BlitzBok rookie shines as Sharks whitewash Munster
MATCH REPORT: The Sharks scored a convincing 45-0 win over Munster in Round 13 of the United Rugby Championship at HollywoodBets Kings Park.
The hosts outscored Munster by seven tries to nil, with BlitzBok rookie Luan Guiliomee starring in his debut match for the Sharks.
The Sharks sent a warning shot within the opening five minutes by dominating the Munster scrum, and that trend continued throughout the match.
Both teams had several handling errors, which could be pinpointed to the high humidity level (81 percent), but the Sharks were more clinical at set-piece and converting their opportunities into points.
The win boosts the Sharks’ chances of pushing for a play-off spot, but for Munster, the defeat makes their task a bit tougher to finish in the top four.
*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!
The home side declined two kickable penalties and opted for the line-out.
The decision paid off in their second attempt at the rolling maul with Phepsi Buthelezi crossing the line in the seventh minute, with Jordan Hendrikse making it 7-0.
Debutant Giliomee scored the Sharks’ second try in the 28th minute off a Yaw Penxe offload after a solid build-up with the ball going through multiple pairs of hands and phases to push the lead to 12 points.
Hendrikse gave Munster a final shot at scoring a minute before half-time after being penalised for a late tackle, but the visitors couldn’t execute their plan and went into the sheds scoreless.
The article continues below…
Guiliomee’s 50/22 set the platform for the Sharks to have an attacking line-out, which led to Phatu Ganyane’s try in the 51st minute, converted by Hendrikse to stretch the lead to 19 points.
The Sharks sealed the bonus point through Emile van Heerden’s 57th-minute try off a stunning attacking play when Guiliomee, off a linebreak, got his pass away to Penxe before a quick breakdown recycle as Williams got the ball to the towering lock to barge over the line. Hendrikse slotted the conversion.
The Sharks scored their fifth try when Le Roux Malan collected a high ball off a cheeky kick from the base by Bradley Davids on penalty advantage three minutes from full time.
Makazole Mapimpi put the cherry on top of his 100th appearance for the Sharks, scoring a brace in as many minutes to seal an emphatic win for JP Petersen’s troops.
Player of the match: Hanro Jacobs owned Micheal Milne and later John Ryan in the scrums and was the cornerstone of their dominance; however, our award goes to Luan Giliomee, who made the most carries (12) and a single linebreak leading to Emile van Heerden’s try.
Scorers:
For the Sharks:
Tries: Buthelezi, Giliomee, Ganyane, Van Heerden, Malan, Mapimpi 2
Cons: Hendrikse 3, Smith 2
For Munster: None
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Hakeen Kunene
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shane Daly, 10 JJ Hanrahan (captain), 9 Ethan Coughlan, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Seán Edogbo,5 Tom Ahern, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 John Ryan, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Fineen Wycherley, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Dan Kelly, 23 Brian Gleeson
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa), Christopher Allison (South Africa)
TMO: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
