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'Not good news' - Jake White fears for Bulls star Johan Goosen

By Rugby365
(Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White painted a bleak picture regarding flyhalf Johan Goosen. The Bulls recorded their first United Rugby Championship win with an emphatic 29-19 victory over Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

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However, the win proved to be a costly affair for the Bulls. Goosen left the field after just 15 minutes of play with what appears to be a serious knee injury.

The severity of the injury has yet to be confirmed. However, speaking to reporters following the win, White admitted the No.10 was far from optimistic.

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“At this point in time he [Goosen] thinks it’s not good news,” White said, adding: “He had a couple of ACL injuries before so I’m sure he would know.

“He is fearing the worst but hopefully when we get the scans, it won’t be as bad as we thought it would be.”

Trailing 3-16 at the break, the Bulls were staring down their third URC defeat.

However, the Currie Cup champions readjusted at the break and scored 26 points in the second half for the victory.

White’s men showed their class with incredible defence and dynamic attack, certainly a reminder of why they have been dominating the South African rugby landscape in recent years.

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The Bulls started the second half strongly, Elrich Louw scoring a try after just three minutes.

Wing Madosh Tambwe scored the team’s second try, while replacement flyhalf Chris Smith kicked 19 points.

“The message was quite simply, we’re getting there and we’re dominating in certain parts of the game but we must carry on because if we slack off at 16-3 and we allow Cardiff to get another score, and they get their tales up, it’s going to be difficult,” White said.

“And I mean, we got exactly what we wanted – score early in the second half, and then the momentum changes and with it comes a little bit of belief. Then 16-10 becomes more and more and more and eventually, what can I say: 26-3 in the second half, which was fantastic for us,”

White added: “I was asked about the fitness of this team last week, and this [performance] puts that to bed as we scored all those points in the second half.

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“It’s a nice way for us as a team to get massive amounts of confidence in everything.

“The way we played as well – there is a lot of talk about the Bulls style over the years, and I’ve worked hard with the coaches, and I’m glad for them that people can see the Bulls play a little bit different to what most teams are expecting.”

The Bulls travel to Scotland next to face Edinburgh in Round four.

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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