Sharks Currie Cup title defence suffers as Charl McLeod ruled out of tournament – Rugby News
South African provincial Rugby Union side, Natal Sharks, and their 2011 ABSA Currie Cup tournament chances suffered a major blow as their talented scrum half, Charl McLeod, is ruled out of the ongoing tournament because of injury. Officials at the club have
confirmed the sidelining of McLeod due to a hip injury in a statement released on their website on Tuesday, October 4.
Mcleod sustained a serious injury to his hip in Sharks last weekend encounter against the Western Province at Kings Park, Durban. A detail diagnosis later has revealed a fracture in the hip, which has ruled him out of the rest of the tournament.
Sharks are the defending Currie Cup champions and currently are placed in second position on the tables. They have won 8 of their 12 matches played in the tournament so far and have scored 38 points. However, they are closely trailed by a few points’ difference
by the top five teams of the tournament.
Sharks head coach, John Plumtree has expressed his concern on injury to his star scrum half player, McLeod. He termed McLeod’s injury as a big blow for the team and added, “It's bad news to lose Charl, he has those special abilities, especially with his
leadership and his experience.”
Sharks have depleted resources for the tournament courtesy of injuries and non-availability of several of Sharks players because of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The injured players include the likes of Ryan Kankowski and Craig Burden who are suffering from
finger and shoulder injuries respectively.
Plumtree has strongly opposed the speculated shift of Sharks French fly half, Frederic Michalak, to the scrum half position as a replacement for injured McLeod. Instead, he has expressed his confidence on his backup scrum half resources comprising of Conrad
Hoffmann and Ross Cronje.
Plumtree said, “I'm not unhappy with our other two nines, Ross didn't have a great day the last time he ran out and Conrad has had a lot of opportunity there this year and injured again, We'll have to show faith in them and probably keep them going for the
rest of the campaign.”
Sharks will play their last match of the Currie Cup against the Platinum Leopards. They will try to register a bonus point win over Leopards to strengthen their position on the points table.
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