Massive blow as Sharks boss provides update on Etzebeth

SPOTLIGHT: Director of Rugby Neil Powell confirmed that Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will not play again for the Sharks this season.

Etzebeth suffered a shoulder injury in his team's 50-35 win over Munster in a Champions Cup Round of 16 clash and he is set to be on the sidelines for the next few months.

"In terms of how long he will be out, I think it is quite a long time," said Powell.

"I'm not 100 percent sure, but it will be probably between 12 and 14 weeks.

"I don't think he will play for us again this season, but he will definitely be ready for the World Cup."

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With Etzebeth out, the Sharks have lost some physicality in their pack at a crucial stage in the season.

"To lose someone like Eben is a massive blow. He is obviously a big part of our pack and the physicality that we have in that pack," Powell added.

"To lose him now before the quarterfinal [against Toulouse] is a bit of a blow, but it is an opportunity for the next guy to come in and to show what they are capable of.

"I think the unfortunate thing about losing Eben is the fact that we also lost Emile van Heerden in that [Munster] game, so it is two locks that we lost in one game.

"We would have loved to keep that consistency in team selection and try to take a bit of momentum into this [Toulouse] game, but unfortunately we were forced to make the changes."

Emile van Heerden is set to be out of action for the next "few weeks' after suffering a shoulder injury.

Earlier this week the Sharks revealed the Bok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse will be out of action for approximately 10 weeks with his shoulder injury.

@rugby365com