Publications
Partners
Durban - Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen will likely miss the Sharks’ entire Super Rugby campaign, coach Robert du Preez has revealed.
Oosthuizen tore knee ligaments in the Boks' end-of-year Test against Ireland last November.
“We try monitor all the individual players. Coenie Oosthuizen is going to have been out for about nine months when he returns from injury, which means he’ll probably miss the Super Rugby (season) at this stage,” Du Preez told the Sharks’ official website.
Du Preez also confirmed that loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez is expected to only return for the Sharks' tour of Australia and New Zealand in March.
The coach's son suffered a serious injury in last year's Currie Cup final loss to Western Province at Kings Park.
“Jean-Luc du Preez had an op on his ankle and conservative estimates are that he’ll be back for the trip to Australia and New Zealand,” the Sharks coach added.
Regarding the availability of others, Du Preez said: “We have also monitored the guys who came back from Japan; Stephan Lewies has a hip pointer injury but he’s looking in the best shape he’s ever been in. Lwazi Mvovo and Philip van der Walt will join us next Monday. Andre Esterhuizen is playing a promotion-relegation match so he will be back later. New signing, Makazole Mapimpi joins us from the Cheetahs on Monday.”
The Sharks open their Super Rugby campaign against the Lions in Johannesburg on February 17, while their overseas tour will kick off with a clash against the Brumbies in Canberra on March 17.
