Bulls coach Johan Ackermann explains to RugbyUnfiltered that Springbok hooker Akker van der Merwe has returned to the team after an injury scare that saw him hospitalised in France.
Van der Merwe, last capped with the Boks in 2018, left the field in the 67th minute of the Bulls’ impressive come-from-behind 26-24 win over Section Paloise at Stade du Hameau in Pau on Friday.
Trailing 12-24 going into the last quarter, tries by loose forward Nizaam Carr and wing Cheswill Jooste saw the Bulls snatch a bonus-point win.
Section Paloise had lost just once at home this season, a record that was to fall with the Bulls’ visit.
However, the biggest concern was the neck injury suffered by the 34-year-old hooker, Van der Merwe.
“He felt something in a scrum,” Ackermann told @JanDKrugby.
“We are gratefull. He returned from hospital and they did not find anything physically wrong in his neck.
“Although he felt something, it is diagnosed as a massive spasm, which is very painful.
“We are grateful that nothing structurally i wron or there’s a fracture.
“He is with the team, just walking very slowly and can hardly turn his neck.”
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The French team held a commanding 21-12 lead at the break and a Thomas Souverbie penalty in the 48th minute left the Bulls with a mountain to climb in the pouring rain in Pau.
The comeback started when sing Cheswill Jooste grabbed a stunning try.
Willie le Roux started the counter inside his 22, his offload finding wing-turned-centre Sebastian de Klerk, who in turn put Jooste away. The wing punted himself through a pass, the bounce finished up in his arms moments later – leaving him the simple task of running it in.
Constant pressure ensued up top from the visitors and it eventually came good eight minutes from time.
Nizaam Carr barged one over which, with the resulting conversion, saw them into a two-point lead five minutes from time.
The home side kept knocking on the door right up until the end and were making good ground thanks to their bulky forwards, but it was too little, too late – some last-gasp indiscipline proved costly for the Palois.
A vital result which throws the final qualification spot in Pool Four wide open.
