VIDEO: Sharks bounce back against Pumas

SUPER RUGBY UNLOCKED: The Sharks bounced back from their defeat to the Bulls last week when they hammered the Pumas 42-19 in Nelspruit on Saturday.

The team from Durban scored six tries on their way to victory with flyhalf Curwin Bosch adding 12 points to the tally with his six successful conversions.

It was a fantastic start for the visitors after Manie Libbok ran in for the game's first try in the second minute after several phases inside the Pumas' half.

The Sharks were in again in the 13th minute when wing Madosh Tambwe sprinted 55 metres to the Pumas' tryline after a poor kick and some poor defending from the home side.

The Pumas had an opportunity to put some points on the board in the 16th minute, but flyhalf Theo Boshoff pushed his penalty kick wide.

Things then got worse from the home side when the Sharks scored their third try when hooker Dan Jooste found his way to the Pumas' tryline off a powerful driving maul.

The home side finally got their first points in the 27th minute after Francois Kleinhans powered his way over for a try after a line-out deep inside the Sharks' 22. Boshoff was successful with the conversion.

However, the Sharks had the final say in the half when a long pass from Curwin Bosch in the Pumas' 22 sent the ball to Sibusiso Nkosi who ran in for his team's fourth try.

At half-time, it was 28-7 to the Sharks.

The Pumas were the first to score in the second half when the ball went wide from a scrum and after some good interplay, it was Erich Cronje who ran in for his team's second try. Boshoff added the extra two points with the conversion.

Things then got nervy for the Sharks after scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba was yellow-carded in the 64th minute for repeated infringements.

Despite being a man down, the Sharks were the next to score when Kerron van Vuuren crossed the tryline in the 67th after another powerful driving maul by the visitors.

The Pumas hit back in the 72nd minute when Cronje scored his second try of the match before the Sharks wrapped up the scoring in the 78th minute when Van Vuuren scored his second try off another maul.

Man of the match: Jeandre Rudolph was outstanding for the home side, especially at the breakdowns. However, the award goes to Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch, who had a good all-round game, especially on attack. He also contributed 12 points with the boot.

The scorers:

For Pumas:

Try: Kleinhans, Cronje 2

Con: Boshoff 2

For Sharks:

Tries: Libbok, Tambwe, Jooste, Nkosi, Van Vuuren 2

Cons: Bosch 6

Yellow card: Sanele Nohamba (Sharks, 64 - repeated infringements)

Teams:

Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Neil Maritz, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Theo Boshoff, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Darrien Landsberg, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 AJ Le Roux, 1 Liam Hendriks.

Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Brandon Valentyn, 19 Phumzile Maqondwana, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Niel Marais, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Dewald Maritz.

Sharks: 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché.

Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Yaw Penxe.

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Egon Seconds

TMO: Marius Jonker

Photo: Johan Orton Photography