The Vodacom Bulls have received some positive news regarding Springbok lock Ruan Nortje, with reports suggesting he could return before the end of the season despite suffering a serious knee injury against the Lions.
Nortje Could Return, Louw Out for the Season
According to Netwerk24, initial concerns over a long-term setback for Nortje have eased, although the Bulls co-captain is unlikely to feature in next month’s crucial Vodacom URC derbies.
Unfortunately, the news is less optimistic for Elrigh Louw, who has reportedly been ruled out for the rest of the season following knee surgery.
Louw’s absence leaves a major void in the Bulls’ pack, especially with a challenging run of fixtures ahead, including back-to-back clashes against the Stormers, a visit to Kings Park to face the Sharks, and a rematch against the Lions in late February.
Who Steps Up for the Bulls?
Despite these setbacks, Jake White still has depth in the forward pack, with several key players returning from injury:
🔹 Back Row Options: Marco van Staden & Jannes Kirsten are set to return, while Nama Xaba, Mpilo Gumede, and Corne Beets could slot into the loose trio alongside Bok stalwarts Marcell Coetzee, Nizaam Carr, and Cameron Hanekom.
🔹 Lock Depth: With Nortje sidelined, the Bulls can turn to Ruan Vermaak, Cobus Wiese, JF van Heerden, Reinhardt Ludwig, Sintu Manjezi, or Kirsten in the second row.
Goosen’s Injury: Willie at Flyhalf?
Another potential shake-up could come at flyhalf, with veteran fullback Willie le Roux in line to step in for the injured Johan Goosen against the Stormers.
Le Roux had a game-changing impact off the bench in the URC derby against the Lions, and White could opt for his experience and playmaking ability to guide the Bulls through this tricky period.
Captaincy Dilemma
With both Nortje and Louw out, the Bulls will need a new leader on the field. The front-runners for the captaincy are:
✅ Marcell Coetzee
✅ Nizaam Carr
✅ Johan Grobbelaar
✅ Akker van der Merwe
What’s Next for the Bulls?
📆 Upcoming Fixtures:
🔥 8 Feb – Bulls vs Stormers (Cape Town)
🔥 15 Feb – Bulls vs Sharks (Durban)
🔥 22 Feb – Bulls vs Lions (Johannesburg)
🔥 1 March – Bulls vs Stormers (Pretoria)
With a tough month ahead, White will need to shuffle his squad smartly to keep the Bulls in the URC playoff race.
📢 Who should captain the Bulls in Nortje and Louw’s absence? Drop your thoughts below!