the coming months when they face the best of the United Rugby Championship.

“I have been fortunate enough to coach a lot of good players and see so many good players come through teams that I have coached. He is no different. You saw tonight what he is like when he is on song.

“Sure, our forwards were good, but we didn’t get a lineout or a scrum for a long time in the game and when we did, obviously the forwards got us good front-foot ball. Before that, his game control, his understanding of what to do and how he executed those things was phenomenal.”

And he will be missed for the final.