Eben Etzebeth adds to Sharks injury crisis as Springboks sweat over lock stocks
Sharks lock Eben Etzebeth and Leinster's RG Snyman.
Eben Etzebeth will reportedly face a race against time to feature for the Springboks in July after sustaining an injury in the Sharks’ defeat to Connacht.
The Challenge Cup round of 16 clash in Galway saw the Springboks lock make his return from a 12-match ban for eye-gouging Wales back-rower Alex Mann in November last year.
Eben Etzebeth a doubt for the Springboks
Etzebeth played under an hour on his return but has reportedly suffered a hip injury that is set to rule him out of the remainder of the Sharks‘ United Rugby Championship season.
He was a notable absentee from JP Pietersen’s 28-man squad that flies to Wales today, ahead of back-to-back away matches against the Ospreys and Edinburgh.
The Sharks head into those games in tenth position on the URC standings and seven points adrift of the Bulls in eighth. While Etzebeth’s return from suspension was set to be a boost in the race to eight, a Sharks spokesperson confirmed to IOL that he has suffered a hip injury, which has effectively ended his club season, with the goal now set to return for the Springboks’ Nations Championship opener against England.
The most-capped Springbok of all time could add to South Africa’s lock woes with Rassie Erasmus set to be without the services of RG Snyman, who suffered an ACL injury while playing for Leinster.
Etzebeth is not the only high-profile Springbok on the Sharks’ unavailable list, with Bongi Mbonambi, Grant Williams, and Jordan Hendrikse also set to play no further part in the URC through injury.
This is amid a full-back crisis with Aphelele Fassi still sidelined and also unlikely to return before the end of the season. That has been compounded by setbacks for Hakeem Kunene, Jaco Williams, and Luan Giliomee, who is on duty with the Junior Springboks. This has led to the inclusion of exciting 18-year-old Zekhethelo Siyaya, who is in line to make his debut.
Springboks’ curtain-raiser fixture confirmed as South Africa A’s four-year hiatus ends
On a positive note, Siya Kolisi has overcome a calf niggle and is included in the touring squad alongside locks Jason Jenkins and Emile van Heerden, the pair also back in the side amongst the 16 forwards likely to feature during this testing fortnight period.
Andre Esterhuizen is also back to lead the team in Saturday’s crunch match against Ospreys, as is fellow centre Jurenzo Julius.
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Sharks touring squad
Forwards: Corne Rahl, Eduan Swart, Emile van Heerden, Emmanuel Tshituka, Fez Mbatha, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Nick Hatton, Ox Nche, Phatu Ganyane, Phepsi Buthelezi, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka, Willem van den Hever
Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Bradley Davids, Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, Jaden Hendrikse, Jean Smith, Jurenzo Julius, Le Roux Malan, Makazole Mapimpi, Ross Braude, Siya Masuku, Zekhethelo Siyaya
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