Bulls ‘stepping up’ in absence of Boks, former captain Ruan Nortjé
The departure of former players and the injury to regular captain Marcell Coetzee have not hampered the Bulls this season.
Former Bulls captain Ruan Nortjé has departed the team, along with three other key players. Eighthman Cameron Hanekom, the Bulls' media liaison, stated that the squad has performed admirably in the absence of these players. Smith, a loose forward from Japan's Shizuoka Blue Rev, may join the Bulls soon, adding further strength to their leadership group.
The Bulls have displayed resilience, securing a convincing 56-20 victory over Stade Français in their inaugural Champions Cup pool match. This win followed two bonus-point victories and a narrow defeat in the United Rugby Championship, positioning the Bulls third in the table as they prepare to host Ulster. Despite the significant change brought about by the departure of Nortjé, Louw, Arendse, and Kriel, Hanekom emphasized that the team will rise to the challenge.
New signings such as Hanro Liebenberg, Curwin Bosch, and Luan Giliomee have bolstered the Bulls' ranks. Senior players like JF van Heerden, Reinhardt Ludwig, Francois Klopper, and Khutha Mchunu have stepped up to fill the void, with Marcell Coetzee having shouldered significant responsibility at tighthead lock. The wing and fullback positions are well-staffed with new signings Thaakir Abrahms, Hakeem Kunene, and Giliomee, while Sebastian de Klerk has returned from injury.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
