The Sharks' powerful prop forward Tendai Mtawarira will miss Saturday’s Super Rugby quarter-final playoff clash at the ACT Brumbies in Canberra due to a knee injury.
Fellow Springbok Jean-Luc du Preez is also out injured, the Sharks said on Monday.
Mtawariwa, 33, with more than 100 international caps, had been named to play against the Stormers in Cape Town last Saturday but pulled out before kickoff with what the Sharks described as "knee niggle".
With an exciting quarter-final on the horizon, the @CellC Sharks will be performing with no half measures when they take on the @BrumbiesRugby in Australia. 🏉 #BRUvSHA #OurSharksForever🦈 pic.twitter.com/s8pFNmbIOI
— The Sharks (@TheSharksZA) June 18, 2019
The Sharks secured a last gasp 12-9 victory to reach the playoffs and face the Brumbies, who won the Australian conference, but the absence of powerful scrummager Mtawariwa is a setback to the South African team's chances.
Flyhalf Curwin Bosch, who also missed the Stormers game, is fit again and travelled with the team.
Sharks squad:
Backs: Louis Schreuder ( captain), Cameron Wright, Robert du Preez, Curwin Bosch, Makazole Mapimpi, Andre Esterhuizen, Jeremy Ward, Lukhanyo Am, Kobus van Wyk, S’bu Nkosi, Aphelele Fassi, Rhyno Smith.
Forwards: Juan Schoeman, Mzamo Majola, Kerron van Vuuren, Craig Burden, Cullen Collopy, Coenie Oosthuizen, Thomas du Toit, John-Hubert Meyer, Ruben van Heerden, Gideon Koegelenberg, Hyron Andrews, Daniel du Preez, Jacques Vermeulen, Tyler Paul, Luke Stringer.
Reuters