The injury to the Hollywoodbets Sharks player, Ethan Hooker, is like adding salt to the wound of this Durban team, which was already bleeding due to the result that ended its chances of being part of the United Rugby Championship (URC) playoffs that it received at the weekend.
This was said by the Sharks coach, JP Pietersen, telling the media following his team’s 21-17 loss to the Ospreys in Wales, away on Saturday.
The kneeling of the Sharks completely destroys their chances of advancing to the playoffs since the gap between them and the last team (the Vodacom Bulls will continue) is large with only a few games remaining (3).
It was clear in this game that the Sharks were unlucky as evidenced by the fact that they scored three tries like the Ospreys but lost to conversions. The truth is that this group from Durban, has done themselves a disservice.
Two tries for the Sharks were scored by Pepsi Buthelezi and one by Hooker, but the Bobokoboko player did not finish the game.
This was echoed by Pietersen’s speech to the media where he complained about Hooker’s mistakes and injuries.
“Once again, we did it ourselves in a game that was not so difficult that we couldn’t be beaten,” said Pietersen.
“The saddest thing is that Hooker was injured in an illegal way according to the rules of rugby, but those in charge of the game saw the need to protect him.
“A lot of what we had planned depended on Hooker who injured his shoulder and our problems started. We cannot avoid letting ourselves down by giving up the chances we got in the second half.
“Our habit of not pressurizing the opponents even when we have found them where we want them continued again. “We are trying to avoid these mistakes but they continue to appear in our recent games.
“There is nothing we can do but go back to the gym and see how we can correct the mistakes with the aim of turning the results in the upcoming games,” said Pietersen.
Hooker is just injured, adding to Eben Etzebeth, Aphelele Fassie, Bongi Mbonambi, Grant Williams and Jordan Hendrikse who will not be seen this season for the same reason.