Super Rugby
Bulls lock injured after car accident
ESPNscrum Staff
January 5, 2012
The Blue Bulls' Fudge Mabeta is tackled by the Sharks' Lwazi Mvovo, Natal Sharks v Blue Bulls, Currie Cup, ABSA Stadium, Durban, South Africa, July 17, 2010
Fudge Mabeta on the charge for the Bulls © Getty Images
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Bulls second-row Fudge Mabeta is set miss the entire 2012 Super Rugby campaign after being injured in a car accident back in December.

The 24-year-old has ruptured a knee ligament and will undergo the surgeon's knife in January, with Bulls team doctor Org Strauss confirming he will be out for between six and eight months - putting his Currie Cup campaign also in doubt.

But the Bulls - who re-assembled in Pretoria after their Christmas break - also face fitness worries elsewhere. Juandre Kruger, Bjorn Basson, Gerrit-Jan van Velze and Wesley Dunlop are all out for between a week and a fortnight while Dewald Potgieter, Francois Venter, Warwick Tecklenburg and Wynand Olivier will be back in action at the start of February.

But despite a poor display during the 2011 campaign, their skipper, Pierre Spies, is eyeing a return to their former glory which saw them scoop the title in 2007, 2009 and 2010- though they will have to do it without inspirational duo Bakkies Botha, who has joined Toulon, and the now retired Victor Matfield.

"We have big plans and big dreams for 2012," Spies said. "The Bulls have established a proud record in Super Rugby in recent seasons and that acts as a great motivating factor. Everybody is keen to go."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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