Basson is a boost for the Bulls

A day after hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle was found not guilty of dangerous play, the Bulls received another boost with news that ace wing Bjorn Basson would be available for the bulk of the tour of Australasia.

Basson injured ankle ligaments in the victory over the Western Force last weekend but will be available for the team's last three matches on tour.

The team departed yesterday but Basson will depart a week later, which will give the swelling time to subside.

The Bulls named their 26-man touring squad with just one uncapped player, prop Hencus van Wyk, in their ranks.

Van Wyk is a former Blue Bulls U21 player and has represented Tuks in the Varsity Cup.

As expected, the squad contains flankers Dewald Potgieter and Deon Stegmann, who both missed the game against the Force due to injuries.

They were sorely missed and coach Frans Ludeke needs no reminding of the inclusion of players with proven ball-poaching ability for their rigorous tour of the Antipodes.

Any Bulls shortcomings are likely to be exposed by the Blues, the Crusaders, the Reds and the Brumbies.

"We will have to pick up points on tour if we want to be around at the business end of the competition," said Ludeke.

"We have poor records at those venues, but this side have shown in the past they can set new standards and break barriers."

They certainly do after their stuttering performance against the Force, which Ludeke has described as their worst in five years.

If that was indeed the case in a home fixture, the portents look grim against the Blues, who seemed to have rediscovered their touch to dazzle under new coach John Kirwan.

THE BULLS' TOURING SQUAD: Zane Kirchner, Jürgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, Bjorn Basson, Lionel Mapoe, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Jan Serfontein, Louis Fouché, Morné Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Jano Vermaak; Pierre Spies (captain), Arno Botha, Jacques Potgieter, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Frik Kirsten, Morné Mellett, Hencus van Wyk, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Willie Wepener.