AUDIO: Revealed - the real cost of Sharks' shocker
Sharks coach John Plumtree put it in a nutshell when he said there was not much to be happy about, after his team’s 54-point loss to Bordeaux-Bègles on Sunday.
French flyer Damian Penaud scored six tries to help the Top 14 pace-setters secure the top ranking in the Champions Cup play-offs.
After a first-half hat-trick for Penaud, the wing dotted down another three times in the second half as Bordeaux completed a perfect pool stage with another bonus-point win (66-12) taking them to 20 points in total.
The Sharks started fast with two early tries from Siya Masuku and Hakeem Kunene, but Bordeaux put their foot down in style in the second half.
Maxime Lucu, Ugo Boniface and Yoram Moefana added the first three scores in the second period, before Penaud just kept going to secure a double hat-trick, and Jacques Nguimbous put the cherry on top.
The Sharks dropped down into fifth place and also relegated to the second-tier Challenge Cup.
Ulster claimed the final Pool One qualifying spot.
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The Sharks were already without the services of injured Springboks Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Eben Etzebeth, Jordan Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi and Vincent Koch.
Plumtree revealed that World Cup-winning prop Ox Nche, who came off the bench in the second half, was the latest addition to their sick bay.
However, he did not elaborate on the nature of the injury.
Young fullback Hakeem Kunene has also been added to the sick bay list, after he was yellow-carded for the high tackle that saw being replaced as a result of a head knock.
“It has been a tough week [with injuries],” Plumtree said about the late withdrawal of Eduan Keyter – which resulted in Bok Lukhanyo Am, initially listed as injured, starting in Bordeaux.
James Venter also returned home with an injury, further causing disruptions.
(LISTEN as Sharks coach John Plumtree reveals the latest additions to the team’s alarming injury list…..)
“Against such a good team [as the table-topping Bordeaux] it is always going to be a big challenge.
“Once Bordeaux got their confidence up we were chasing the game.
“Playing catch-up rugby against one of the best defensive teams in the game was always going to be a big ask.”
Plumtree said they now have to pick themselves up for the United Rugby Championship, which sees the Sharks travel to Cardiff for a Round 10 encounter.
“We are disappointed that we are no longer in Europe [Champions Cup],” he said, adding: “We have a URC game next week and we have to get organised in Cardiff and see what we can do there.”
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