Springboks Suffer Double Injury Setback Ahead of Upcoming Tests Against Italy and France

• Sharks suffered a 39-22 URC defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, ending their unbeaten start to the season
• Springboks stars Eben Etzebeth and Vusi Moyo were both forced off early, with a knee complaint and a dislocated shoulder, respectively
• The news about the injuries comes as a disturbing one for Rassie Erasmus as Springboks prepare to face Italy and France next month

Sharks head coach JP Pietersen is monitoring the fitness of lock Eben Etzebeth and flyhalf Vusi Moyo following their 39-22 URC defeat to the Stormers at the weekend, with both players forced from the field during Saturday's coastal derby.

Moyo left the match in the 18th minute with what Pietersen believes is a dislocated shoulder, while Etzebeth followed him to the sideline in the 36th minute with a suspected knee injury.

Erasmus sweating over Boks star's fitness

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus will be sweating over the availability of Etzebeth and Moyo ahead of their mouthwatering clashes against Italy and France in November.

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Eben's knee issue is back, and his coach Pietersen confirmed it is painful and he couldn't run.

"Vusi, I think, dislocated his shoulder, and he tried to fight it out," Pietersen said.

"I think Eben had something with his knee. I'm not too sure, but it looks painful. I think maybe it's a bruise on his knee. I'm not a doctor, but he's in pain. He couldn't run, so we had to make the substitution."

**Injuries and Yellow Cards Prove Costly**

The Sharks arrived in Cape Town unbeaten after bonus-point home victories against the Ospreys and Leinster in the first two rounds of the competition. With the scoreboard level at 8-8 when both key players departed, Pietersen acknowledged the timing of the setbacks proved damaging.

A scrum penalty conceded shortly after gave the Stormers a lineout opportunity near the try line, which they converted. Flankers Matt Romao and Manu Tshituka then both received yellow cards in the first half, leaving the Sharks defending with 13 men against a well-organised home side.

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"Losing momentum with two key guys — your 10 is the main playmaker, and then Eben obviously with the forwards — and then to get two yellow cards against a really good team, defending with 13 men is going to be a tough ask," Pietersen said.

The Stormers, seeking revenge for two defeats to the Sharks last season, led 22-8 at the interval and were never seriously threatened after the break, ultimately outscoring their opponents six tries to three.

**Pietersen Finds Positives Despite Heavy Defeat**

Despite the result, Pietersen drew encouragement from his side's ability to finish when they did break into the opposition's 22, and credited the impact of the replacements who came on during the final 30 minutes.

"The Stormers played very well. Everything worked for them," he said. "For us to stay in the fight, every time we got into the 22, we scored. That's a positive thing we can take away. Defensively, it's something we need to work on, but [a positive was] the fight from the bench that came on for the last 30 minutes."

Source: Briefly News