The Sharks have been dealt a major blow as they attempt to get their United Rugby Championship campaign back on track after four straight defeats.

The Sharks are hoping to get their Rugby World Cup winning Springboks back into the mix next week, however, two players do have long-term injuries.

The hooker Bongi Mbonambi and the tighthead prop are both out with knee injuries and the prognosis doesn’t spell good news.

Mbonambi only played two minutes of the World Cup final against the All Blacks and the coach, John Plumtree, said his season may be over.

“The only real injuries we've got are Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch,” said Plumtree.

“Both of those guys have got knee injuries. Vincent is going to be back after three months, and Bongi has got a bit longer to go, it could be the rest of the season, unfortunately.

“The rest are all good to go and Eben Etzebeth is looking forward to it. It was really important that they didn’t get a phone call from me. They don’t want to hear from me yet, but next week they will be hearing from me.

“We will get them back into training and see where they are at, individually. I think that’s not just physically, but also emotionally. Coming back from a high like that winning the World Cup, it is going to be difficult.

“They will all be different -we will assess them and that will determine how we integrate them.”

On Saturday at 17:00 the Sharks tackle Connacht at Kings’ Park in Durban.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport