Broken Brown out for the season?
Monday May 01 2006
'We're a bit like the walking wounded'
The Sharks are likely to play the remainder of their Super 14 fixtures - against the Stormers and Force - without the services of the main catalyst of their successful season, former All Black fly-half Tony Brown.
It has emerged at the weekend that Brown had apparently suffered fractures in both his hands late in the first half of the team's 34-27 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.
While the full extent of the damage is still to be confirmed, the initial prognoses suggested fractures sustained during a defensive effort.
"Tony's a tough player, and after receiving attention, he asked if he could go back onto the field in the second half," Sharks coach Dick Muir said. "I asked him how he intended catching the ball with two broken hands! That's the character of the man.
"We have a versatile side and I feel prepared for the eventuality of injuries, but it would be a great loss if he's out," admitted Muir.
Muir praised fullback Percy Montgomery who shifted to fly-half, with Brent Russell coming in at fullback, both players playing significant roles in the second half comeback - with the Sharks turning a 27-3 half-time deficit into the 34-27 full-time score, a second-half scoreline of 24-7..
"Percy [Montgomery] did some wonderful things at fly-half, doing exactly what was asked of him; he was solid in defence as well."
Brown is not the only injury concern for the Sharks.
Springbok and Sharks captain John Smit took a knock to the shoulder.
"We're a bit like the walking wounded," he described his team after the huge battle with the Bulls.
"That's the nature of the competition and we do have the depth though. Our policy has been to grow depth and give opportunities, so the injuries may afford us this opportunity."
Another of the walking wounded was prop BJ Botha. He was sporting a black eye and nasty cut below it.
Muir suggested that the injury was the result of a punch, but the citing officer has decided not to take the matter further.
"BJ took a nasty cut from a punch in a scrum," confirmed Muir. "Even if it is the nature of derby matches to be physical, punching is not on."
Muir also gave credit to the Bulls for their win.
"Hats off to them, they had possession and did well with it. But all credit to our guys - how they came back in the second half. We played the first 35 minutes without the ball; whether it was due to nervous pressure or Bulls' pressure.
"But you have to bounce back. In the first half we went backwards, but in the second we turned it around. What for me was so disappointing was how the Bulls out-muscled us in that first half.
"I thought there was some composure shown, but we wanted to carry the ball and weren't able to; their defence was outstanding and they tackled us backwards.
"What is exciting about this team is that we can score a few tries in 15, 20 minutes. The guys showed lots of character. In the middle of the second half, that try of theirs took the wind out of our sails a bit, but I was happy with the way we came back."
Asked 'where to from now', he said that the Sharks would "play as we have approached all games - we have a process."
The next match is against the Stormers on Saturday. Having beaten the Crusaders on Saturday, they will have their tales up, and with plenty to prove to what has been vocal criticism of their form, another high intensity derby awaits the Sharks.
"The Stormers have a lot to show still," said Muir, "and we are expecting a physical encounter. We will be cautious in our approach."
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