According to a report from Sharks assistance coach Brad Macleod-Henderson on the Sharks website, inside centre Tim Whitehead suffered a rib injury during the course of Friday night’s game against Griquas.
The knock forced Whitehead from the field with about 20 minutes to play, opening a gap for Fred Zeilinga to make his Currie Cup debut for the side; Zeilinga took over from Butch James at flyhalf (with the latter moving into Whitehead’s inside centre position) and set up the move that resulted in the team’s third try, courtesy of a long cross kick.
Macleod-Henderson is hopeful that Whitehead’s knock isn’t too serious, given the paucity of options at centre and expressed hope that he should be fit for the Lions game on Friday.
The other man in some doubt is skipper Keegan Daniel, who was withdrawn from the match 22 as a late precaution after a knee niggle he picked up during the week refused to settle. The coach again expressed confidence that Daniel should be fit for Friday, but admitted that further analysis will need to be done today.
Other Sharks currently on the injury list are locks Anton Bresler and Pieter-Steph du Toit, centre Marius Joubert and utility back Hansie Graaff.
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Maybe it’s time to give Esterhuizen a go. Witehead can last 2 games in a row.
People need to realise that Andre Esterhuizen is still 19. He’s big, strong and quick, fair enough, but it’s always healthy to give a young lad a bit of time to grow into the environment in the juniors, allow his body to develop a little more while playing with guys who much older than him. Point is, he’s already playing an age group above his actual age, let him grow there before you call for him to go to senior side
@Ludz (Comment 2) : guys who aren’t much older I mean
morning.please put SP Marais 😛 in at fullback move Odwa Ndungane to wing,Esterhuizen 💡 to centre.start with Cobus Reinach ,Craig Burden ,Fred Zeilinga and Tera Mtembu at number eight ❗ ❗ ❗
baby face Cheetahs lock Lodewyk de Jager is only 19 years old.
If you are good enough you are old enough. The Bulls had a very young team against the WP and they surprised everyone.
Ai nee nooit! I cant believe we are about to start the CC season with injuries as well!?!?!?! Aren’t there some other teams that can be hampered with this?!?!
@Rvw (Comment 6) : how many 19 year olds in the Bulls side? 1st year out of school should be spent in the junior structures period
@pete69 (Comment 5) : Lood de Jager is u21 this year like Pieter-Steph du Toit
I don`t know guys. Wouldn`t you rather win something for a change with established international stars like Fred Michalak or Sonny Bill than brag about your ” youth development ” while we face the Pumas in a relegation match?
@Original Pierre (Comment 9) : its only been 1 match relax
@Ludz (Comment 2) : Esterhuizen has already played Vodacom Cup, so he is used to playing against older players. James O Connor, David Pocock, Liam Gill and Doug Howlett were all playing Super Rugby when they were 18 years old. This boy is ready to step up to Currie Cup level.
esterhuizen and fisher should be the center combination without a doubt. on size speed and youth…but is there any support and confidence from the coaches????????
@Poisy (Comment 10) : After Friday it will be 2 games 😈
@Poisy (Comment 10) : Oh I`m not worried I know what to expect LOL
@Lassy_lion (Comment 13) : Give Jantjies another Chance ?!
@Original Pierre (Comment 14) :
😆
@Original Pierre (Comment 9) : I know I am definitely with you on this one! 😥
@Lassy_lion (Comment 13) : we will see about that
Why all the Friday games for the Sharks. I dont like them.
@jonnow (Comment 11) : I think we take the step up from junior to senior rugby very lightly, it’s a HUGE step. Let’s just say I’ve heard that Andre has a couple of things to work on before he’s ready for senior rugby, no doubt he’ll grow and improve at the level he’s at right now. He’ll be eaten in the senior Currie Cup.
The comparison between us and the Australasian nation is odd, we don’t play the same kind of rugby, we’ll kill our youngsters if we try to do what Australia do
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 18) : me neither.
Guys, I think you all just need to calm down a bit re Esterhuizen.
Ludz is right. The coaches don’t feel he’s ready to move up just yet.
if Tim can’t play on Friday, then Heimar Williams will start. That’s the right call to make.
@Original Pierre (Comment 14) : I dont think we need more than Jantjies for the guppies
@Poisy (Comment 17) : Well after this weekends action my money is surely on the LIONS… But good luck to you guys.
@pete69 (Comment 5) : He turned 20 on the 17th December 2012.
@KingCheetah (Comment 24) : we might see him and Steph locking together for the Boks 1 day, both born in December 1992.
@Ludz (Comment 25) : Yeah, I was thinking more along the lines of a pack like this:
Coenie/Beast
Bissie/Strauss
Jannie/Adriaanse
Lood/Willemse
Eztebeth
Brussow
Jacques du Plessis/Steph du Toit
Arno Botha/vd Walt/Vleis Engelbrecht
That would be 3 two meter plus players in the pack at any time, much like they played Andrews and janus Labuschagne at 7 or 8
@Ludz (Comment 2) : Nonsense, if you are good enough you are old enough. There is no issue at all with a 19 year old centre playing CC……hell Serfontein has played test rugby aged 20 as has Etzebeth.
The Sharks need to wake up and get Esterhuizen and Fisher involved at centre
@pete69 (Comment 4) : and most importantly Peet Marais at lock, a real lock unlike the other two pretenders
@Saffex (Comment 27) : at what level did Jan play last year in the Currie Cup?