The Sharks’ hopes of winning back the Currie Cup from the Blue Bulls this year took a big knock on Tuesday with the news that Jean Deysel’s season is over.

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The big flanker tore knee ligaments against the Lions at the weekend and will be out for at least six months.

Sharks coach John Plumtree made no secret of the fact that he regards it a huge setback. He was very keen to use Deysel and Willem Alberts in combination.

“Together they are frightening and no team in the country would like to play against them. They make up a big part of my plans to dominate games up front. It’s a great pity that they won’t be able to operate together anymore,” said Plumtree.

For Deysel the past few weeks have been a major frustration. He returned to the side against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein following an injury and had been an impact as a substitute.

He was in the starting line-up against the Lions, but had to leave the field after two powerful runs inside the first three minutes due to the serious injury that has ended his season.

The Sharks are fortunate to have a number of other quality loose forwards, but none are steamrollers like Deysel.

With Ryan Kankowski again part of the Bok squad, Alberts, Jacques Botes and Keegan Daniel will make up the loose-trio.

Now that JP Pietersen has joined up with the Bok squad, Odwa Ndungane will be welcomed back. Ndungane will have to pass a fitness test this week to be part of the squad that will play against the Leopards at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium outside Rustenburg on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Pieter Jordaan reports that the Leopards are struggling to have scrumhalf Michael Bondesio fit for the game. He has a groin injury, but has still been picked by coach Chaka Willemse in the hope that he will recover in time. Jean Tiedt is the replacement scrumhalf.

Willemse is continuing with youngster BG Uys as loosehead prop.

The only change to the Leopards side that ran the Bulls close is on the flank where Christo van Niekerk has been included at the expense of Danie Crous.

The Leopards team:
Danie Dames, Deon Scholtz, Jovan Bowles, Walter Venter, Dumisani Matyeshana, Neill Jacobs, Mi¬chael Bondesio, Riaan Swanepoel, Wilhelm Koch (captain), Christo van Niekerk, Ligtoring Landman, Brad Mockford, Os van der Walt, Pellow van der Westhuizen, BG Uys.
Substitutes: Gavin Williamson, Aranos Coetzee, Draad Linde, RW Kember, Jean Tiedt, Clayton Durand, Jan van Zyl.