Bulls bleeding ahead of red wave

Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer's jubilation at his team's awesome performance in destroying the Crusaders at the weekend was tempered by the list of injuries that disrupted his team as they started preparations on Monday for the Round Eight Super 12 encounter with the Reds at Loftus on Friday.

Injury concerns: Bryan Habana

Not just did Springbok fly-half Derick Hougaard remain on the doubtful list for this week's encounter, but five other players were nursing an assortment of injuries and were unable to take full part in Monday's training sessions.

The likely absence of Hougaard this week - because of a knee injury he sustained on the Australasian tour - will be offset by the stunning performance of rook8ie fly-half Morné Steyn. The 20-year-old Steyn  was one of the stars in his team's stunning 35-20 victory over the four-time champion Crusaders and his tactical acumen will be a big asset against a Reds team that could upset the Bulls if they are anywhere near their best.

So, with the Hougaard injury not such a major quandary, Meyer's focus shifted to the five players who pickled up niggles in the win over the New Zealand franchise at the weekend.

Meyer was forced to look on as hooker Gary Botha (haematoma), fullback Johan Roets (sinus infection), centre Ettienne Botha (haematoma), scrum-half Fourie du Preez (calf) and two-try hero, winger Bryan Habana (groin) all missed at least part of the practice.

Du Preez and Habana managed to take part in some of the exercises, but neither was to run at full speed and remain big concerns for the coach.

Meyer will give his injured players a day or two before they will need to pass fitness tests, but at this stage Hougaard is the most likely to be ruled out, with the medical staff more optimistic about the rest.

But none of them are certainties at this stage.

Because of the injuries Meyer called up a couple of reserves to practice with the squad and remain on standby. They are Falcons scrum-half Joggie Viljoen and The Pumas' Springbok flanker Tim Dlulane.