Sharks blow Hurricanes away

The Sharks did not mess around. From the start they got stuck in, fearlessly and hard. They were simply tougher than the Hurricanes and they won where it counted.

They were stronger in the scrums, won five Hurricanes' line-outs and lost none of their own, they were far stronger in the scrums, scoring a try from one, they won more turnovers and the penalty count was 12-7 in their favour.

The Sharks defence was strong and well organised till the bench emptied late in the match. But it was their determination to attack that showed the biggest change in their functioning. They were zealous in their search for tries - and they could have had a couple more.

Perhaps they will now be rewarded with a fuller Kings Park than they had for this match.

The Hurricanes kicked off  and attacked when TJ Perenara tapped the first penalty and raced away but they turned over possession and the Sharks broke out.

The Sharks thought they had scored a try when Tendai Mtawarira won a turnover just outside the Sharks' 22 and Garth April cut through the Hurricanes at speed. Over the Hurricanes' 10-metre line he sped and popped a pass to Paul Jordaan on his left. Jordaan ran a speedy arc to the posts but the TMO tipped the referee off that the pass from April to Jordaan had been forward, and so the 'try' became a scrum to the Hurricanes.

The Sharks were on the run again and Lwazi Mvovo chipped down towards the Hurricanes' line but after he had kicked James Marshall went out of his way to knock the flying Shark over. For this the Hurricanes were penalised and Marshall can consider himself lucky as it appeared to be as cynical an act as any deliberate knock-on. But April goaled the penalty and the Sharks led 3-0 after 15 minutes.

The Hurricanes attacked but the Sharks won a turnover. Back the visitors came with bashing phases but again the Sharks won a turnover. Then, when Jean-Luv du Preez was penalised, Beauden Barrett levelled the scores. 3-3 after 24 minutes.

The Hurricanes attacked again and the Sharks had their work cut out to stop Dane Coles as he darted for the line. The Hurricanes stayed attacking and, as they went left, Marshall passed inside to prop Reggie Goodes who surged over. 8-3 to the Hurricanes after 31 minutes.

Cory Jane had a strong run down the right wing but then Keegan Daniel came on an amazing, long run, starting from nothing just outside his 22. He cut through the middle of the Hurricanes and gave to Daniel du Preez and the next thing Stephan Lewies was stopped just short of the goal-line. The Sharks went left to Mvovo and then wide right to JP Pietersen who stepped  inside Julian Savea to score far out on the right. The conversion hit the upright and the half-time score was 8-all. It was the least the Sharks deserved.

The second half started well for the Sharks. Brad Shield, under pressure passed/dropped the ball to his left just inside the Sharks' half. Pietersen flykicked the ball downfield and raced after it, swooping to pick up the rolling ball and dive over for the try. April converted. 15-8 after 44 minutes.

Barrett left the field for a concussion test. Jason Woodward came on to fullback, Marshall moving to flyhalf.

Willie le Roux chipped ahead and chased. Jane was forced to carry over for a five-metre scrum. The Sharks dominated the scrum, the Hurricanes were penalised and Michael Claassens tapped and plunged over for a try which April converted. 22-8 after 52 minutes.

At this stage Patrick Lambie, appointed captain at the start of the season but long injured, replaced April and his first serious act was to kick the penalty when Marshall tackled Franco Marais high, 25-8 after 55 minutes.

Barrett came back, having passed his concussion test.

Coles had a run but again the Hurricanes lost the ball. Jordaan gave to Mvovo who raced down the left. He passed inside to Jordaan who had an empty field ahead of him but Ardie Savea behind him (and Lambie near him) and the flank caught the speedy centre from behind and then intercepted Jordaan's belated effort to get the ball to Lambie. It was a miracle of defence.

From a line-out the Sharks rushed a maul a long way downfield and bashed. The Hurricanes were penalised but the Sharks opted to scrum. From the scrum Lambie and then Jean-Luc du Preez were close. Another penalty and another scrum, and this time the Sharks really dominated, moving forward and wheeling slightly to the right. Daniel du Preez picked up and plunged over for the try, Lambie converting, 32-8 with 10 minutes to play and the Sharks with the bait of a bonus point  in front of them.

Instead the Hurricanes attacked with many quick phases till Marshall cut through and scored a try which Woodward converted. 32-15 with 6 minutes left.

In that time the Sharks again had two scrums from which they attacked with André Esterhuizen and then Chiliboy Ralepelle getting close.

It was a good win for the Sharks, especially in the context of the thrashing the Hurricanes gave the Lions last week.

Man of the Match: Sharks are candidates - Willie le Roux, Michael Claassens and Stephan Lewies  but our choice is a trinity of loose forwards - Keagan Daniel and the Du Preez twins, Jean-Luc and Daniel.

Scorers:

For the Sharks:

Tries: Pietersen 2, Claassens, D du Preez

Cons: April 2, Lambie

Pens: April, Lambie

For the Hurricanes:

Tries: Goodes, Marshall

Con: Woodward

Pen: Barrett

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Garth April, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Tendai Mtawarira (captain).

Replacements: 16 Mahlatse Ralepelle, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jean Deysel, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Patrick Lambie, 23 Odwa Ndungane.

Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reg Goodes.

Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Willis Halaholo, 23 Jason Woodward.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Rodney  Bonaparte (South Africa)

TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)