The results are back and the news is not great for the Sharks, but perhaps better than it could have been.
The Sharksrugby website reports that captain Keegan Daniel will miss 6 weeks of rugby as the result of a grade two MCL injury, while Tim Whitehead’s broken arm will keep him off the field for anything between 6 and 8 weeks.
There’s also an update on Bismarck du Plessis, who should be back in time for the Sharks’ tour, which kicks off with a game against the Chiefs on 27 April.
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As expected then..
Not great for the Sharks – but there is no need to panic and I reckon we have plenty depth to cover these players.
Remember – this time last year JP Pietersen was playing 13..
This sucks. I was looking forward to seeing them perform, since both finished damn strong last year. Heal up quick!
So we’ll have an injection of 3 fresh quality players about half way through the season, could serve us well as the season drags on.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 3) : yes – that’s the silver lining right there
Injuries are a consequence of the game I’m afraid.
But injuries of this nature give a new guy a chance to stikc up his hand. Think Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth last year at the Stormers.
And they came in for Burger and Bekker, two highly decorated Springboks.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 5) : you’re right… it’s a part of the game. Just always a bit disappointing to lose players in a “nothing” contest… same as the Stormers losing Eben this weekend.
I reckon this is nowhere near as bas as it could have been for the Sharks, even if we’ve now got 5 players down for the first part of the season.
We have a decent squad. Let’s just hope we start off unlike every other year and actually play to our strengths from the word go. It’s frustrating sitting through 6 weeks of bash-it-up crap before we wake up and play some total rugby.
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
Yeah, I’m with you on that.
But then EverythingEverywhere landed skew after coming down from a line-out. Could’ve been any line-out, even the first one of the “proper” season.
As nice as it is to say “depth” and “chance for young players” losing a captain/SuperRugby player of last year, is a pretty big blow.
Captain and vice captain gone for atleast the first 5 games. Who is going to lead? A youngster? Lambie or Frans Steyn? Or someone like Jacques Botes? Is he a guaranteed starter?
Hey can one of the admin guys bring up a “who will be captain now debate”!??
I personally can’t see Frans Steyn making intelligent decisions…
Lambie, Botes or Kankowski for my mind!! thoughts??
@pienaar111 (Comment 11) : I think that plum is going for steyn as stand in captain but we do have leaders throughout the team. Named captain brings more pressure and we do have lots of sensible players in the team. remember how everyone was critising Keagan last year?
Pity about Keegan being out when he just seem to have gotten the hang of the captaincy. Player-wise the biggest loss for me is still Bismarck.
Eish…I was realy looking forward to see Whitehead partner Steyn in the midfield. But now Jordaan gets a chance to show his worth.