The Sharks have suffered another injury setback as on-the-mend flyhalf Fred Zeilinga has been sent home and replaced by Jaco van Tonder.
Zeilinga injured his hamstring against the Lions at Ellis Park in Round Nine after jostling for a position at flyhalf with Tim Swiel and Frans Steyn following Pat Lambie’s departure.
“Fred has injured his hamstring again and is on his way home which is not ideal. He is being replaced by Jaco van Tonder,” Sharks coach Jake White said.
The Currie Cup star impressed when given his opportunities, shining especially bright in a tough contest against the Waratahs two weeks before his injury.
The young flyhalf was clearly not over the injury that is suspected to have been aggrivated at training seeing as he did not make it off the bench against the Rebels on the weekend.
Zeilinga joins Marcell Coetzee on the flight home to Durban adding to a Sharks injury list that is starting to become imposing.
Pieter-Steph Du Toit(Knee), Anton Bresler (Shoulder), Lambie (Bicep),Tonderai Chavhanga (Hamstring), Marcell Coetzee (Shoulder) and Cobus Reinach (Hand) are some of the high profile names missing from the Sharks squad.
However, Reinach is on tour with the Sharks and like Zeilinga, was named on the bench against the Rebels but did not play.
The loss of this promising young flyhalf would mean that Frans Steyn should retain the No.10 jersey with another young flyhalf, Tim Swiel deputising on the bench.
Having played last Friday night may have limited their preparations, but this week, they’re back to a normal week with a Saturday game against the Brumbies and with it, extra time to prepare for this top of the table clash.
“We have an extra day and for the fans back home, that doesn’t sound like a long time, but when you have a short turnaround and you’re traveling et cetera, it does catch up to you because you just don’t have time to get yourself back on track,” White added.
“You have injuries and you have one less day to prepare, so this week, things have been going well.”