Time for a quick status check on the injuries in the Sharks camp.
Bismarck du Plessis is still extremely doubtful, after picking up a sternum injury on tour. The combative hooker will go for a scan to determine the extent of the damage, but it’s looking likely that Craig Burden will have another opportunity to build on the encouraging performance he produced against the Crusaders last week.
Skipper Johann Muller was passed fit for the game in Christchurch at the eleventh hour, yet hobbled off after 50 minutes clutching the same calf that had threatened to rule him out (and, in fact, kept him out of the Waratahs game the week before). He too will need a scan to determine his participation in this week’s must-win clash against the cellar-dwellars from Bloemfontein.
Making up somewhat for the potential non-availability of the captain, though, is the good news that fellow second Rower Steven Sykes is over his ankle trouble and should be fit to face the Free Staters. In a further piece of good fortune, regular inside centre Bradley Barritt has also recovered from his shoulder injury and be named in the number 12 shirt this weekend. Barritt’s stability of temperament and rugby brain have been sorely missed over the last two weeks, with Frans Steyn turning in a pair of reasonably unconvincing performances at inside center.
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Sykes and van den Berg… doesn’t exactly fill one with confidence ass a lock pair
ass…yes ass
drat… forgot to edit that 😉
What has happened to Allistar Hargreaves – is he still a serious consideration?