Vodacom Bulls director of rugby Jake White has admitted that he will wait to find a new flyhalf following Manie Libbok’s departure to the Sharks.
White was speaking to Brenden Nel for Sunday newspaper Rapport, where he again emphasised that the Bulls do not have an open-chequebook approach when it comes to recruiting players.
Since White arrived as director of rugby back in March, 18 players have left the franchise, while 12 new players have been brought in. There have also been changes among the coaching staff as Pote Human has left his role as head coach, while Joey Mongalo and Russell Winter have been appointed as defence and forwards coach respectively.
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A quartet of players – including captain Burger Odendaal – have been allowed to join the Lions, while Libbok signed for the Sharks and Springbok fullback Warrick Gelant moved to the Stormers. They have been joined out the exit door by the likes of Josh Strauss, Jeandre Rudolph, Rosko Specman, Dylan Sage, Nafi Tuitavake and Johnny Kotze.
Libbok’s departure has left the Bulls a bit short on depth when it comes to flyhalf. The Pretoria-based team currently count veteran Morne Steyn and the enterprising Chris Smith as their two senior flyhalves.
‘I am definitely looking for another flyhalf,’ White told Rapport. ‘I know there are players that will be looking for new contracts next year, so I will wait for once.
‘It doesn’t help that I now sign a player on a two-year contract when someone else that I want to get isn’t available over six months. A year from now we will have the players in the positions that we want to get. Morne is finishing next year anyway, so we need to find a flyhalf.’
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
