The Mercury’s Mike Greenaway has revealed that Sharks centre JP Pietersen will require surgery after sustaining a groin injury against the Western Force.
Pietersen has been asked to perform an emergency midfield role after serious injuries to both Tim Whitehead and Paul Jordaan, but seems have himself succumbed to the curse of the Sharks number 13 jersey. He will apparently undergo surgery tomorrow and is expected to play no further part in the Super Rugby campaign; we assume this means he’s out of contention for the springboks for the June incoming tours as well.
With the Sharks squad now completely devoid of options in the position, it’s looking likely that Tukkies loan player Piet Lindeque might finally be afforded a start in his favoured position, after only being used on the wing to date. With Marius Joubert also injured, after breaking his hand in the Vodacom Cup, the Sharks would need to look to the likes of the untried Heimar Williams and Tyler Fisher as midfield cover off the bench.

I think they need to change the 13 jersey to 24 for the bulls game can’t afford a nother injery lol
🙄 😥 😕 ❓
Bosman will just have to man up and play with his broken nose!
This is getting ridiculous 😡
So then Butch has to start then with Lindeque if Bosman won’t play?
2013 + 13 = Unlucky for Sharks…Superstition! Damnit..
Sheesh. Kanko at 12?
How about kanko @ 8 and keegan @ 12
Ideally:
1. Herbst
2. Cooper
3. du Plessis
4. Bresler
5. du Toit
6. Coetzee
7. Alberts
8. Daniel (c)
9. McLeod
10. Lambie
11. Mvovo
12. Bosman
13. Lindeque
14. Ndungane
15. Viljoen
16. du Plessis
17. van Rensberg
18. van der Merwe
19. Deysel
20. Kankowski
21. Meyer
22. James
I suppose Bosman will play if they need him. His went off for 10 minutes within the first 13 minutes, and then his nose was already broken. I suppose it was not easy to play like that, but he could not go off because of JP’s injury
Sadly the last we’ll see of JPP in South Africa until 2014 🙁
Nooooooooo! 😥
The Sharks score so few points from first phase backline set pieces, I honestly think Daniel could play 12. He has the hands to quickly put the rest of the backline in to play and the brains to adapt to a backline’s defence.
Saying that – I don’t credit Plum with that sort of imagination.
@Flashman (Comment 12) : So true! However his pace may not be up to scratch for an SR back-line.
I actually thought Lindeque spiced up the backline during his time on the field at 12.
this morning in the mercury bosman is ruled out for the broken nose
So if you add Bosman and JPP to the injury list that’s 16 injuries again, if Butch and Bissie is played this weekend we’re down to 14 again! Whoohoo!
The Sharks started the season of with 5 injured players, that quickly became 8 and stayed at 8 for a few rounds, it went up to over 10 in round 6 or 7 and we’ve never managed to get it below 10 again.
This is a horrible season for the Sharks.
@Letgo (Comment 16) : Not really shocked. We survived the Reds game without any injuries if i’m not mistaken… Therefore expected to lose two players against the Force.
Bring Tyler Fisher in I say
@Saffex (Comment 18) : I agree with you
Tyler knows how serfontein plays as he has played with him before. the bulls back their youngsters and that is what the sharks lack is blooding in their potential younger players. robinson has had a chance but with Tylers size and pace he is of equal size to pietersen with more pace…1.90m tall , 101kg.
@sharksupport (Comment 20) : I’m with you… big Tyler fan