Sharks hold out hope for Du Toit

The Sharks were on Monday holding onto the slim hope that Springbok lock Pieter-Steph du Toit is not another World Cup casualty.

Du Toit damaged knee ligaments late in the first half of the Sharks' 27-10 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein at the weekend.

Initial reports suggested that the 22-year-old will not play again in 2015 - ruling him out of the World Cup in England in September and October.

The Boks are also desperately clinging to the hope that captain Jean de Villiers will recover from his knee surgery, the result of a gruesome injury against Wales in November, in time for the global showpiece.

The Sharks, despite the initial suggestions that it is the same injury that sidelined Du Toit for most of 2014, were holding out some hope that the player could return in time for the World Cup.

"He is seeing the specialist who operated on the same knee previously, in Cape Town today [Monday]," Sharks team doctor Alan Kourie said.

"We are hoping that it is not a re-rupture of his ACL and a confirmed diagnosis will be made after seeing the specialist.

"We as the Sharks family - and I'm sure South Africans at large - are hoping that his injury is not as bad as originally feared," Kourie added.

Assistant coach Sean Everitt shared the Doctor's sentiment in wishing the promising youngster the best, he also went on to highlight what a loss Du Toit would be.

On the flipside there is the good news that fellow lock Etienne Oosthuizen has resumed training on Monday.

However, a number of other players remain sidelined with injuries.

Willem Alberts (hamstring strain) has about another two to three weeks before he returns.

Lubabalo Mtembu, a late withdrawal from the matchday squad at the weekend, is struggling with cartilage damage in the knee. He is seeing a specialist on Monday to determine treatment plan in conjunction with the Sharks medical team.

The recovery of Stephan Lewies, who underwent knee and shoulder surgery,  is on track. He is still out for approximately four weeks.

Paul Jordaan's recovery is also progressing well.

"There were plenty of positives for us to take away from the Cheetahs match," Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold said.

"The team will definitely be looking to build on that momentum going in to the clash against the Chiefs [this coming Saturday].

"They are a champion side who are on a winning streak and we are under no illusions about the enormity of the challenge that lies ahead on Saturday."

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