Bulls make a change in semi against Crusaders

PRETORIA – Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez aggravated his shoulder injury and is in doubt for the Bulls’ Super 14 semi-final match against the Canterbury Crusaders on Saturday.

Du Preez had torn ligaments in his left shoulder and hurt it further when scoring one of the Bulls’ 13 tries in the record 92-3 win over the Queensland Reds last week. “We’ll give him as long as he needs, but we’re very concerned,” coach Heyneke Meyer said Thursday.Heinie Adams, who started against the Reds instead of Du Preez, is on standby.Center J.P.Nel returns from injury to replace Wayne Julies, who drops out of the 22-man team for the match at Loftus Versveld.Springbok lock Bakkies Botha has again been left on the bench with Meyer preferring Danie Rossouw to partner Victor Matfield after his recent good form against the Auckland Blues and the Reds.Meanwhile, All Black flyhalf Daniel Carter recovered from a shoulder injury and will return to the Canterbury Crusaders’ team.Crusaders coach Robbie Deans named his team Thursday, making two changes for the match at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium.Carter missed last week’s loss to the Waikato Chiefs with a nerve strain in his shoulder.He returns alongside halfback Kevin Senio, who has had a thigh injury.The Crusaders have been training at a resort north of Durban since Tuesday and will travel to Pretoria on Friday.While the Crusaders won their league encounter 32-10 at Jade Stadium earlier in the competition, Deans said he was mindful of the 24 tries the Bulls had scored in their last three matches.”The Bulls are a quality side who are playing well, but we are looking forward to the challenge of playing them in a semifinal at their place,” Deans told reporters.”What’s happened before doesn’t matter.The competition starts again – there is no points table anymore.”Teams: Bulls: Johan Roets, Akona Ndungane, J.P.Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez/Heinie Adams; Rayno Gerber, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp, Victor Matfield (captain), Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Wikus van Heerden, Pierre Spies.Replacements: Jaco Engels, Danie Thiart, Bakkies Botha, Derick Kuun, Heinie Adams/Nicholas Eyre, Morne Steyn, Jaco van der Westhuyzen.Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Casey Laulala, Aaron Mauger, Caleb Ralph, Daniel Carter, Kevin Senio; Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Campbell Johnstone, Chris Jack, Ross Filipo, Reuben Thorne, Richard McCaw (captain), Mose Tuali’i.Replacements: Ti’i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett, Michael Paterson, Kieran Read, Andrew Ellis, Stephen Brett, Johnny Leo’o.Nampa-AP”We’ll give him as long as he needs, but we’re very concerned,” coach Heyneke Meyer said Thursday.Heinie Adams, who started against the Reds instead of Du Preez, is on standby.Center J.P.Nel returns from injury to replace Wayne Julies, who drops out of the 22-man team for the match at Loftus Versveld.Springbok lock Bakkies Botha has again been left on the bench with Meyer preferring Danie Rossouw to partner Victor Matfield after his recent good form against the Auckland Blues and the Reds.Meanwhile, All Black flyhalf Daniel Carter recovered from a shoulder injury and will return to the Canterbury Crusaders’ team.Crusaders coach Robbie Deans named his team Thursday, making two changes for the match at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium.Carter missed last week’s loss to the Waikato Chiefs with a nerve strain in his shoulder.He returns alongside halfback Kevin Senio, who has had a thigh injury.The Crusaders have been training at a resort north of Durban since Tuesday and will travel to Pretoria on Friday.While the Crusaders won their league encounter 32-10 at Jade Stadium earlier in the competition, Deans said he was mindful of the 24 tries the Bulls had scored in their last three matches.”The Bulls are a quality side who are playing well, but we are looking forward to the challenge of playing them in a semifinal at their place,” Deans told reporters.”What’s happened before doesn’t matter.The competition starts again – there is no points table anymore.”Teams: Bulls: Johan Roets, Akona Ndungane, J.P.Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez/Heinie Adams; Rayno Gerber, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp, Victor Matfield (captain), Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Wikus van Heerden, Pierre Spies.Replacements: Jaco Engels, Danie Thiart, Bakkies Botha, Derick Kuun, Heinie Adams/Nicholas Eyre, Morne Steyn, Jaco van der Westhuyzen.Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Casey Laulala, Aaron Mauger, Caleb Ralph, Daniel Carter, Kevin Senio; Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Campbell Johnstone, Chris Jack, Ross Filipo, Reuben Thorne, Richard McCaw (captain), Mose Tuali’i.Replacements: Ti’i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett, Michael Paterson, Kieran Read, Andrew Ellis, Stephen Brett, Johnny Leo’o.Nampa-AP