Sharks flex muscles in dominant Clermont take-down

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks recorded their best win of the season as they demolished Clermont 50-12 in Durban on Saturday.

After a shaky first half, the homeside settled into its groove in the next 40. Their defence and physicality were better than in their previous encounters.

The Sharks got down to business from the outset, winning a penalty and finding touch. The lineout drive got them into the 22 of Clermont, after which Aphele Fassie scored as he followed up a high kick by Jaden Hendrikse.

The Sharks cleared after their lineout, but the referee stopped play moments after following an aerial hit. The match official reviewed with the TMO and decided the hit on Yaw Penxe by Yerrim Fall was a red-card offence. He was sent to the bin for 20 minutes.

Clermont persisted with their attack and was rewarded when Joris Jurand followed up a pinpoint precision high kick and managed to dot down. The conversion is pulled, and the French trail by 5-7.

The Sharks drew blood again when scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse sniped around the driving maul from a lineout to grab their second five-pointer, converted by brother Jordan. Give him an inch, and he will give one a try.

But Clermont did well to contest the Sharks at every turn, despite being a man down. They pressured the hosts once more to advance up to the five metres, but they couldn’t capitalise.

On the half-hour mark, the exciting Sharks centre Jurenzo Julius made a beautiful break, which had the visitors scrambling. He got the offload away, and Hendrikste hoisted it into the air, secured by Clermont’s fullback.

A loose ball caught the Sharks off-guard, and Kylan Hamdaoui raced through to score under the posts. The conversion made it a two-point game.

The hosts got right back into attack mode, managed to cross the advantage line, Hanro Jacobs got over, but was held up.

Jason Jenkin then had a go, but lost the ball over the tryline.

There were mistakes aplenty on both sides, more so on the Sharks’ side. The halftime hooter gave them a brief respite to regroup.

The Sharks got back into the thick of things as the second half got underway, and made Clermont work hard in defence.

They camped out on Clermont’s porch, and their forwards knocked on the door multiple times.

A yellow to Clermont reduced their numbers, and replacement prop Vincent Koch barged his way over. Hendrikse added the extras to stretch their lead to 21-12.

And then it was devilish speed by PK Sobahle to get his first try in the Champions Cup after he raced down the touchline and secured the Sharks’ bonuspoint try.

With 20 minutes, it was uncontested scrums as both of Clermont’s hookers were injured, which would level the playing field.

More cynical play by Clermont saw No.9 sent to the sinbin, creating more attacking opportunities for the Sharks, which immediately drove forward in fervour.

Then Fassi tapped and went and scored his second try in the game, they opened up the gap to lead by 35-12.

Excellent support play by the Sharks ended with Siya Masuku’s grounding try number six, after Emmanuel Tshituka carried strongly.

A good performance by the Sharks was capped by a gem of a try by Phepsi Buthelezi in the 79th minute.

This was followed up by an impeccable try by Julius to clinch the match by 50-12, and move into third spot in their pool

Man of the Match: Matt Romao for his hard work to create opportunities for his team to score eight tries.

The scorers:

For Sharks:
Tries: Fassi 2, Ja Hendrikse, Koch, PK Sobahle, Masuku, Buthelezi, Julius
Cons: Jo Hendrikse 4,

For Clermont:
Tries: Jurand, Hamdaoui
Cons: Zamora

Yellow cards: Matheo Frisach (Clermont – 44’ for repeated infringements); Lucas Zamora (Clermont – for offside 62’)

Red card (20 min): Yerrim Fall (Clermont – 7’ for dangerous collision in the air)

Teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 PK Sobahle, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Hakeem Kunene

Clermont Auvergne: 15 Kylan Hamdaoui, 14 Yerim Fall, 13 Timeo Frier, 12 Alifereti Loaloa, 11 Joris Jurand, 10 Irae Simone, 9 Lucas Zamora, 8 Anthime Hemery, 7 Lucas Dessaigne, 6 Killian Tixeront (captain), 5 Leo Michaux Vargas, 4 Thibaud Lanen, 3 Cristian Ojovan, 2 Etienne Fourcade, 1 Matheo Frisach
Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam, 17 Giga Tutisani, 18 Giorgi Dzmanashvili, 19 Baptiste Veschambre, 20 Pio Muarua, 21 Niek Doornenbal, 22 Tom Raffy, 23 Axel Guillaud

Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England), Richard Gordon (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)