Triple blow for Sharks ahead of Bulls test
The defending champions will travel to Pretoria to face the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The match will Kickoff at 17h05.
The Durban men are without winger Odwa Ndungane, centre Heimar Williams and prop Matt Stevens due to injuries.
Ndungane suffered a groin strain against Free State but his lay-off period has not been established as yet.
Williams has a strained groin and faces four weeks on sidelines.
Stevens has had a minor scope on the left knee and should be fit in approaximately three weeks.
Front-rower Thomas du Toit who failed a late fitness test last week will be put through another test later this week before a call is made on his availability.
Sharks are planning to improve as this weekend’s match against the Bulls marks the start of the cross-section round, four difficult games to negotiate.
“It’s no secret that the other pool is a lot tougher than the pool we’ve just played in, so those cross-pool games are going to be really important. The Bulls away this weekend is a massive clash for us and we are going to have to be on top of our game if we want to win this one,'' Sharks assisant coach Sean Averitt explained on their website.
Vodacom Blue Bulls flank Deon Stegmann and hooker Bongi Mbonambi are also not certain of playing at Loftus on Saturday.
They both face SARU disciplinary hearings today after being cited following their clash against the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth last Friday.
Stegmann received a red card for striking a player with his elbow at a ruck in the 69th minute, which was in breach of Law 10.4 (a), while Mbonambi received a yellow card in the 12th minute for charging into a ruck dangerously, which contravened Law 10.4 (h).
The players will appear at a SARU disciplinary hearing in Pretoria at 16h00 in the afternoon. Advocate Tokkie van Zyl has been appointed the judicial officer.
The Sharks are currently fourth on the log table standings and the Blue Bulls are six after six matches played.
(File Photo:Gallo Images)
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