FLIP VAN DER MERWE will have an extra couple of days to get his bearings after the dazed flanker was left out of the Bulls squad for this weekend’s round of Super Rugby fixtures.

The South African side travel to Brisbane for Saturday evening’s fixture against the Reds without van der Merwe who is still suffering the after-effects of a huge hit in last weekend’s game against Crusaders.

The 25-year-old had to be helped from the pitch by medics mid-way through the second half after Owen Franks hit him with a bone-juddering block as he attempted to break the Crusaders line.

Van der Merwe spent several minutes stretched out on the ground with a bloodied head before being transported to Timaru Hospital for a further assessment.

Speaking after the game, Franks told reporters that he wasn’t too surprised that his opponent had stayed down for so long.

“I went into it pretty hard and I didn’t come off it perfect myself so it was good to see him down longer than me,” Franks said.

“I was just a bit dazed at the time but I stayed on my feet.”