Double world champions Eben Etzebeth, Lukhanyo Am and Vincent Koch are all fitness concerns for the Sharks after Saturday’s defeat to Benetton in Durban.
Koch and Etzebeth were forced off inside the first quarter of the 25-24 loss in the Vodacom URC at Kings Park, while fellow Springbok and skipper Am was substituted before half time.
Koch limped off with a suspected ankle injury while Etzebeth did not return to the field after failing an HIA (head impact assessment) and according to Sharks head coach John Plumtree, was complaining of a sore neck.
With one eye on the Challenge Cup final in two weeks’ time, Plumtree said that a decision was taken not to risk Am, who is understood to have hurt a joint in his collarbone.
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“It’s disappointing, I was hoping they would get to half time and get a good 40 minutes under their belts before the final, but that’s the way it goes,” he told reporters in a post-match conference.
“That was the frustrating thing about tonight; obviously I would’ve liked to have had no injuries, won the game and everything fell into place, but it was pretty much the total opposite.
“[Etzebeth] ran off with an HIA and the word I got from the doctors was that he failed that, but what he is complaining about now is his neck. He’s heading off to the physio room as we speak to get that treated. He had no headaches so I don’t think he’s going to be too bad.
“The physio I spoke to after the game wasn’t too concerned about [Koch’s ankle], he didn’t roll it laterally … it just hurt. He was walking now without a limp, so we’re hoping that won’t be too serious,” Plumtree added.
“It sounds like there’s a little part of that clavicle joint [of Am] that’s upset but again, he wasn’t too stressed.
“We have the luxury that we don’t have to play these guys next week. Hopefully all three of them will be fine and sitting here in a fortnight’s time.”
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The Sharks led 12-8 at half time, and a brace of tries from right winger Werner Kok in the second 40 minutes helped set them on course for victory.
But 10 points from Jacob Umaga before the final hooter completed an incredible comeback from Benetton, who capitalised on a numerical advantage after inside centre Murray Koster was shown a straight red card for a dangerous head-on-head collision.
“It would’ve been great to win tonight and have no injuries but the reality is that didn’t happen. But we can’t afford to be too down [because] there’s only one massive game for us to really do something this year and we’ll turn our attention towards that,” Plumtree said.
“I thought at times tonight we played some pretty good rugby; when we were in their half and had the ball they looked like they couldn’t really live with us.
“Unfortunately we gave away some dumb penalties that allowed them to get the territory that they needed, and they put us under pressure because they’re a side that can hold on to the ball for long periods at a time.
“Our defence tonight was outstanding as well… the red card at the end probably cost us because it gave them territory, and we were one man down and they were good enough to score. So all credit to them.”
The Sharks will now refocus for a visit next Saturday from Cardiff.
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