Bulls boss Jake White suffers health scare

Jake White could potentially miss the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship fixture against the Dragons in Newport due to ill health.

WIN | A VIP Trip to the URC Grand Final, 27 May 2023

A Bulls spokesperson confirmed that Jake White has been battling illness since the team’s arrival in the United Kingdom earlier this week. He was also struggling illness — believed to be a “common cold” — during the team’s trip to Europe for their Champions Cup clash against the Exeter Chiefs.

ALSO READ: Jake White — Bulls hurting after Sharks beatdown

Since then the Bulls have played two URC derbies, against the Stormers and Sharks respectively, before departing to Wales again for this encounter against the Dragons in Newport, Wales.

White reportedly ruled himself “well enough” to travel with the 28-man squad to Wales, has since fell ill again with the Bulls official confirming White had especially felt “under the weather” on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“He is definitely on the mend and the time off will certainly help,” a spokesman for the Bulls said Thursday.

“However, if he is not feeling comfortable enough tomorrow [Friday] evening, then he may work from the hotel.”

ALSO READ: Bulls need quick fix to turn season around

Earlier on Thursday, the Bulls team for the game against the Dragons was unveiled, with a couple of surprising selections.

In the backline, Wandisile Simelane replaced Cornal Hendricks at outside centre in the starting lineup, while Kurt-Lee Arendse was shifted from wing to fullback, to accommodate the selected of David Kriel on the left wing and Canan Moodie on the right.

Furthermore, veteran hooker Bismarck du Plessis was selected on the bench, alongside four other capped Springboks Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Johan Goosen and Hendricks.

ALSO READ: Confirmed — SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux forced to step down

BULLS TEAM FOR URC CLASH AGAINST DRAGONS: 

Bulls — 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco Van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Cornal Hendricks.