The Vodacom Bulls may be enjoying some time off now after powering themselves back into the top eight of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, but some transfer news on the weekend underlines just how fragile their campaign is at the moment, especially in the coveted 10 jersey.
While Handre Pollard hasn’t fired on all cylinders yet since returning to a Bulls jersey, what was considered a wealth in depth at the start of the season has turned into a bit of a nightmare for the Bulls as they cannot afford an injury at 10 with the business end of the season still to come.
Where the Bulls started the season with Pollard, back-up and utility Keagan Johannes and the evergreen former Bok Johan Goosen, they sit with just two players left and are now reportedly negotiating with Dragons pivot Tinus de Beer, who used to be at the Bulls before heading overseas.
But the lack of options at 10 - there aren’t many seasoned pivots around looking to be picked up for the season, means the Bulls will be seriously hoping they don’t pick up another injury in the coming few matches as they look to make a strong run into the final part of the season.
Part of the situation has been compounded by Goosen’s calf injury, which seems to be career-ending.
The flyhalf was sent home in November from the Bulls’ tour of Europe and hasn’t made an appearance at practice again, and while his medical insurance is being sorted out, he isn’t likely to return to the field again.
That in itself was a body blow as Goosen was a pivot who could control a game well, and despite blowing hot and cold at times, was a large part of the Bulls’ success under Jake White.
When his injury hit, the Bulls moved to sign Kade Wolhuter on loan from the Lions, despite a long list of injury problems that have bedevilled the former SA Schools pivot’s career.
And Wolhuter wasn’t even a month into his Bulls’ career when he tore his ACL again - the third time in six seasons and has another long period on the sidelines to get back to action - and is unlikely to play for the Bulls again.
RIDE THEIR LUCK
That leaves Johannes, who played flyhalf at school level and was a surprise choice last season to move from his regular 9 position to 10, which he did with aplomb.
The nippy halfback has deputised a lot and is a perfect foil for the bench, where he can cover more than one position.
But this season coach Johan Ackermann has already indicated he will only play 10, and is a competitor alongside Pollard for the 10 jersey.
The Bulls have almost been forced into this position, although they can also play veteran Springbok fullback Willie le Roux as an alternative 10, even though it seems he prefers the 15 jersey.
The Bulls, of course, let two experienced 10s go over the last 12 months - first Boeta Chamberlain to the Newcastle Red Bulls and then Jaco van der Walt to the Toyota Cheetahs.
Neither seemed to fit in at the Pretoria franchise and were offloaded when they looked for some game time elsewhere.
Still, while Pollard is expected to play for the rest of the season and has fulfilled his Springbok rest commitments, the Bulls can’t afford an injury to either him or Johannes or they will really be scratching the bottom of the barrel to find a suitable replacement.
The decision to negotiate with De Beer, who was once considered surplus to requirements in Pretoria after a good spell with Tuks and the Bulls juniors, shows just how few options are available at the moment for teams looking for a 10, and how the Bulls may need to look within to develop a long-term prospect.
The Bulls do have the former Affies flyhalf Ruben Groenewald with their under-19s and will be looking for him to become a long-term prospect for them, but in the mean-time, until more options are available or De Beer arrives, they will need to ride their luck to the end of the season.