The Sharks team doctor, Ewoudt van der Linde, has cleared Steven Sykes from any serious injury, and he will fly to Sydney today to join up with the team.
Sykes was stretchered off the park on Saturday after hurting his knee, an injury which he has previously battled with, and should be okay to play over the weekend. Whether he will start the game or be given more time to recover by only playing if necessary from the bench, is still to be decided.
All the best Steven, let’s hope we see more of the same from you on this tour.
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I guess that is good news. Any info on the actual injury?
@lostfish (Comment 1) :
A chronic knee injury, which will settle during the week..
We will have to wait and see if he actually takes the field this weekend, I would prefer him to be given the weekend off..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : Sounds like it needs rest. We will have to see what they do and how he goes.
I’d give Sykes this game off against the Tahs. Its a long season, let him rest up. Start with Jandre and look at the make up of the bench, maybe draft in PSDT.
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 4) :
I agree with that, completely..
The problem, as pointed out to me earlier, is that we do not have another lock to sit on the bench to give Sykes off.. PSDT is not overseas..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : Anyone know if MJ can play lock? 😈
@vanmartin (Comment 6) :
@vanmartin (Comment 6) : Good idea ! 😎
Taking a risk with Sykes i think…the fact that he needed to go see a specialist to me sounds like it could be dodgy, we don’t need players that aren’t going to be 100% on tour. Hope Sykes will be fit, though.
Chronic knee injury…u know what that means, you not gonna be 100% and will probably be forced to get an op. at some stage…eish man.
Think Positive…think positive…positive thoughts 🙂 All will be hundreds 🙂
Let Sykes sit on the bench and only come on if he really is needed.
@Ben (Comment 11) : Yes, and we can opt to play Alberts at 4 if needed in second half and bring botes into the loose trio; also when Deysel joins the squad it will make me feel a lot more at ease.
The Tahs a ripe for the picking, hope we make it happen on Saturday…sesh we have to wake up early!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : I was of the impression that PSDT was on standby, and he damn well should be! It will be absolute madness to risk Sykes, give the man a rest and trust your systems, I would rather have PSDT bench and keep Craig Burden company than have Plum not resist and play Sykes off the bench… Long season; give the guy a chance to fully recover, or at least recover a great deal more; as no player plays without a niggle of sorts…
@JJR (Comment 12) : Deysel been given a chance to prove his fitness in the VC while the others are on tour, it makes sense, as he hasn’t taken contact since Currie Cup final, and his knee is precious to the Sharks cause… I hope to see him back to his best upon the return of the tour, still a lot of rugby after the tour to still add considerable value. Botes and Coetzee are in great form, and will be fresh enough to play four more games at least before considering rotation, Deysel will be match fit with four lesser games under his belt, I hope to see big things from him this season. I too am of the opinion that the team somehow just feels empty without Deysel there… He needs to prove himself though, and needs to make changes to his game if he wants to compete with Coetzee, or in my opinion take his jersey back… 😉