Sharks scrum rivals into submission

The Sharks will travel to Christchurch next week to meet the Crusaders in the Super Rugby semifinal.

They set up this trip with a thrilling 31-27 win over the Highlanders in their preliminary qualifier in Durban on Saturday.

Although the teams scored three tries each, it was the Sharks' superior scrum power that laid the platform for the win.

At least one try and a host of penalties came from the home team's ability to outmuscle the opposition in this set-piece.

While the Sharks were comfortable in making it a set-piece dominated game, in which territory counted for much, the Highlanders were willing to attack from deep inside their own half.

There were two important issues to take from the opening exchanges – the manner in which the Sharks got up on defence very quickly and their power in the scrums.

Their power plays were not restricted to the set pieces. At times they blew through the rucks to win turnover ball at the breakdown and when they got their maul going it was near unstoppable.

Not that the Highlanders didn't have chances, they just weren't clinical enough in the first quarter to make them count.

However, once the Highlanders got their game going they showed their true qualities – scoring fine first-half tries that displayed their full array of attacking skills.

Another big contributing factor was the ever-increasing error count of the home team.

But in the end the game was won up front by a Sharks pack determined to silence their critics.

After an impressive opening two minutes, in which the Sharks maintained possession through numerous phases, they were awarded a penalty near the right touchline. Frans Steyn made no mistake – 3-0.

It was a massive scrum by the Sharks that produced the next kickable penalty for the home team. Only this time they set a line-out five metres out and in no time at all they were over the line – with Marcell Coetzee getting the armchair ride to five points. DSteyn's conversion made it 10-0.

Jannie du Plessis thought he got his first Super Rugby try in more than 130 matches, but the TMO saw a knee on the ground before he propelled himself towards the line.

The Highlanders then enjoyed a period of territorial dominance, resulting a penalty – when Jannie du Plessis went offside – with Lima Sopoaga getting the three points to open the Highlanders' account.

However, almost from the restart the Sharks got another rolling maul going and the Highlanders were penalised for illegally defending it – Steyn slotting the kick for a 13-3 score.

Then the Sharks appeared to go to sleep on defence – not that Malakai Fekitoa needed a second invite when the gap opened. He then used his strength to fend of a cover defender and stretched over for the try. Sopoaga's conversion made it a three-point game – 13-10.

A Steyn penalty hit the upright in the 36th minute, but the Highlanders had the last say in the first half –  counter-attacking from within their own half and talking a quick-tap from a penalty as the Sharks went to sleep. It ended with Kane Hames going over for a truly great team try, with three tight forwards involved in the final flurry.

Sopoaga's conversion gave the visitors a 17-13 lead at the break.

While the Sharks got a kickable penalty early in the second half, which they turned into a line-out and a maul, it was the Highlanders the scored the first points after the break – a Sopoaga penalty, 20-13.

The Sharks eventually got reward for their scrum dominance – a Highlanders scrum on the retreat coughing up the ball and in a melee of bodies Bismarck du Plessis flopped on the ball.The TMO had a few looks from different angles, eventually awarding the try. Steyn's conversion made it 20-all with just under half-an-hour to go.

Then, just to confound all critics, the Sharks showed they also have sublime skills – a great off-load by Bismarck du Plessis putting replacement Tonderai Chavhanga into space, the wing using his vast pace to outstrip the cover for his team's third try. Steyn's conversion was wide, but at 25-20 they were at least ahead on the board.

That didn't last long – a shocking kick by Cobus Reinach gifting the Highlanders another attacking opportunity, Ben Smith starting the counter, off-loading to Richard Buckman, who produced a sublime off-load to Phil Burleigh for another great try. Sopoaga's conversion gave the lead (27-25) back to the visitors.

However, the Sharks' famed scrumming power again came to the fore with seven minutes remaining, a penalty for their dominance and Steyn slotting it for a one-point (28-27) lead.

With a minute left on the clock the SDharks got another penalty, this time for offside, and Steyn made it 31-27 – which was the final score, despite there being enough time for the restart.

Man of the match: No.8 Nasi Manu charged recklessly into everything on the field, Aaron Smith made a valiant attempt to get the Highlanders on the front foot with some sublime breaks, Malakai Fekitoa also troubled the Sharks' defence and Ben Smith was ever present with his counter attacks from deep. Lima Sopoaga was running the show for the Highlanders – his tactical appreciation far superior to that of his Sharks counterpart. The front row of Thomas du Toit, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis made life decidedly unpleasant for the Highlanders scrum. JP Petersen seemed to relish his head-to-head battle with new All Black Fekitoa and got in some big hits on defence. Jean Deysel was brutal after he came on and Marcell Coetzee looked pure Springbok. However, our award goes to Sharks captain Bismarck du Plessis – who was not just a member of that monster front row, but his work on defence and at times sublime skills made him the Sharks' most valuable player.

The scorers:

For the Sharks:

Tries: Coetzee, B du Plessis, Chavhanga

Cons: Steyn 2

Pens: Steyn 4

For the Highlanders:

Tries: Fekitoa, Hames, Burleigh

Cons: Sopoaga 3

Pens: Sopoaga 2

Teams:

Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Paul Jordaan, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Etienne Oosthuizen, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1 Thomas du Toit.

Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Lubabalo Mtembu, 20 Jean Deysel, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Tonderai Chavhanga.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Kane Hames.

Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 JP Koen, 19 Josh Bekhuis, 20 Tom Franklin, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Trent Renata, 23 Gareth Evans.

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)