Hougaard makes way for Vermaak against Blues!

Could it be true? Dave's chest beating of Hougaard has been ripped to shreds. Vermaak is named ahead of Hougaard in what will be, no doubt, the Bulls toughest game of the year.

I tried to search to see if Hougaard was injured but it looks like a straight switch. Also, if Hougaard is not fit, he would not make it onto the bench. I think the realisation that Vermaak just gets the team going a bit more is setting in. Totally blows Dave's Bokbarometer out the water and proves us all right again and him as the lone wrong ranger ;-) Shove that bokbarometer up your arse whoever makes that shit up. There is no way Hougaard has been our best 9 (not even 1 round yet) and Frans is far from our best 12 at the moment! I say this as a Sharks supporter who really wants Frans to be the best! I want him to be the Bok 12 but I am also a realist! Not away with the fairies like old Dave!

The Blues are running red hot and are at home. Nothing is tougher than a red hot Blues team in Auckland and that is fact! The way that crowd packs the stadium when their team is on fire. Last weekend against the Crusaders was the fullest I have ever seen Eden park for a Super rugby game! This weekend is set to be the same and worst news possible for Bulls is that it is an afternoon game likely to be played in sunshine. That just promotes running rugby! No dew or flood light distractions. Could get large on the Bulle if they not careful.

Oops Stringbean puts his foot in it again.......the note on Hougaards injury is very close to home.......try the home page and read the article titled 'Bulls make seven changes'.......where it says.....wait for it........drum roll..............'Jano Vermaak also earns a first start this season in place of Francois Hougaard, with the latter playing off the bench. Hougaard is struggling with an ankle strain.'

You are such easy pickings its scary

Glad to be of service!!!

No Saff, I saw that story. You don't ridicule the Blues by playing an injured man. If Vermaak is injured in the first 15 mins of the game, Hougaard has more than 3/4 of a game to play injured?? Dont believe that crap.

Why would you risk "your star halfback" this early on? Knowing that if he is needed to play and further damages his ankle or tears ligaments and needs surgery, you have lost him for the whole year as opposed to 1 or 2 weeks.

Dont be fooled by the cover up. Hougaard is good to go or he would not take his place on the bench. Guaranteed!!

PS..Team doctors ca not declare a man fit to play if he is not 100% good to go. There is a lot more safety around rugby these days saff. He would not have passed a fitness test if he could not run and step at 100% of his ability further risking serious injury. Coaches just prefer what Vermaak brings and want to deflect questions that Hougaard just may be wearing thin as a scrummie..We can all see it..Why cant u?

 Ah ok so the writer is lying and Hougaard does not have an ankle strain, the same injury that had him replaced at halftime in the last game. Do you know how stupid you sound - dont answer that, for we know the answer bright spark.

But to further illustrate my dominance over you when it comes to matters rugby.........you will find that in the Bulls squad of 26, there are only two scrumhalves, so hence the need to have Hougaard on the bench with his ankle strain. So effectively if he is needed he will play with a strain. Its the same reason Chiliboy and Werner Kruger are not starting.

I guess you are feeling like a real stupid twat right now? Would you like a scone with your tea?

Saffex, my very dumpy and inferior friend. If Hougaard is not fir to play, he will not be in the match day 22. The doctors CAN NOT pass him fit if he is not fit. He has not been bracketed with anyone, he has been declared fit to take his place in the match day squad.

What can you not understand about the above?? There may only be 2 scrummies in the squad but if Hougaard was not fit, they have the option to fly a back up out if its a specialist position and they feel the need, They have not chosen to do this as Hougaard is fit to take his place. Why would you risk a man for the season for 1 game of rugby when he can just sit out for 1 maybe 2 weeks? Vermaak would have started and another back would have been selected to cover scrumhalf only IF need be but Vermaak would likely play all 80 if fit to do so. Its simple Saff. Its a pure avoidance of any people asking, "So, have the Bulls finally given up on Hougaard after 3 very average performances?" They just make like its pre caution for an injury..If its "pre-cautionary" why is the man even suiting up?

Think about it Saffex. Really pull every ounce of brain talent you have and try think logically about this!

Gosh you are thick!!

Do I really have to answer this? Fuck me you are so bloody thick its beyond comprehension.

I'll keep this simple, Hougaard has an ankle strain as reported, he is not 100% fit, but obviously still able to play if needed, much like Chilboy who also finds himself on the bench because of a slight injury. Its bloody common practice to find your star players with slight strains sitting on the bench. You clearly do know stuff all about rugby.

Vermaak is 100% fit and is a good player, it makes perfect sense to start him and have the slightly injured Hougaard on the bench. The same applies to Willie Wepner starting with Chiliboy on the bench and Frik Kirsten starting with Werner Kruger on the bench - all three usual starters have slight injuries - get it???

Hougaard on the bench, has stuff all to do with form and everything to do with an ankle strain - FACT

Hell Hougaard only needed a half to impress the Bok Barometer selectors enough to include him at 9.

Stringbean, get with the programme man, your stupidity is a little embarrassing

 Dave, let me draw you a picture prick!

These players need to pass fitness tests. If Hougaard is battling with a strain, he is bracketed with another player until an 11th hour fitness test. Hougaard has not be bracketed indicating that he is struggling. He has been selected to start the match on the bench. This means he has been assessed and is fit to play.

For doctors to pass him, he needs to be able to turn on his ankle at full speed. He has clearly no problem doing that. I know this because I am good friends with Ruan Fourie who was the Sharks physio for years. He ultimately signed players off. No matter how much a player wants to play and a coach wants him to play, he can not sign a player fit that is not 100%. It puts the team at a disability too if a player is not 100%. Physio will have a lot of explaining to do if the guy goes on to cause serious injury when he should not be playing. Its all about preventative measures in modern day rugby. Are you comprehending now?

I see no brackets around Hougaard so the man has been declared fit to play!

Oh what complete bullshit, its common place for players carrying strains playing off the bench and some even start matches with strains.........take Goosen against the AB's last year.

Hougaard is fit to play but not 100% and therefore Ludeke does not want to start him - wake up man.

Are you saying that the writer of that article is lying about Hougaard having an ankle strain you stupid ignorant prick? What on earth would that writer gain out of saying Hougaard, Chiliboy and Kruger have slight injuries huh......answer these two questions bright spark?

I am not interested in your pathetic ill informed take on every player being 100% fit when they play - that is the biggest load of bullshit I have ever real and completely out of touch with the reality of the game. You often hear commentators say that X is on the bench as he has a slight injury.

You say you play the game, are you telling me you have never played with a niggle. Fuck me I made 93 runs last season batting with a slipped disc

 Im not saying its impossible to play with a niggle and yes I did but the difference between me and Hougaard is that I didnt have a team of fucken doctors behind me. I was not playing on centre stage where player safety is paramount.

Dave, you have a bung shoulder and slipped disc..All these injuries and u think you can take me. Fuck buddy, u falling apart before a smack! Getting old now boykie..Only thing not growing is ur brain

Oh what complete bullshit, you live in a dream world. Players at the highest level play with injuries - Goosen did it last year, as did Coenie, as did Skinstad in that WC, as did Bekker with his back, as did Juan Smith this year in his comeback......hell the list is endless.

I dont lose fights, but its a pointless exercise telling you over the internet that I'd give you a good hiding, so its best we just leave that one alone

 U dont lose fights?? Hell Dave, what calibre of people are you fighting?? Im very keen to hand you your first loss. A big loss at that too.

BL, There is an expression in Afrikaans: "Bree Bors, hamelstert. Pa se seun is fokol werd".

Boklogic calm down. Its get rediculous when posters reach a point of threatening one another. Just remember each of us comes here for some fun and entertainment and because we love rugby.

Come on guys lets not get bitter and mean. I personally will beat up anyone who does - is that clear!

 Bongani, sorry bro, Afrikaans is one thing I have never taken much interest in. What does that mean? Something about a fathers son is fuck all or something like that?

 Also, an injured ankle is one of the hardest things to play on. You can not "hide" it. You are twisting it in all directions, apply pressure on it constantly and really extending it. I just dont believe that is the only reason Hougaad is out of the team. Maybe a calf strain, forearm strain or back strain is ok to play through but not a joint as crucial as an ankle.

We will see come sunday just how much of that is true!

Boklog, I dont fight anorexic dragqueens

Goodness TwatLogic, you're sounding like a very angry little chappie today!

You're on about three different threads threatening to punch people again! What's the matter . . . did the other boys stick their tongues out at you on the playground? Did you lose your favourite action figure? Did Mommy forget to wash your Ninja Turtle underpants?

Hougaard ison the bench because of weak performances what ever spin the bulle may give to it. It doesnt surprise me. Any niggle, however minor would provide Ludeke witha reason for a change.

Ou rooitwit adding his little nursery comments. Bwahahahahaha

No Beenkop its just you showing us once again how stupid you are - no change there

Nope ou Hougie is being given a wake up call. Ludeke wants him to know he has to up his game.

Hougie needs to understand once and for all that he needs to get busy and present an attacking threat. 

Ah ok so the Bulls site is just bullshiting regarding his ankle strain.

Did you and Boglog go to the same school by any chance?

 what a bunch of conspiracy theorists.

Is anyone here willing to state their case as a fact.

Boklogic ?

snapster get real hougie has been poor and deserves a wake up call. A decent coach will give it too him. The injury, if he is indeed injured cant to too bad as he is on the bench!!!  This is just a quite wake up call to hougie - believe me snapster.

No Beenkop he has been the best SA 9 in the first few rounds and does not need a wake up call at all, he needs to rest his injury.

He is on the bench because the Bulls only have 2 scrummies in their squad you plonker.

 Any of you geniuses considered an ankle niggle doesnt mean he is completely injured. Consider Bekker, how many "niggles" did he have last season yet played or was on the bench.

Rotation is the word folks.

 Saffex, you have hit the nail on the head Sir. the players need rotation, and this is the touring squad.  

 The Touring squad :

Zane Kirchner, Jürgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, Bjorn Basson, Lionel Mapoe, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Jan Serfontein, Louis Fouchè, Mornè Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Jano Vermaak, Pierre Spies ©, Arno Botha, Jacques Potgieter, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Juandrè Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Frik Kirsten, Mornè Mellett, Hencus van Wyk, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Willie Wepener.

now if Hougaard has a slight niggle, who replaces him on the bench or are the Board memebers going to conjour something up. 

Anyone ?

 Let me ask this, if Hougaard was so out of form, would you not select another scrummie to tour and by doing so send out a real message ?

or 

is he just benched with a niggle.

As Boklogic said let see if Hougie comes on to play and how fit he is.

Regardless, it was the right thing to do to bench him as he was playing with no commitment.  Lets hope Hougie gets the message.

You don't rotate against the form team in the tournament....you start with your best.

 Even if the best have a niggle ?

 If Bryan Habana gets a bruised thigh and is walking wounded, do you play him against the Chiefs or bench him ? He is the Best back the Stormers have. 

I guarantee you not one of these players doesn't have a niggle. If it's a niggle that can develop into something serious you don't play the man at all....not even off the bench.

Wont you don't do is rotate against the best opposition.

 You could also view this as a game the Bulls have not put their focus on to get points, afterall have they not made 6 or 7 changes. Are those 7 changes all players who are out of form and axed for the big game, or is there a concept of you play a strength sides on this kind of tour as per the games you choose to attack for points. I know thats not " sportsman " like but its a reality in a long extended format.

 another point. Vermaak is also a Bok. Little between them.

....and Kitch played Juba (with strapped broken hand) in a successful WC final against probably the best AB side of all time...think about that.

 ah but those All Blacks were all had the New Delhi quick step, we could have played Beeno1 and still won.

You cant compare Andre to any rugby player today, he was a superhuman ! :-)

 oh yes, it was also a final. there wasnt another potential 13 games to follow. not so ?

This would have been an easy game to just have declared Hougaard injured if he really was. But on a team, some honesty is required, so if he can play....he has to be considered.

My guess is if they felt Hougaard gave them a real chance of winning, he would be in the starting team. But  they aren't entirely confident about Hougaard yet, and think they may need Vermaak at the sharp end.......so they are testing that option.

 They cant declare him injured as they have no 9 option to go to. So he would have to be on the bench. Unless the fly out another 9.