Bok concern after Etzebeth injury in Sharks triumph

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks secured their place in the top four of the United Rugby Championship with a commanding 29-10 win over Ospreys in Durban on Friday.

The bonus-point win saw the Sharks move 12 points clear of the fifth-placed Cardiff and guaranteed to have home ground advantage in the quarterfinal.

The victory, however, came with a hefty price and a major concern over the growing Springbok injury list.

In the 27th minute, captain Eben Etzebeth was left writhing on the floor with an injury to his right knee.

He tried to walk it off, but minutes later was replaced and taken away on a medical cart – a big concern for both the Sharks and Boks.

The Sharks already by a lengthy injury list that includes scrumhalf Grant Williams (neck), flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse (back), centre Lukhanyo Am (knee) and prop Ox Nche (illness).

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* The article continues below …

The game started with No.8 Morgan Morse winning a breakdown penalty and Dan Edwards slotting it for a three-point lead.

A scrum penalty allowed the Sharks to set up a line-out deep inside the Ospreys’ 22-metre area. A series of forward rushes saw lock Jason Jenkins open the Sharks with a try. Flyhalf Siya Masuku made it 7-3 with the conversion, with 11 minutes on the clock.

From the restart, Ospreys scrumhalf Kieran Hardy skinned Jaden Hendrikse and thought he had scored, but the TMO found a knock-on.

A tackle penalty gave the Sharks an attacking penalty, but Masuku kicked it dead, gifting the Ospreys an easy exit.

After the departure of Etzebeth on the half-hour mark, the Sharks used their forwards to soften the Ospreys’ defence, before Bok centre Andre Esterhuizen used his hulking frame to charge over. Aphelele Fassi added the conversion – 14-3.

That is how it stayed until the half-time break.

It was a scrappy start to the second half, but just past the 50-minute mark a Jaden Hendrikse chip-kick exposed the Ospreys defence and wing Ethan Hooker collected the bouncing ball to sprint over. Masuku added the conversion – 21-3.

The scrappy nature of the game continued up to the hour mark, with replacement hooker Sam Parry getting an armchair ride at the back of a powerful Ospreys maul. Edwards added the conversion – 10-21, with 20 minutes to go.

Phepsi Buthelezi replied for the Sharks – an Aphelele Fassi cross-field kick collected by Makazole Mapimpi, who offloaded to the replacement loose forward. Masuku was wide of the mark with the conversion, but the bonus point was secured – 26-10.

Masuku put the seal on the win with a penalty on the stroke of full-time – 29-10.

Man of the match: Newly elected British and Irish Lion and Ospreys captain Jac Morgan won some crucial turnovers that kept his team interested. Ethan Hooker and Jurenzo Julius were impressive, while Phepsi Buthelezi was the best of the replacements. My award goes to Springbok centre and Sharks man-mountain Andre Esterhuizen – for his powerful carries, and he even added his considerable weight and strength as a flank in the scrums.

The scorers

For the Sharks
Tries: Jenkins, Esterhuizen, Hooker, Buthelezi
Cons: Masuku 2, Fassi
Pen: Masuku

For Ospreys
Try: Parry
Con: Edwards
Pen: Edwards

Teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Emmanuel Tshituka, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Francois Venter, 23 .Yaw Penxe

Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Jac Morgan (captain), 6 James Ratti, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Spencer, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Will Griffiths, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Iestyn Hopkins.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira (South Africa), Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

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*Picture credit: Steve Haag Sports