Sharks' Phepsi Buthelezi (R) sis tackled by Bulls’ Ruan Vermaak (L) during the United Rugby Championship (URC) match between South African teams The Bulls from Pretoria and The Sharks from Durban at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on October 30, 2022. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
The Sharks lost 36-30 to Connacht in Galway in their opening fixture of the new URC season but it would have left coach John Plumtree unsure whether to laugh or cry.
I think it would have been more of the latter because his team led 27-7 at half time only to concede 29 points without replay in the second half before flyhalf Siya Masuku nailed a pressure kick after the hooter had gone to rescue a point.
It is difficult to fathom how a Sharks team that had dominated the Irishmen in the first half was rendered toothless in the second.
They had gone down early to a home try but then produced 27 points without reply against a team that almost beat giants Leinster last week away from home.
The Sharks were sitting pretty with that 20-point lead but could not capitalise on it and Plumtree will be furious that a golden opportunity to start a three-week overseas tour on a successful note has been squandered.
The Durbanites play the Dragons in Wales this week and conclude their tour against Italian side Benetton.
Connacht began the game strongly with a maul a try in the third minute.
The Sharks bounced back with two sledgehammer efforts by burly centre Andre Esterhuizen.
Jordan Hendrikse reprised his effort in the Currie Cup final with a monster effort to push the Sharks into a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and added to it with a giant 60m effort at the dawn of halftime.
At 27-7 at the break, the Sharks should have been over the hills and far away.
But the second half was one-way traffic in favour of the home team and it was Masuku’s excellent effort that salvaged a bonus point when at least four should have been banked.
Scorers
Sharks — Tries: Gerbrandt Grobler, Andre Esterhuizen (2). Conversions: Siya Masukeu (2). Penalties: Jordan Hendrike (3), Siya Masuku.
Connacht — Tries: Dave Heffernan (2), Cathal Forde, Shane Jennings, Oisin Dowling. Conversions: Josh Ioane. (4). Penalty: Ioane.
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