Pumas upstage Sharks in Nelspruit

The home team raced into a 27-7 half-time lead, after catching the visitors cold with the high pace of their game.

Having been dominated at the collisions, with the Pumas also superior in the set pieces and the breakdowns, the Sharks awoke in the second half to close the gap to 24-30 – with less than 10 minutes to go.

However, Juan-Claude Roos' deadly boot sealed the game in 79th minute with a long-rage penalty.

Roos, who produced a flawless kicking performance that included a 58-metre penalty, slotted four penalties and three conversions.

The visitors were found wanting in all facets of the match during the first 40 minutes – as the Pumas turned ball over at will, winning the breakdowns and stealing line-outs with ease.

Lock Marius Coetzer certainly proved to be a massive first-half thorn in the Sharks' side.

But the introduction of Springbok scrumhalf Michael Claassens in the second half sparked the visitors into life, as they reduced the deficit to just six points before a penalty in the final minute by Roos sealed the four points and denied the Sharks a losing bonus point.

The Vodacom Cup champions, the Pumas, opened the scoring through their captain and centre Watermeyer, who collected a wonderful offload from his centre partner Jerome Pretorius, to score under the poles after Coetzer had stolen the first line-out of the match.

Two penalties from Roos gave the home side a 13-point advantage before the Sharks opened their account.

A strong and powerful run from flank Khaya Majola opened up some space for Cronje to collect from a perfect off-load in the tackle to score under the sticks. Former Stormers and Cheetahs utility back, Joe Pietersen converted to give the Sharks belief.

But that belief was to be short-lived as livewire scrumhalf Francois de Klerk, who had been a busy-bee behind the Pumas pack, timed a pass to perfection to Schoeman who darted through the Sharks' defence to score the first of his tries.

The Sharks were then penalised shortly before half-time and the Pumas kicked to touch. The rolling maul was used with power and precision as the home team mauled their way to the tryline with Schoeman controlling the ball at the back to fall over the line.

But the second stanza was all about the Sharks' comeback and the desperate defence of the Pumas.

The visitors were on the board within a minute of the restart, as a fumble from the kick-off put the Sharks straight onto the attack. The ball was recycled and fed to centre Heimar Williams who stepped inside to score under the poles.

Roos slotted his third penalty of the match to extend the Pumas' lead to 16 points, but the constant pressure from the Sharks paid dividends as the visitors earned a free-kick from a five-metre scrum. The forwards took a quick-tap, drove towards the line and then recycled it to debutant flank Daniel du Preez, who barged over the line to bring the visitors within six points of their hosts as Pietersen converted.

But the home side held out to notch up another victory over the men from Durban after winning the corresponding victory last season.

Man of the match:  Joe Pietersen was a rock for the Sharks at fullback, Wandile Mjekevu had his moments, Andre Esterhuizen had a few good runs, Philip van der Walt worked hard, Daniel du Preez made a huge impact off the bench, Khaya Majola was a workhorse and Marco Wentzel the diesel engine that got them going in the second half. Stefan Watermeyer showed why he was named captain, with a composed performance, Rosco Spekman had a couple of good runs, Francois de Klerk showed why he is on the Springbok team's fringes, Lambert Groenewald was powerful, Uzair Cassiem injecting himself into the game in a massive way, Lubabalo Mtyanda showing why he has become a giant of the domestic game. Juan-Claude Roos, with his assured goal-kicking, certainly was one of the front-runners. However, Pumas flank Marnus Schoeman gets it for his energetic and never-say-die performance, which got the Pumas back on the front foot in the final 10 minutes when it seems the Sharks would snatch a late victory.

The scorers:

For the Pumas:

Tries: Watermeyer, Schoeman 2

Cons: Roos 3

Pens: Roos 4

For the Sharks:

Tries: Cronje, Williams, D du Preez

Cons: Pietersen 3

Pen: Pietersen

Teams:

Pumas: 15 John-Wessel Bell, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer (captain), 11 Rosco Spekman, 10 Juan-Claude Roos, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Lambert Groenewald, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 De-Jay Terblanché, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Khwezi Mona.

Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Jason-Colin Fraser, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz.

Sharks: 15 Joe Pietersen , 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Wandile Mjekevu, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Andre Esterhuizen, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Marco Wentzel (Captain), 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Dale Chadwick.

Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Dave McDuling , 19 Daniel du Preez , 20 Francois Kleinhans, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 SP Marais.

Referee: Jaco van Heerden

Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Renier Vermeulen

TMO: Johan Greeff