Sharks thrash Russians again

SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON REPORT: For the second successive week the Sharks demolished the Russian national team.

A very young and inexperienced Sharks selection recorded a 45-21 win over Russia at Kingspark, Durban, on Friday.

This follows last week's 64-14 win by the Sharks over the Russians.

The Sharks'first-choice selection will face the Stormers in the early match in the Super Sunday double-header in Soweto.

In a close first half in Durban on Friday, the Sharks XV held a narrow 19-14 lead over Russia a much-improved.

In the second half, the home team cut loose and ran away with the game.

Scorers

For the Sharks XV:

Tries: Mapantsela 2, Chait, Malan, Williams, Abrahams, Falconer

Cons: Chait 5

For Russian:

Not available

Teams:

Sharks XV: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Mtungwa Mapantsela, 13 DJ Falconer, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Ayanda Kunene, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), 7 Celimpilo Gumede, 6 Evan Roos, 5 Jordan Sesink-Clee, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Juan Schoeman.

Replacements – from: Cullen van der Merwe, Bandisa Ndlovu, Michael Kumbirai, Jandre Labuschagne, Andisa Ntsila, Kwanda Dimaza, Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Le Roux Malan, Rynhardt Jonker, Lwandile Menze.

Russia: 15 Vasily Artemyev (captain), 14 Daniil Potikhanov, 13 German Davydov, 12 Kirill Golosnitsky, 11 Khetag Dzobelov, 10 Yuri Kushnarev, 9 Vasily Dorofeev, 8 Victor Gresev, 7 Nikita Vavilin, 6 Anton Sychev, 5 Egor Zykov, 4 Bogdan Fedotko, 3 Vladimir Podrezov, 2 Evgeny Matveev, 1 Andrey Polivalov.

Replacements: Not confirmed

Referee: Divan Uys

Picture credits: Howard Cleland