The Sharks’ hard-fought 36-21 United Rugby Championship victory over Cardiff on Friday night came at a heavy price after captain Andre Esterhuizen was forced off the field during the early stages of the match.

Esterhuizen landed awkwardly on his ankle during an aerial duel from the opening kick off, with the injury reigniting the intense debate surrounding player safety on artificial 4G surfaces.

The utility player – who has become one of the most effective members of the Springboks’ ‘bomb squad’ – limped off to join a growing injury list, while leaving Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus sweating over his availability for the upcoming November internationals.

Sharks star Andre Esterhuizen likely to miss Springbok tour

After the match Esterhuizen could be seen in a moon boot, and all the early signs suggest he looks set to be sidelined for a lengthy period of time.

Just prior to the clash, Sharks lock Stephan Lewies voiced widespread player reluctance toward 4G pitches, citing high injury rates and the extra physical toll synthetic turf exacts on athletes.

Critics have long pointed to increased friction, joint stress, and non-contact lower-limb injuries as major risks of playing professional rugby on artificial grass.

Player safety in question

In recent seasons, Stormers director of rugby John Dobson also highlighted several issues related to playing on 4G surfaces.

“Whether it is at maul time or ball carrying, it took time to get used to how the surface affects momentum. It is an incredibly unforgiving surface,” Dobson previously commented.

“I would prefer them not to exist, quite frankly, from a player safety and lottery of the game perspective.

“If you are on grass and there is a contact then the foot almost skids back, but on a 4G if they get their studs in they can actually cannon forward off it because their studs are not going to give. It makes it almost impossible to defend in those situations. It is dangerous too, because your legs can twist. We have done injuries like that on that kind of surface.”