Sharks limp back home
The Sharks have paid a dear price for snapping a six-match losing streak with a hard-fought a 21-14 over the Reds last Friday.
Stephan Lewies, Willem Alberts, Frans 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 Rebels (this coming Friday, May 29) and the Stormers May 13) to come, with a bye sandwiched in between, the last thing they needed was more injuries.
Lewies, who missed the first 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 line-out.
Alberts, who left the field in the 35th minute for have his head bandaged and undergo a concussion test, did return after half-time.
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 six 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.
