Steyn isolated as Covid precaution

Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn has been put into a precautionary isolation after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19, giving Chris Smith his first start in this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked competition for the final match against the Phakisa Pumas on Saturday.

Coach Jake White said that because of this, Smith would start and Steyn would be rested.

“I think the most important thing is that Morne sticks with the Covid protocols. Chris has been on the bench for the past few weeks anyway, so it will be great to see him get a start,” he said.

“His child was christened last Sunday and it subsequently emerged that one person who was part of the sermon tested positive. We didn’t train on Monday and on Tuesday our whole squad was tested, including Morne. But we decided not to risk him. He’ll be tested again on Friday just to see if he’s still doing well. All our players tested negative, we’re ready to play.”

The Pumas were tested again on Thursday and will know the results on Friday where a final decision will be taken on the match.

White said the Covid-19 protocols are something that factored heavily into the planning of his team in this competition.

“For everybody it’s the same, you have to think on your feet. Players have to be resilient, and we have to be able to adapt. You also have to understand that some things are out of your control.

“However, the protocols are pretty simple, and we know that on Mondays and Tuesdays we should be staying out of small groups, scrumming, mauling and contact sessions. Then we get tested on Tuesday – which is the earliest it can be, because it has to be 48 hours after your game – and then we generally only get the results late Tuesday night, or first thing Wednesday morning.

“So we then get into our full-on training from Wednesday and Thursday, with a captain’s run on Friday. Then you are assured that everyone at training is negative.

“As we get deeper into the season, you realise it’s obvious that you have to be a bit smarter, and even if you’re maybe not as prepared as you’d like to be in terms of how much contact training you can do at the start of the week, you’d rather have your entire team negative from a Covid point of view, and all available for selection.”

White said the team were very careful and knew the risks involved.

“We can control our own destiny now considering we will play this weekend, hopefully get a result, and will have played one more game than some teams and so we really need to ensure we stay Covid free and then give ourselves a chance to play every game going forward.

“Otherwise you could potentially lose out on a place in the playoffs if you’re missing games due to Covid cases.”

White said that as far as he was concerned the game would go ahead on Saturday.

“From talking to our president and CEO, the Pumas have been training the whole week with a full-strength squad – as in everyone allowed to play. The guys who are on the fence and were in close contact with the guys who were positive – those guys in isolation weren’t positive, and will get tested today,” White said.

“The game is on, and it just depends on whether they have access to the players who were in isolation to be part of the match-day 23.

“If not, they have 23 players who can come to Pretoria on Saturday. If they have the luxury of those players who were in isolation and tested negative, all of them can be part of the squad.”

Clinton Swart will provide flyhalf cover off the bench while among the forwards Springbok flank Arno Botha will play blindside flank and Corniel Els starts at hooker with Joe van Zyl on the bench in a direct swap.

Vodacom Bulls: David Kriel; Travis Ismaiel, Stedman Gans, Cornal Hendricks, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Chris Smith, Ivan van Zyl; Duane Vermeulen (captain), Arno Botha, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Walt Steenkamp, Trevor Nyakane, Corniel Els, Jacques van Rooyen.

Replacements: Joe van Zyl, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marcel van der Merwe, Sintu Manjezi, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Clinton Swart, Marco Jansen van Vuren.