Pollard hamstring scare headlines Bulls injury crisis ahead of Scarlets URC clash

Handré Pollard faces a fitness race after sustaining a hamstring injury during the Bulls’ 34-26 United Rugby Championship victory over Ulster, with the Pretoria side awaiting scan results before confirming whether the Springbok fly-half will be available for their next fixture against the Scarlets.

Pollard is one of five Bulls players currently managing injury concerns, underlining the mounting selection headaches for the URC’s third-placed side. Fellow Springbok wing Canan Moodie has returned to training under Head Injury Assessment return-to-play protocols following a knock against Ulster, but will not be considered for selection this week.

Scrum-half Embrose Papier faces a longer road back, recovering from an ankle operation that is expected to keep him sidelined for several weeks. Wing Cheswill Jooste has also gone under the knife — for a broken cheekbone — and faces a mandatory two-week stand-down period under HIA protocols, with extended rest additionally recommended.

Centre Sango Xamlashe will likewise be unavailable this week after completing HIA protocols following a concussion sustained in Saturday’s match against Ulster. The only relatively encouraging news in the injury update concerns wing Thakir Abrahams, who is not expected to miss more than a week with a hamstring complaint.

The cluster of injuries arrives at a delicate moment for the Bulls, who will be eager to maintain their push for a top-two finish in the URC standings. Their opponents, the Scarlets, are currently struggling near the foot of the table, but the depth of Pretoria’s injury list could complicate what might otherwise appear a straightforward assignment.