The Sharks are apparently sweating on a number of injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s Super Rugby game against the Waratahs in Sydney, but have not (to our knowledge) summoned any replacements to join the tour party, a sign that most of them should be expected to play this weekend.
It’s up-front where the biggest concerns seem to be; Bismarck du Plessis picked up a knee injury against the Hurricanes, while Marco Wentzel is still battling a rib complaint from the Highlanders game. Willem Alberts, who missed the last game with what we believe is an ankle injury also needs to be cleared, while Renaldo Bothma might also be in doubt due to a head knock sustained in Wellington.
Should all of the four players be ruled out, the Sharks would be unable to field a side this weekend; it’s to be hoped that most will be ready, though, with Bothma perhaps the biggest risk at this stage.
Things look somewhat better at the back; Lwazi Mvovo and Odwa Ndungane both took head knocks, but the latter seems fine. Mvovo will, according to Gary Gold, need to come through “some protocols” in order to be passed fit for selection.
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Wouldn’t surprise me if they pick steyn at flank. Hope all the guys recovers!
Who is left?
What would happen if they were actually unable to field a side? :/
@Seth101 (Comment 3) : I’m not actually sure.
Don’t be surprised to see Esterhuizen on the flank.
Surely they need to assess injuries early and call for replacements as early as possible?
Not only will it be shameful to not be able to field a team but it will be moerse funny imo
😈 
:twisted:wahahahaha
@Seth101 (Comment 3) : stuur punte and be fined but heavy! thats my guess
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 8) : Yeah we probably get docked points and fined eish..
Don’t we have a medical team travelling with the team? Let us not play guys with injuries, the season is gone. Send the guys home and bring in the reserves.
I guess they have to weigh up the cost of flying in players vs taking the fine. Although I doubt it will be so bad we can’t field at least a starting 15…. I hope….
Well I’m in Sydney and available, at around 70kg I don’t think I’ll do too well in the forwards but I’m willing to give it a shot!
@RuckingFun (Comment 12) : That’s the spirit 😉 There is plenty of expats in Oz – so if we go that route we might field a team
Sounds like they need to hold “Open Trials” for all expats living in Sydney so that they can field a team.
@SheldonK (Comment 14) : Hey it worked in Invincible v0v, We could get lucky.
Pretty sure they have the starting basis covered. The bench could look interesting though.
Sharks fans going to the game in Sydney, make sure you wear your replica kit, you just might get some game time.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 17) : haha I’ve got my own club game on Saturday but wouldn’t mind taking on the tahs
Worst case we can loose two of the three loose forwards we took on tour, plus one of the three hookers, plus a lock, plus a fullback. That means Cooper would need to be selected as hooker, Botha and Lewies as locks with Giant on the bench, and Esterhuyzen at flank with which player on the bench? Fred at fullback with Murray on the bench?
I assume if the situation was that bad they would have flown some cover over.
Let’s send Matt to cover flank send up a scrumhalf to cover prop and move cooper to wing for mvovo. With our coaching anything is possible.
How about sending a few youngsters up to get experience Gary? This series is over for us no use in risking your A team any further.
@coolfusion (Comment 20) : Come now lets be realistic…Stevens would be a much better 8th man…Hoffman at 15…Esterhuizen or JPP at flank…
Or send up de Saad to cover hooker?
Are we expecting a team announcement tomorrow?
@vanmartin (Comment 23) : yes
Cross fingers…
BTW – when is Marcel due for his next rest day? He should be OK with the 5 day consecutive games rule for the bye after the Rebels game. But strictly speaking he is also meant to have been given 2 – 4 games off in total (not counting byes).
@robdylan (Comment 24) : Should make for some interesting reading. Are you expecting more uh… ‘creative’ selections? 😀
@vanmartin (Comment 27) : I don’t know what to expect these days. I just react in wonder 🙂
Shouldn’t really be a problem… we play most games a man down these days (ie red and/or frequent yellow cards)
In fact, have we gone one game this season without a yellow?
@CS (Comment 29) : We have.
I’m seeing these guys giving their bodies for a lost cause season. Expect many more injuries that serve no greater good. Better use of this campaign would be to test young guys on an international stage and build their bmt. Cronje is one such player
I’ll be rooting for the boys. All I really ask is to see some heart and I think it had been creeping back in to our game.
Happy B – day to Frans Steyn. 28 – it’s been about 20 years since he first came onto the scene.
I meant to post that on the team announcement thread. Don’t know how I ended up here.