Defending Super 14 champions, the Bulls, suffered another setback when star flanker Dewald Potgieter sustained a crucial training injury.

Bulls team doctor Org Strauss confirmed the injury on Wednesday morning. The injury happened at training on Tuesday afternoon and is the second serious knee injury the Bulls have suffered at training recently after Francois Hougaard was injured last week.

“Dewald has a grade two tear of his medial ligaments and it is difficult to say how long he will be out. However, we can say he won’t be able to play for at least four weeks at this stage” said Dr Strauss.

The normal recovery period for a grade 2 medial ligament strain is 4-6 weeks. It means that Potgieter will miss the Bulls opening Super 14 game against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on February 12, and I’d expect most likely to miss another 2-3 after that.

Potgieter is an important cog in the Bulls machine and was most likely to occupy the important openside flank position. Deon Stegmann is an adequate replacement and more suited to openside than blindside, but the Bulls will miss Potgieter’s abrasive running and high work-rate.

It also opens up chances for Pedrie Wannenburg and Derick Kuun who has moved from hooker to flank. Bothare good quality replacements with loads of experience, and these serious injuries are going to test the Bulls depth.

There was positive news in that Francois Hougaard and Wynand Olivier are recovering nicely.

Hougaard had surgery on a torn meniscus last week and has started gym work, and could still make the opening game, while Olivier is training nicely after knee cartilage surgery in December last year.

Akona Ndungane, Bakkies Botha and Chilliboy Ralepelle are all still recovering from their injuries and won’t take part until the later rounds of the Super 14.