Mixed injury fortunes for Sharks ahead of Super Rugby quarter-final

Following the Sharks dramatic 12-9 victory over the Stormers on Saturday, Head Coach Robert du Preez has selected a 27-man squad for this coming weekend’s Super Rugby quarter-final clash with the Brumbies in Canberra.

The team departed for Australia on Sunday evening without ‘the Beast’, Tendai Mtawarira, who will not make the trip after his withdrawal with a knee niggle from the Stormers match. Philip van der Walt and Jean-Luc du Preez have also not yet been passed fit to play, although Craig Burden has been included after picking up a hamstring tweak that ruled him out of Saturday’s match. Further good news is the inclusion of Curwin Bosch who also missed the Stormers game but is now fully fit.

“The Stormers are a fantastic side and the game could have gone either way,” said Robert du Preez following the team’s win that secured a top eight finish and a place in the play-offs in a drama-filled final weekend of Vodacom Super Rugby action.

“The game was in the balance all the way to the final hooter, but I thought the character the boys showed was tremendous and that vindicated everything this team is about on attack and defence.

“We were dominant the whole game and scored two tries. But rugby is a cruel game, a game of moments.”

Sharks Touring Squad:
Forwards
Coenie Oosthuizen
Cullen Collopy
Craig Buren
Daniel du Preez
Gideon Koegelenberg
Hyron Andrews
Jacques Vermeulen
John-Hubert Meyer
Juan Schoeman
Kerron van Vuuren
Luke Stringer
Mzamo Majola
Ruben van Heerden
Thomas du Toit
Tyler Paul

Backs
Louis Schreuder (Captain)
Andre Esterhuizen
Aphelele Fassi
Cameron Wright
Curwin Bosch
Jeremy Ward
Kobus van Wyk
Lukhanyo Am
Makazola Mapimpi
Robert du Preez
Rhyno Smith
S’bu Nkosi

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