The Sharks medical team have released an injury update revealing that Pat Lambie’s bicep injury is worse than initially feared.
Lambie has been diagnosed with a torn bicep tendon, which will be operated on later this week. The Bok flyhalf will thus be out of action for approximately six months, meaning no further participation in the 2014 Super Rugby campaign.
Cobus Reinach has already undergone surgery for his hand fracture and will be out of action for approximately 8 weeks (2 weeks longer than the initial assessment indicated).
We’d like to wish both our best wishes for their recovery.
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Three weeks ago the squad looked healthy. Just four injuries later to key players (Jordaan, PSDT (very), Lambie (very) and Reinach) how things have changed.
Ag nee bl!ksement man 😡 😥 🙁
Really not good news 🙁 Key players. But, we are The Sharks……we can still do this!! We are hungry for a SuperRugby title!
Eish. This sucks. 🙁
This sucks but we’ll have to make due. Get well soon guys or as soon as medically posible. We’ll miss you.
This is a major blow…..BUT I guarantee you that by the end of the season many will be calling for Zeilinga to be called up to the Boks! He will take this opportunity with both hands if backed
I hope White goes with Zeilinga, I have seen nothing from Swiel yet to warrent a starting birth for him. Also I dont want Steyn to play flyhalf fulltime, he is capable but best suited at 12.
Dont know if this has been answered yet, but when is Jordaan expected back?
Ag nee man! This really blows.
I’m sure we’ll be fine and Fred will step up, but… I was so enjoying watching Pat and Cobus grow in their positions and the synergy develop between them.
Shit Im sad for Patrick. This is so bad for his world cup ambitions
Phokkit…
Guys, I think the solution is last years Vodacom pair, Fred and Hanco venter. Fred proved himself throughout last year and Venter had a great 2013 and if you look at Saturday’s match he is the man.
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 8) : it wasn’t too bad… I thought it was in time for the tour.
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 8) : they said a month… that means the first or second game after the bye
Oh yeah, I remember now 😳
Damn. He was starting to show good form. Huge loss for the Boks and Sharks
As much as it hurts me to say it, I don’t we can no longer afford to go into seasons with Pat as our main option at 10.
He breaks too easily. 😥 😥 😥
But at the same time it’s Lambie… just… urgh 😥
Dam, hard luck Lambo!
Bad news man! 🙁
Aaaaag fokkie!!! Hie kom kak!
Hard luck Pat, you’ll be sorely missed! Time for the Sharks to dig deep.
Noooooooooooo!!! What a tough break for Pat and the Sharks!
This is bad news, but on the flip side we have 4 very talented 10’s
Pecking order might look like this
1. FredZzz
2. TSwiel
3. Van Tonder ( is a player who at 10 of note).
4. Graaff
Fran’s can step in as soon as Jordaan is back
I still feel Ungerer can step into 9 ahead of Mclaud.
10. Fred/Swiel
12. Fran’s
13. Esterhuizen
10.steyn
12.esterhuizen
13.jordaan
This is really upsetting… 😥 Poor pat!!!
Thank god Piet and Pat are still so young!
😉 😉 Every rugby fan who thinks a player is to young. If you made the cut and you are in the mix you are not to young. That means you have been drafted into the team as one of the best players to possibly afford financially and you have the talent to cut it with the big boys. Esterhuizen is not a prop or a lock. He is a back. He is in Jakes 23 for good reason. Play the boy 😆
Again no man! This is really bad news. Get well soon boet.
On the upside UKZN Impi won tonight and heading for promotion in the Varsity Cup!
Don’t understand why this is happening to us. This is a real setback for Lambie and us. We have lost 2 key players to season ending injuries in a space of 10 days. We are going to need to be strong and pull together to support the team. They really need our support. Wishing all the injured lads a speedy. I have faith in the players coming in and pray that the Lord favours the Sharks going forward – please, no more injuries. We can still do this, Fred is a natural flyhalf.
Really sad for Pat. 😥
Man that is horrible news for Lambie, he must have been itching for an entire season specialising at 10.
I know I was itching to see the best of Lambie this year. Now we’ll have to wait again. Starting to experience what the tjietas went through with Goosen.
With that said, we are however given the opportunity to see Fred-Z’s potential at fh under the guidance JW. Let’s hope the plan is to give him his rightful starting spot at 10.
Man, team announcement will be interesting this week.
😡 😡 😡 😡 More injuries to come. Season is still long. Young players must now bear the grunt and stand up to the test. Difficult competition and tough games ahead.
With this long season, you pretty much need two full teams in a squad where all players are of Super rugby standard and can slot in the match day squad if needed. In some key positions (e.g. front row, scrumhalf) you obviously need three quality players per position.
Wow, this is bad. I feel for him, as I still think this is going to be our year and I really wanted Pat to be a part of it. But Pat, have a speedy recovery and make the most of this extended honeymoon with your new wife. We don’t always say it, but family is more important than a SR trophy! All the best
@Bokhoring (Comment 32) : Venter’s rotation policy should become the blue print for every SR franchise.
Rotation should however be extended to practice sessions, as these seem to be harder than the actual game…(just ask Deysel).
VC team is the perfect vehicle for rotating players in and out of top flight rugby. Keep them fresh whilst keeping them active.
@HeinF (Comment 33) : You’re right and it’s not stated often enough.
Hard luck on the guys but it is a contact sport and injuries are likely, especially at the pace at which the game is now played. But that is why we have recruited so there is no need to panic. In Swiel and Zeilinga we have capable replacements. And dont be too quick to judge Swiel, he is in a new team environment and is still getting used to how guys around him play and how the service comes from his 9. Trust me he def has the goods, just let him play consistently. Having said that Zeilinga has also shown he is quality. Healthy squad competition is good! Id love to Adriaanse start a game as well
So sorry to hear this about Pat, and wishing him a speedy recovery and strength of character through this trying time.
Time for Fred to step up with Swiel as back-up.
@Marge (Comment 31) : I feel like crying, Marge.
S’buru is not cutting it at the moment,he is pretty average on attack and doesn’t link up to players inside him like Joradaan does. Operationally thats lazy in a outfit.on the flip side – He competes very well on the ground and always stays on his feet as long as possible, but I think he doesn’t offer his outside backs a lot at the moment. On the pace side Esterhuizen is apparently slow(according to us sharkies), but I hear he is above average compared to other Backs. and he is faster than Steyn. Who plays 15 for the Boks…Just saying he is not Jordaan but he is still above ave in speed. He has a great off load in the tackle AND A BIG FEND, SBW like when he breaks the line and he has a good nose for opportunity (IN OTHER WORDS HE scores a lot off tries). I would give him a go if Frans is on his inside. the other option is Whitehead at 12. but I know he doesn’t fit the mold for JAKES 12. lets just say if Conrad Smith was a SAFFA we would never have seen him in the Bok Era. Jake likes them to carry and secure. Break the line when opportunity shows.
I think we need to take some risk now, with our system and our youngsters. we need to back our boys to get ‘experienced’ enough before we hit the big games. with LAMBIE out I would also not be surprised if Jake Imports a 10 in the leading roll. he always said FredZzz and Swiel are backups with LAMBIE the man…I would not be surprised if we Hear ”Wilkenson” on Loan…hehe would be bazaar but its plausible.
Good luck Pat and Cobus hope you recover quickly! !!! This is now the chance for some of the youngsters to step up and show what they can do.
Fred has to take over from Lambie now, Swiel is not the answer at No10.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 41) : 12 and 13?
In all likelihood, we will have:
10 – Steyn (Fred-Z groomed from the bench with Steyn moving to 12)
12 – Williams
13 – Sithole
@FireTheLooser (Comment 43) : I would not like an inexperience center pair who have never played together at this level to go against Beale and Ashley Cooper
@FireTheLooser (Comment 43) : a very sad but safe prospect…
Such untimely sad news… But here is the team I would go with against the Tahs,
15 Sp
14 Sburra
13 JPP
12 Esterhuizen
11 Mvovo
10 Steyn
09 Mcleod
08 Kanko
07 Alberts
06 Marcell
05 Lewies
04 Bresler
03 Adriaanse
02 Bismark
01 Beast
16 Cooper
17 Jannie
18 Chadwick
19 Oosthuisen
20 Deysel
21 Ungerer
22 Fred
23 Heimer
guys, can I ask a very clear and simple question of all of you?
What did you see on Saturday that makes you think Andre Esterhuizen is ready for a starting role in Super Rugby against possibly the best midfield in the competition?
Why swap JPP and Sburra? because I think it would be better to bring JPP and his experience more into the game and also take some of the responsibilities off Steyns shoulders
@robdylan (Comment 47) : Rob besides a knock on that honestly probably cost us the match, I also saw him there after do everything right, to discard someone for one bad mistake is also not fair.
I hear what you are saying but I feel we are better off with more experience at 10 than 12.
I have seen Esterhuizen play quite a lot and this was the first real bad mistake I have seen from him.
The kid is a big talent and no doubt with a little experience will only get better, but in saying that if JW goes with HWilliams? I will still feel comfortable as well as Fred.
Here’s the thing? we could all be very wrong as to the route JW takes from here
😆
😯 I mean we could see Butch James starting hahaha
Sharks backline for Saturday 😀
Mcleod
Butch
Mvovo
Steyn
Sbura
JPP
Sp
@robdylan (Comment 47) : JOkes aside Rob, I also saw Esterhuizen make 2 good tackles in his short time on the park as well as get over the advantage line twice with 2 or 3 Bulls hanging onto him to bring him down.
@sharks_lover (Comment 54) : ok, so I have two problems…
1) I don’t agree with moving Steyn to 10. Steyn is not a 10, he’s a 12. The choice comes down to Zeilinga v Swiel for 10 and to my mind, Zeilinga has proved EVERYTHING he needs to prove in order to be given a starting spot at 10 in Super Rugby. Vodacom Cup player of the year, Currie Cup Player of the year nominee, leading points scorer in virtually every comp he plays in. It is his time.
2) Even if we do move Steyn to 10, it is indefensible to pick Esterhuizen at 12 ahead of Williams. Williams has more experience and more composure and is PROVEN on defence in senior rugby. Let’s not forget that we’re facing Kurtley Beale here.
I’m sorry, the logic to pick Esterhuizen based on getting 2 of the 3 things he did on Saturday right just doesn’t stack up for me.
@robdylan (Comment 55) : I hear you Rob and a lot of what you say makes sense, but I also know JW fancies Frans at 10 too, What I like about Esterhuizen is his attacking play though and if they play the more attacking game I feel Esterhuizen is more dangerous on attack.
Do not get me wrong boet, I have no problem with Heimer and if he is selected the team would not be weaker or Fred for that matter.
Fred also adds to the kicking options as he has been in good kicking form too
@sharks_lover (Comment 56) : Frans at 10 gives me the heebies.
Jake even said a few weeks back that he doesn’t like picking Frans at 10… he feels Frans only does ok in that position when told at the last minute he’s going to play there.
No, I’m sorry. Frans is the best 12 we have at the moment. We saw against the Lions that the outside backs get no ball when he is at 10. We’re not going to see this attacking rugby of which you speak with Frans at 10.
Fred ticks all the boxes for me. I don’t understand why he keeps getting overlooked or forgotten about every time there’s a new monthly flavour on the scene.
@robdylan (Comment 57) : MUst be honest re Fred, I too was shocked to see Swiel picked ahead of him on the bench last week, also picking Swiel probably supports your theory and thus against the Bulls JW brought Swiel on at 10 when Lambie left the field.
@sharks_lover (Comment 58) : BTW, I’m not really meaning to have a go at you today…. I’m just upset about the injuries and really hoping that they’ll give Fred a go.
@robdylan (Comment 59) : lol Rob didn’t think you were having a go at me, trust me at the function on Saturday night with the team I felt just a sad, speaking to Cobus with his arm in a splint and him telling me Lambie’s arm is also very bad made me sick to the gut. 🙁
Only bloody thing I did not know then was for how long they out, also we lucky Lewies should be ok to play, he went down 4 times in that game and is a tough bugger.
@robdylan (Comment 59) : BTW Jordaan should be back in 2 or 3 weeks at worst, so just after our next bye.
@robdylan (Comment 59) : And actually giving Fred a go this weekend would probably give us the answers we seek, Also would probably be the least disruptive to the team.
@sharks_lover (Comment 62) : I remember Fred having some daring runs during last year’s CC and pulling it off quite effectively. He’s quite fast and has an accurate pass and very accurate boot.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 63) : He also has a great offload.
http://www.bdlive.co.za/sport/rugby/2014/03/25/matfield-set-for-second-outing-as-bulls-captain
this article suggests JW will use Fred at 10 this weekend?
@robdylan (Comment 59) : I hope they give Fred a chance as well…can’t believe during the CC last year people was ready to replace Lambie with him and now we want Steyn to play at 10…we do have short memories. Isn’t it a better idea to have an experienced 9 (McLeod) next to an inexperienced 10 (Zeilinga), next to an experienced 12 (Steyn) and then inexperienced 13 again (Sithole), instead of having experience at 9 and 10 and then almost no SR experience, as well as no experience of playing together, in the midfield?
OK gonna stick my neck out here, this will be the team I “think” JW will select.
15 SP
14 JPP
13 Sbura
12 Steyn
11 Mvovo
10 Fred
09 Mcleod
08 Kanko
07 Alberts
06 Marcell
05 Lewies
04 Bresler
03 Jannie
02 Bismark
01 Beast
16 Mini Cooper
17 Lourens
18 Chadwick
19 Oosthuizen
20 Mthembu
21 Ungerer
22 Heimer
23 Van Tonder
Not sure how long Jean is still out for?
@sharks_lover (Comment 68) : I heard he was touch and go for Loftus
Ok I thought so!
Truly TERRIBLE!