DURBAN – The Sharks, and Pat Lambie himself, will be devastated by the news that the flyhalf will be out of action for six to eight weeks with a fractured vertebrae.
The captain came off early in the match against the Waratahs with an injury, with the bad news being confirmed by Sharks doctor Alan Kourie on Monday.
“It is difficult to say exactly how long the approximate length of recovery will be in Pat’s case, as he undergoes further scans today, but his return is estimated at six to eight weeks,” Kourie said.
Lambie is not only the Sharks captain, but also a key figure in the team and especially in the backline. This is Lambie’s fourth consecutive season with a major injury, having sat at out most of last year with a major concussion sustained during the Springboks v Ireland clash.
For backs coach Sean Everitt it is something he admits he has grown ‘accustomed’ to.
“The team is disappointed for him as an individual. Pat has had some bad luck over the years, and this is the fourth year that he has to deal with it. But it is something we have become accustomed to over the years, well, certainly myself!” Everitt quipped. “We have been aware that if he gets injured, or not, he can’t play all the games because of his Bok contract, so we do have a backup plan. “We have good youngsters in Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Inny Radebe, as well as Garth April.”
While Lambie is a major blow, he is not the only one.
The Sharks will also have to do without flanker Philip van der Walt who suffered an undisplaced fractured cheekbone. He will not be available this week, but will be reassessed next week.
Regular hooker Franco Marais is also in doubt, with scans still to be done to determine the extent of his availability for the upcoming Kings match. Another casualty from the Waratahs match was French fullback Clement Poitrenaud who has a groin issue, another injury that will be assessed in the coming days.
The Sharks have indicated that with the Kings up next at home on Saturday, and the run of games they have had to begin things with, they will be resting a few other key players for the upcoming fixture.
It is likely that Super Rugby debutantes Benhard Janse van Rensburg and wing Sbu Nkosi, as well as others, could make it to the starting line-up against the Kings.