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Sharks likely to be without Bok giant for big Euro date

South Africa players Steven Kitshoff, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Duane Vermeulen and Franco Mostert look on pensively from the bench as the final whistle approaches during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Gold Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The Sharks look set to be without the services of one of their World Cup Springboks when they resume their European Challenge Cup campaign next week.

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Eben Etzebeth, one of the key players in the Springboks’ back-to-back World Cup victories, is doubtful for the Round of 16 encounter with Zebre next Sunday.

Etzebeth, South Africa’s Player of the Year, injured his ribs in the Sharks’ 23-13 United Rugby Championship win over Edinburgh on Saturday.

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Braai advice from Eben Etzebeth

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      Braai advice from Eben Etzebeth

      He was injured in the first and at half-time was replaced by young Corne Rahl.

      The Sharks suffered a setback when fellow World Cup winner Vincent Koch was ruled out with a ‘tummy bug’.

      He was replaced by Ntuthuko Mchunu in the starting 15, with Khwezi Mona on the bench.

      Fixture
      Challenge Cup
      Sharks
      47 - 3
      Full-time
      Zebre
      All Stats and Data

      Coach John Plumtree said Etzebeth will require a scan to determine the extent of his rib injury.

      “I hope it is just a [rib] cartilage,” the coach said, adding: “If that is the case then it is just two or three weeks.

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      “He is pretty sore.”

      While Plumtree did not formally rule Etzebeth out of next week’s Challenge Cup encounter with the Italian team – giving him time to recover – it appears he is unlikely to win the race against time.

      Being out of the URC play-off race, winning the Challenge Cup is now their only way of getting back into Europe’s top flight, the Champions Cup, next season.

      Head-to-Head

      Last 5 Meetings

      Wins
      4
      Draws
      0
      Wins
      1
      Average Points scored
      34
      18
      First try wins
      80%
      Home team wins
      80%

      The setback comes as the Sharks secured back-to-back URC victories for the first time this season – to move off the foot of the table.

      Fullback Aphelele Fassi was the star after running in a dazzling solo try that was one of several eye-catching breaks, while also pinning back the visitors with his pinpoint left boot.

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      Edinburgh are still firmly in contention for a play-off spot but struggled to leave any meaningful mark on the South African franchise.

      Fassi delivered a moment of magic in the 21st minute to turn the early balance on its head as he took a line-out and sprinted through a large gap in the opposition forwards.

      The Springbok’s footwork and pace then swept him around flyhalf Ben Healy and beyond a despairing tackle by Duhan van der Merwe to score.

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      J
      JW 2 hours ago
      French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

      Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


      They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


      That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

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      JW 3 hours ago
      Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

      The only benefit of the draft idea is league competitiveness. There would be absolutely no commercial value in a draft with rugby’s current interest levels.


      I wonder what came first in america? I’m assuming it’s commercial aspect just built overtime and was a side effect essentially.


      But the idea is not without merit as a goal. The first step towards being able to implement a draft being be creating it’s source of draftees. Where would you have the players come from? NFL uses college, and players of an age around 22 are generally able to step straight into the NFL. Baseball uses School and kids (obviously nowhere near pro level being 3/4 years younger) are sent to minor league clubs for a few years, the equivalent of the Super Rugby academies. I don’t think the latter is possible legally, and probably the most unethical and pointless, so do we create a University scene that builds on and up from the School scene? There is a lot of merit in that and it would tie in much better with our future partners in Japan and America.


      Can we used the club scene and dispose of the Super Rugby academies? The benefit of this is that players have no association to their Super side, ie theyre not being drafted elshwere after spending time as a Blues or Chiefs player etc, it removes the negative of investing in a player just to benefit another club. The disadvantage of course is that now the players have nowhere near the quality of coaching and each countries U20s results will suffer (supposedly).


      Or are we just doing something really dirty and making a rule that the only players under the age of 22 (that can sign a pro contract..) that a Super side can contract are those that come from the draft? Any player wanting to upgrade from an academy to full contract has to opt into the draft?

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      Joy B 4 hours ago
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      When life gives you reasons to be sad, say No and Make the world know that you have more than a thousand reasons to smile. I almost gave up on my quest of finding a permanent cure to this nasty virus called HIV. I never thought i would be HIV negative again after been diagnosed in 2018, i have tried everything possible in life from one doctor to another, one hospital to another, series of tests, different kinds of medication, i had already lost hope until i melt Mara Clifton who kindly told me about DR ODIGIE who do cure difference virus by the preparation of herbs and roots. I searched about the DR online which leads me to different testimonies about the great herbal DR. I decided to make up my mind to give him a try, I contacted his email that was given in the post and I followed him with all seriousness and I did all he instructed me and he sent me a herbal medicine which i took for 14 days. After the 14th day dr ODIGIE told me to go for another test to confirm my new hiv status. To my greatest surprise, the disease that seemed incurable disappeared within 14 days of using his herbal remedy. I am writing this here in order to put you in the know that there is a cure for this virus. It is time to stop believing in the medical doctors who say to us there is no cure for Cancer, Herpes, Hiv and many more viruses. I just want you to know that if you are going through any health challenge, contact this man and follow his instructions diligently and have a disease free life. his email is (drodigiehealthcure@gmail.com) safe your life today because healthy health is wealth and a good health worth more than wealth famous, so please get back your health by getting in touch with DR ODIGIE kindly get him contacted by emailing him or call/Whatsapp on (+2347049458624

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