A shake-up is on the cards for the battling Bulls after two defeats in the Super 12.

A new captain and the introduction of a selection committee are two of the options mentioned to help Super 12's perennial strugglers out of the doldrums.

Word from Pretoria is that coach Heyneke Meyer's position is not on the line yet, but at an extraordinary board meeting on Monday the beleaguered Meyer must explain matters such as playing patterns and team selections.

Meyer (pictured) shocked the rugby fraternity when he left out Springbok inside centre Adrian Jacobs for the past weekend's game, claiming the little dynamo was injured.

However, he still included the Falcons star on the substitutes' bench. Jacobs scored a sensational solo try late in the match to accentuate his value as game-breaker.

For the first game Meyer also selected two wings, McNeil Hendricks and Gavin Passens, on the bench, opting to play fullback Hannes Venter out of position at wing. Against the Hurricanes he raised the eyebrows again by selecting flyhalf Jaco van der Westhuyzen at fullback, with Boeta Wessels at flyhalf.

And his reluctance to select Falcons centre sensation Ettienne Botha has drawn sharp criticism, not only from outside Pretoria, but also from the player himself.

Chairperson of the Bulls board Fanie Vermaak confirmed to newspapers there was unhappiness in the region about matters such as the captaincy, combinations and team selections. "We will give Heyneke the moral support needed, but will also expect of him to explain some of his decisions.

"We are all disappointed and worried. The defeats against the Cats and the Hurricanes were against teams that are not close to the best in the competition," Vermaak was quoted in the media.

Falcons centre Botha has accused Meyer of favouring Pretoria-based players when it comes to selection matters. The skilful midfielder declared himself unavailable for the Bulls, saying he would instead play for any of the other three Super 12 sides.

However, the hamstring injury to centre Frikkie Welsh could just open up the gap for Botha to be reunited with Jacobs. Between the two of them they scored 20 tries for the Falcons in the Currie Cup last year and they could provide the spark to the Bulls that thus far had been sadly lacking.

Welsh will be out for only one match, but flank Piet Joubert's knee injury will keep him out for six weeks.

A call-up for experienced Springbok scrumhalf Werner Swanepoel is also on the cards, while one of Derick Hougaard of the Blue Bulls, Kennedy Tsimba of Free State and Nel Fourie of the Lions could be the solution to the Bulls goalkicking woes.

Swanepoel could also take over the captaincy from Blue Bulls No 8 Chris le Roux, who doesn't look like Super 12 material at this stage