Springboks enthral in sterling Sharks win
MATCH REPORT: The Sharks outmuscled Munster 41-24 in Round Six of the United Rugby Championship as their Springboks once again brought the goods in Durban on Saturday.
It was a lightning start for the Sharks. Grant Williams made a break down the middle and passed to Aphele Fassi, who finished in style in the 43rd second of the game.
Jordan Hendrikse converted and the Sharks were ahead 7-0 after two minutes of play.
Two minutes later Sharks wing Makazole Mapimpi crossed on the opposite side after the ball was spread wide quickly and Siya Kolisi handled twice superbly. The try was also converted by Hendrikse.
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Munster hit back immediately and advanced into the Sharks 22. They managed to drive over the try line, but it was kept up.
The Sharks stretched their lead to 17-0 after Hendrikse sent a penalty kick through the uprights.
Tom Ahern finally got Munster on the board after the Sharks lost the ball from a kick by Jack Crowley. The ball was picked up and Munster raced to the tryline with only Grant Williams chasing.
The diminutive scrumhalf hung onto the giant Ahern’s legs, but the Munster flank managed to stretch all of his 2.06 m to dot down.
Williams made up for the missed tackle by scoring a mere five minutes later, diving over under the poles.
With the game still just under 30 minutes old, the Sharks were leading 24-5.
Munster’s only attacking opportunities came from the Sharks’ unforced errors, not kicking out or knocking the ball and that is how fullback Mike Haley scored.
It came from a fumble by Hendrikse which allowed them back into the game. Luckily for the Sharks Crowley forgot to pack his kicking boots and missed his second attempt at goal.
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Referee Hollie Davidson penalised Munster for not rolling away, and the Sharks opted to kick for touch.
Munster stood strong against the maul, the ball went wide, and Munster cynically made the same mistake of not rolling away.
Captain Eben Etzebeth called for the scrum in front of the uprights, Kolisi controlled from behind, Williams passed to Andre Esterhuizen and the big centre smashed over to become the leading try scorer for the Sharks this season.
After some helter-skelter defence by the Sharks, the first half ended on a high for the home side.
Munster started the second half on the attack, advancing into the Sharks’ 22, and then won a penalty in front of the poles but they lost the ball.
The first points in the second half came thanks to the boot of Hendrikse to keep the scoreboard rolling.
Munster hammered away close to the opposition try line, but then James Venter got a yellow after a few warnings in the danger area for repeated infringements with his side still in a commanding 34-10 lead.
Eventually, the Irish managed to work their way over the try line but the TMO decision was that it was held up once again.
With 15 minutes to go, Vincent Tshituka got his name on the list of points scorers, storming down a kick and scoring the Sharks’ fifth try.
Munster got their third try with five minutes left as the space just opened up for Calvin Nash. Billy Burns converted, and Munster was trailing 17-41.
The men in red stepped up a gear to get a fourth bonus point try and threw everything at the Sharks in the last few minutes.
Eben Etzebeth found himself on the wrong side of the maul gifting Munster another chance to go for the bonus point five metres from the tryline.
Time was up on the clock and Munster got down in the trenches and captain Tadhg Beirne got over in amongst the bodies to land that vital bonus point.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Grant Williams was nippy and unpredictable, and he gave a complete performance, especially his work off the ball.
Scorers:
For Sharks:
Tries: Fassi, Mapimpi, Williams, Esterhuizen, Tshituka
Cons: Hendrikse 5
Pens: Hendrikse
For Munster:
Tries: Ahern, Haley, Nash, Beirne
Cons: Burns 2
Yellow card: James Venter (for the Sharks - repeat infringement, 53’)
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Francois Venter.
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Seán O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Ruadhán Quinn, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Alex Kendellen.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)