Pietersen counts cost of Bok duo's injuries in Stormers defeat
REACTION: The Sharks’ first United Rugby Championship defeat of the season came at a cost, with Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Vusi Moyo both suffering injuries in their 22-39 loss to the Stormers at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The Durban-based side crossed for three tries but conceded six as they left Cape Town empty-handed in Round Three of the competition.
However, the result was compounded by two major injury concerns, with Moyo forced off in the 18th minute before Etzebeth departed in the 33rd minute.
Moyo was later spotted on the replacement bench with his arm in a sling, raising further concerns about the extent of his injury.
Speaking after the match, Sharks head coach JP Pietersen admitted that losing the Springboks duo had a significant impact on his side, particularly with the game still finely balanced.
“Vusi has a dislocated shoulder, and he tried to fight it off,” Pietersen told reporters after the defeat at DHL Stadium.
“Eben, it looks like a knee or upper leg. I’m not a doctor, but he couldn’t run, so we needed to make a replacement.”
The Sharks’ discipline also proved costly, with Matt Romao and Manu Tshituka both sent to the sin bin in the first half.
“When we lost Vusi and Eben, the score was still 8-8 and in the balance.
“We had a scrum penalty against us on our ball. We got two yellow cards also in the first half, so it put us under massive pressure.
“Losing momentum with two key guys. A No.10, obviously, and Eben with the forwards.
“While defending with 13 men is always going to be a tough ask.”
Romao received his yellow card in the 34th minute for a dangerous grasscutter tackle on Stormers centre Jonathan Roche.
“It’s quite a technical penalty for a yellow card. Romao tried to wrap his arms around him, but it looks dangerous. Obviously, when he came off, we didn’t react quickly enough,” Pietersen explained.
Despite the injury concerns and disciplinary setbacks, the Sharks coach was determined to take some positives from the defeat as his side prepare for next week’s European Challenge Cup opener against Lyon.
“There are some positive things,” Pietersen said.
“However, as a coach, you always see the negative things. It is what it is. I think we need to look deeper into what we can do better.
“Nonetheless, there is some good stuff we can look at. The team have really shown resilience.
“A few years ago, we would easily lose by 60 points with 13 men, but we showed character and should build on that.”
Pietersen also acknowledged the quality of the opposition, insisting the Stormers deserved credit for their performance.
“I think we shouldn’t forget what Stormers team we played against. They’re a team that won the URC. They played two finals. Last year, they made a semi-final. We shouldn’t forget what the Stormers have.
“They’re cool players. They made very few mistakes. We made a lot of mistakes.
“We have to give credit to the Stormers.”
