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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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    JW 4 hours ago
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    Agree re Lynagh.


    Disagree Beaver got it wrong. Blues made that look easy. It might be a brawn over brains picture though? More in the last point, but, and this may have changed by player selection, the Reds were very lucky this game. Tele’a should not have been red carded as Ryan landed on his shoulder, and both Tate and Jock (was it) should have been yellowed carded for their offenses in stopping tries. We also had a try dissallowed by going back 10 phases in play. We all should have learned after the RWC that that is against the rules. So straight away on this simple decisions alone the result changes to go in the Blues favour, away from home and playing fairly poorly. The sleeping giant if you will. I didn’t agree with the Blues take either tbh, but to flip it around and say it’s the Reds instead is completely inaccurate (though a good side no doubt you have to give them a chance).


    And you’re also riding the wave of defense wins matches a bit much. Aside from Dre’s tackling on Rieko I didn’t see anything in that match other than a bit of tiny goal line defending. I think if you role on the tap for another second you see the ball put placed for the try (not that I jump to agree with Eklund purely because he was adamant), and in general those just get scored more often than not. They are doing something good though stopping line breaks even if it is the Blues (and who also got over the line half a dozen times), I did not expect to be greeted with that stat looking at the game.

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