Injuries take their toll in Super 14

The Brumbies, Sharks and Lions have suffered cruel injury blows prior to their third round clashes in this weekend's Super 14.

The Brumbies, Sharks and Lions have suffered cruel injury blows prior to their third round clashes in this weekend's Super 14.

Wallaby Test prop Guy Shepherdson became the injury-ravaged Brumbies' latest withdrawal just 24 hours before the team take on the Reds in Canberra on Saturday.

Shepherdson's hamstring strain is considered minor but it could also sideline him for next week's derby with the Waratahs.

He has been replaced in the run-on side by Salesi Ma'afu.

The injury is a massive blow to the Brumbies, who are already struggling to field a competitive backline after serious injuries to Stirling Mortlock (shoulder), Clyde Rathbone (knee), Adam Ashley-Cooper (ankle), Gene Fairbanks (neck) and Anthony Faingaa (knee).

Meanwhile, Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis has failed to recover from his rib injury and will be denied the chance to test himself against the defending Super 14 champion Bulls in a repeat of last year's final.

Sharks coach Dick Muir waited until the last possible moment before announcing his team in order to give the robust hooker time enough to recover.

Du Plessis will be replaced in the matchday 22 by Skipper Badenhorst.

Badenhorst should be an adequate replacement after having overcome an injury of his own. The inexperienced Craig Burden is named as the reserve hooker.

Elsewhere, Lions centre Jaco Pretorius has been forced to withdraw from his team's clash with the Western Force in Johannesburg, through a hamstring strain. His place in the midfield is taken by Jaco van Schalkwyk.

Janie Boschoff replaces Van Schalkwyk on the bench.