— Cape Town Bulls coach Jake White has replaced Johan Goosen with Chris Smith at flyhalf for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match against the Glasgow Warriors (8.35pm SA time kickoff).
Goosen donned the No. 10 shirt in last week’s 28-14 victory against Connacht at Loftus Versfeld after beginning his return from a long-term knee injury the week prior at fullback against Edinburgh.
However, the former Cheetahs star, who is in line for a Springbok recall for the end-of-year tour to Europe, was left off the match-23 published by White on Friday, with the steady Smith given the playmaker responsibilities.
“I will not risk him (Goosen) on a 4G field. “The reality is that no Test match is played on a 4G surface in Tier One nations for a reason,” White remarked at the team announcement press conference.
“He was injured on that surface, and from a player welfare perspective – and given that he’s just returned from a horrendous injury and 11-month absence – I don’t believe we should risk playing him on a 4G pitch.
“However, despite this, I have faith in Chris and Morné” (Steyn). They have been with us since I arrived, so they are familiar with our playing style and have performed admirably when I’ve called on them.
“It could be (a mental issue for Goosen on a 4G pitch), but I’m not going to ask him if he thinks it’s acceptable — I’m making my own decision.
“I just don’t feel comfortable risking a player on a 4G field, knowing that it is a type of surface… This type of surface is where he was harmed in the first place. Moreover, if one examines the past and the statistics, a large number of men have sustained similar injuries on that field.
“Since he just returned after an 11-month absence, it’s not something I want to do; I won’t take that risk.”
In the absence of Boks speedster Canan Moodie and Sbu Nkosi due to injury, veteran Cornal Hendricks moves into the No. 14 shirt, while Stedman Gans starts on the left wing and Lionel Mapoe assumes the outside center position.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels has replaced the injured Johan Grobbelaar as the No. 2 hooker in lieu of the injured Johan Grobbelaar.
New to the bench are Bismarck du Plessis, Morné Steyn, and Wandisile Simelane.
“I am really pleased with the manner in which the men have exercised this week in adverse weather circumstances. We are in a terrific position as a team, and we have a fantastic opportunity to face Glasgow and do what we must. White stated in a statement that the campaign would continue to capitalize on its current momentum.
“This new campaign is still in its infancy, but if we continue to execute the fundamentals well week after week, everything else will come into place.”
Bulls Group
15 Kurt-Lee Arendse fourteen Cornal Hendricks 13 Lionel Mapoe 12 David Kriel eleven Stedman Gans 10 Christopher Smith 9 Zak Burger Eight Elrigh Louw 7 Marco van Staden 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain) 5 Ruan Nortje 4 Walt Steenkamp 3 Francois Klopper 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Bismarck du Plessis 17 Simphiwe Matanzima 18 Mornay Smith 19 Janko Swanepoel 20 Reinhardt Ludwig 21 Embrose Papier 22 Morné Steyn 23 Wandisile Simelane.