Sharks to tackle recurring injury crisis next season

Sharks head coach JP Pietersen. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images Head coach JP Pietersen said the Sharks would re-examine their structures to combat a spiralling injury crisis that seems to occur every year. However, they would do so only in the pre-season next year, as they still have two United Rugby Championship league phase matches left.

The Sharkshost Benetton at 4pm on Saturday, and then Zebre Parma again at Kings Park next Saturday, in dead rubbers for all sides involved after none of them were able to qualify for the play-offs. Tenth place and six wins from 16 games so below par for a proud union that reached the semi-finals andwon the URC’s SA Shieldfor the first time last year. The Sharks, too, battled a rampant injury problem under John Plumtree then, which the then-coach warnedcould affect the Springboksif it was not addressed.

Twelve past and present Springboks are among the22 players currently injuredat the Sharks, highlighting the toll of a gruelling schedule, particularly on South Africa’s top players. The injuries, and comings and goings of Springboks, meant that Pietersen, and Plumtree before him, could not build much team cohesion. “If you don’t have players available, you don’t build cohesion, you don’t build consistency.

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I think that’s been a trend,” Pietersen said afternaming another youthful side for Benetton. “We could never get our team together for more than four games.” Case in point, 18-year-old Zekhethelo Siyaya moves from fullback to flyhalf for the injured Jordan Hendrikse and Siya Masuku, with departing Jean Smith on the bench. Twenty-year-old Jaco Williams returns from injury to take his spot at fullback. Regular fullbacks Aphelele Fassi and Yaw Penxe are out injured, as is another teenage fullback, Luan Giliomee.

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