Sharks tackled by discpline, injuries

The Sharks will be without kingpins Jean Deysel and Patrick Lambie over the next few weeks. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

The Sharks will be without kingpins Jean Deysel and Patrick Lambie over the next few weeks. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Published Apr 7, 2015

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Cape Town – The woes continue to mount for the Sharks with the news that they will be without kingpins Jean Deysel and Patrick Lambie over the next few weeks.

On Tuesday morning, flanker Deysel was slapped with a seven-week suspension by Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) and then followed the news that flyhalf Patrick Lambie has suffered a neck injury which is likely to sideline him for six weeks.

Deysel pleaded guilty to foul play after he clattered his right knee down on the side of Matt Todd’s head at a breakdown in the match against the Crusaders last week. He has been suspended from all forms of the game for seven weeks up to and including Saturday, 23 May.

Two weeks ago, flyhalf/centre Frans Steyn was banned for five weeks after a tip-tackle on Chiefs flyhalf Aaron Cruden. He’ll be on the sidelines up to and including Sunday, 3 May.

Also in the match against the Chiefs, regular Sharks captain Bismarck du Plessis was shown a red card for kicking Chiefs No 8 Michael Leitch in the head. He was subsequently banned for five weeks until and including 18 April.

Deysel and Lambie captained the Sharks in Du Plessis’ absence and since Steyn was also named in the franchise’s leadership group at the start of the season, Director of Rugby Gary Gold will be looking for a new leader this week when they are away to the Lions at Emirates Airlines Park.

The Sharks have also had to do without powerhouse loosie Willem Alberts who has been out in the cold with a hamstring injury. In terms of injury setbacks, their biggest blow has been the loss of their formidable lock Pieter-Steph du Toit who is out with a long-term knee injury. Prior to his injury, Du Toit was the in-form line-out jumper at the time in Super Rugby competition.

With two SA derbies (away to Lions, then home to Bulls) next up on the Sharks’ campaign, there is every prospect of bruising, brutal and abrasive encounters ahead, which again could prove rather testing on the Sharks’ discipline.

It is very likely that Deysel and Lambie will also miss out on the Sharks’ Australian tour which gets under way on Friday, 1 May, against the Highlanders, at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, in Dunedin, New Zealand. - ANA

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