Bulls coach Johan Ackermann faces an interesting selection headache ahead of the new United Rugby Championship (URC) season, with exciting utility back Sebastian de Klerk making his return from a serious injury.
Now, though, the conundrum will be where Ackermann unleashes him in the new season as he looks to regain the form he had before he was injured against the Stormers.
Invited to a Springboks alignment camp and finding himself in the mix with the national side, De Klerk could’ve potentially made his Bok debut this past season. However, the serious foot injury kept him on the sidelines for a couple of months, seeing him miss the URC knockouts and eventual final against Leinster in Dublin.
Ackermann is happy with the return of De Klerk, and the flyer showed he is quickly on his way back to his best in a recent warm-up match against the Stormers in Paarl in the Western Cape. Now, it’s about translating that into the Bulls’ first match of the season against Zebre on Saturday in Italy and Munster next weekend in Ireland, should he be selected.
De Klerk (26) has made a name for himself on the wing, but is a very handy outside centre.
“I am very happy for Sebastian, it was a massive setback for him with the foot injury and missing the end of last season,” Ackermann said.
“However, he has shown his class and I am happy that he is back on the field and that things are going good. Winger is where he has been playing his best rugby for us. But last year he showed us that he can be just as dangerous at outside centre. So, we’ll see where we are going to use him this season.”
The Bulls have a host of fit wingers to start this season, but they look a little light in the midfield with the retirement of Jan Serfontein. That could open the door for De Klerk to slot in at outside centre.
Cheswill Jooste, Thaakir Abrahams, Stavino Jacobs, Sergeal Petersen, Riyad Bam, Dylan Maart and Springbok Canan Moodie are the other wings in the squad. So, they will have plenty of options to select from throughout the season.
Ackermann is in a potential pickle with halfbacks Curwin Bosch and Embrose Papier struggling with small niggles ahead of the opener.
Papier has been out with an ankle injury and is being monitored, while Bosch picked up a calf strain in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry midweek match against the All Blacks. He was set to feature against the Stormers, but was withdrawn as a precaution.
Ackermann is hopeful he will be available for the first clash, but added that Papier’s progress will be monitored to see when he can return.
