Injury Nightmare For Pietersen: Etzebeth And Moyo Suffer Major Blows

Flyhalf Vusi Moyo and lock Eben Etzebeth are facing an uncertain spell on the sidelines after both were forced off in the first half as the Sharks suffered a double injury blow in their defeat to the Stormers at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

Attention has now turned to the Sharks’ injury list as they assess the damage from a bruising afternoon in Cape Town.

Moyo, who was playing at fly-half, is suspected of having dislocated his shoulder, while Etzebeth appeared to have sustained an injury to his knee or upper leg. Sharks head coach JP Pietersen admitted that he was unsure about the full extent of either injury.

“I think Vusi dislocated his shoulder. Eben had an issue with his knee or upper leg, although I’m not too sure. It looks like a bruise and does look painful. He could not run, so we had to substitute him,” Pietersen explained.

The timing of the injuries proved particularly costly for the Sharks, with the contest still finely poised when both players left the field.

“The game was still in the balance at the time we lost Vusi and Eben,” Pietersen said.

“We lost momentum by losing two key players, with Vusi at No. 10 and Eben among the forwards.”

Moyo’s departure disrupted the Sharks’ options at fly-half, while Etzebeth’s absence weakened their forward pack at a crucial stage of the match.

The Stormers subsequently capitalised on the shift in momentum, leaving the Sharks with an uphill battle as they struggled to contain their opponents.

The full extent of the injuries remains unclear, with further assessments needed to determine the players’ availability for the Sharks’ upcoming fixtures.

The Sharks will now turn their attention to Europe as they prepare for their opening EPCR Challenge Cup fixture of the season against Lyon at the Stade de Gerland in France.