Eben Etzebeth on the mend Eben Etzebeth has not been available for the Sharks since suffering a concussion in a Champions Cup game against Exeter Chiefs in December. Photo: Gerhard Duraan, BackpagePix
Image: Gerhard Duraan, BackpagePix
There has been a lot of concern surrounding Eben Etzebeth and his health after almost three months on the sidelines.
The big Springboks lock sustained what now looks like a serious concussion playing for the Sharks against Exeter Chiefs in a Champions Cup match on December 7.
He was due to return to action against the Stormers in Cape Town in late December after finishing the return-to-play protocols. But after failing a final test, he was withdrawn.
He was also withdrawn from the Sharks’ side to take on Toulouse in a home Champions Cup match in January.
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At the start of February, the Sharks stated that Etzebeth’s concussion and returning symptoms were being treated as a serious matter, saying: “Eben is being managed by concussion specialists. He will be cleared to return once they are fully satisfied that his injury has been completely resolved.”
Three months out of the game is quite serious and there are fears from the fans that Etzebeth may not feature again this season as he tries to get healthy.
Over the years, serious concussions have cut short careers, with former Springboks flyhalf and fullback Pat Lambie forced to retire in his prime after he was concussed in a nasty rugby incident with South African-born Ireland No 8 CT Stander in a 2016 Test match.
However, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has revealed that Etzebeth should be back in action over the coming weeks, after the medical teams at the Sharks, Springboks and specialists erred on the side of caution when it came to Etzebeth.
That is good news for the Sharks, who are still chasing for titles this season, as well as the Springboks who have another big year ahead, including a date with the All Blacks at Eden Park in the Rugby Championship.
“When a guy is totally concussion free and he starts from a clean sheet again … that is what we always want. We will never bring a guy back too early if he doesn’t pass his concussion protocols,” Erasmus told the media in Cape Town on Wednesday.
“Eben is at that stage now where they say he is concussion free, where he doersn’t have any symptoms having gone through all the processes.
“According to what I have heard, he will be available for us. He is not yet ready to play, but he is close. They just want him to be concussion free. We see Eben playing for us this year.”
@JohnGoliath82