Stephan Lewies & Willem Alberts
The Cell C Sharks have paid a dear price for snapping a 6-match losing streak with a hard-fought a 21 / 14 over the Reds last Friday.
Stephan Lewies, Willem Alberts, Francois Steyn, Stefan Ungerer and Dale Chadwick were the latest additions to an injury list that already includes names like Cobus Reinach (fractured hand), Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee) and Pat Lambie (neck vertebrae).
The Sharks started training in Durban on Monday – after a tour that saw them lose to the Highlanders, Hurricanes and Waratahs, before beating the Reds.
With games against the Melbourne Rebels (this coming Friday 29 May) and the Stormers on 13 June to come, with a BYE sandwiched in between, the last thing they needed was more injuries.
Lewies, who missed the 1st half of the season through injury, looks set to miss the remaining matches after he dislocated his knee cap in Brisbane at the weekend.
He was taken from the field on a mobile stretcher in the 31st minute, after the 23-year-old landed awkwardly at a lineout.
Alberts, who left the field in the 35th minute to have his head bandaged and undergo a concussion test, did return after halftime, however he was again replaced in the 51st minute and was spotted at Monday’s training session in Durban keeping Lewies company on the sidelines.
Steyn, who has been influential since his return from his ban, left the field in the 60th minute with a pectoral muscle injury.
Ungerer – who damaged his hamstring while attempting to put pressure on James O’Connor, only to pull up short with a hamstring strain and then be gifted a try when the kicker, O’Connor shanked his attempted clearance – is also still in doubt.
Replacement loosehead prop Dale Chadwick also limped off the field in the 78th minute.
While Lewies is definitely out, there will only be clarity on the extent of the injuries to Alberts, Steyn and Chadwick later in the week.
Ungerer trained with the rest of the team on Monday and is expected to be available.
Lambie’s original lay-off – after he suffered the injury against the Crusaders in early April – was 6 weeks, which means he should be available, but that has not been confirmed either.
No 8 Ryan Kankowski was spotted at training on Monday and should be available for selection.
The Sharks are waiting on a scan on the injury that forced Frans Steyn from the field in the win against the Reds before finalising their team for the penultimate Vodacom Super Rugby fixture of the season against the Rebels in Durban on Saturday.
Further good news for the Sharks is that Paul Jordaan trained with the squad on Monday and looks likely to be in the selection mix for the clash with the Rebels.
The Sharks are out of the Super Rugby race and have nothing more than pride to play for in their final 2 matches.
rugby 365 & SuperSport