Hougaard sidelined again

2008-07-07 22:00

Morris Gilbert

Pretoria - Injuries have become part of Derick Hougaard's 2008 rugby season. The Blue Bulls flyhalf has now been ruled out of action for four weeks after tearing a shoulder muscle.

Hougaard returned to the team after a prolonged absence when he came on as a substitute during the Currie Cup match against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld last week.

He had missed the early part of the campaign because of a boil on the buttocks and he was injured before he got back into his stride again.

Burton Francis is now expected to be the replacement flyhalf when the Bulls play the Currie Cup champions, the Cheetahs, here on Saturday.

The bad news about Hougaard coincided on Monday with the good news that Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez could be fit to return on Saturday.

Du Preez has also been injured for a large part of the season. He was injured in the Bulls' last Super 14 match of the season, against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Team doctor Org Strauss said on Monday they would decide after training on Tuesday whether to include the World Cup star in the team for this week's match.

Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said the Cheetahs' defeat against Western Province last week would make the Free Staters even more dangerous on Saturday.

"If you've been Currie Cup champions for three years in a row, any defeat hurts. The Cheetahs will be out to produce their best against us," Ludeke said.

"They have a well-balanced team and, with Chris Rossouw at flyhalf, can vary their game.

"We will have to play better than we did against the Sharks and must, in particular, make better use of our opportunities."

One of Ludeke's more pleasant problems is to select the fullback for this week.

Tiger Mangweni did so well against the Lions and the Sharks that he can hardly be dropped from the starting lineup, even though Zane Kirchner is ready to return to action.

- Beeld