Sharks make Bulls pay for shocking discipline

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks, lead brilliantly by Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi, made a massive statement of intent when they demolished the Bulls at Kings Park, in Durban, on Saturday.

The Old Year’s eve United Rugby Championship clash showed just how dangerous the Sharks can be with their full quota of Springboks.

The 47-20, five tries to two, the win was as emphatic as the scoreline suggested.

The Bulls, despite holding a seven-point (13-6) lead after a commendable opening half-hour mark, ran into a Sharks team in a mean mood.

The home team pack turned up the heat and 15 minutes later the scoreline was 30-13 to the home team.

The pressure saw the Bulls’ discipline drop to shocking levels – 10 penalties and two yellow cards in the same period.

Another yellow card, Canan Moodie’s second yellow which became a red card, and 10 more second-half penalties added to another miserable day at the office for the Bulls.

All credit to Kolisi and his fellow Sharks warriors.

They were simply superior and outclassed the visitors in every department.

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Chris Smith and Curwin Bosch exchanged early penalties, before Simphiwe Matanzima barged over from a quick tap five metres out. The call went up to the TMO, who said there was no grounding – Sharks and Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi doing brilliantly to hold up the ball over his own goalline.

Smith kicked a second penalty and from the restart, Bosch levelled the scores again.

Just at the end of the first quarter, Canan Moodie produced a moment of pure magic – a few phases, some quick hands and Moodie with a chip-and-collect for the opening try. Smith’s conversion made it 13-6 to the visitors.

Bosch reduced the gap to four points, 9-13, with his third penalty.

Minutes later Moodie was given 10 minutes in the sin bin for a cynical foul – slapping the ball into touch. Not only was the Bulls reduced to 14 men, but they also conceded a penalty try – 16-13.

Two minutes from half-time the Bulls were reduced to 13 men – Cyle Brink was sent for 10 minutes in the sin bin, for repeated infringements by the team and his offside offence the most recent after a team warning.

The Sharks opted for a scrum, demolished the Bulls pack and scrumhalf Grant Williams busted through a couple of half-hearted tackles. Bosch added the extras for a 10-point lead – 23-13.

The Sharks put the cherry on top of a dominant first half when Mbongeni Mbonambi scored from a powerful maul, well into the referee’s additional time. Bosch added the extras to make it 30-13 at the half-time break.

The second half started with another scrum penalty to the Sharks, Bosch wide of the mark with a penalty shot at goal.

It mattered not. The Sharks, from a pre-planned line-out move, opened up the Bulls’ defence like a can of sardines – with Rohan Janse van Rensburg finishing off a sublime backline move. Bosch added the conversion – 37-13.

The Bulls did eventually manage to end the Sharks’ run of tries – starting to run out of their own in-goal area, some slick handling, a great grubber and hard running – with Johan Goosen finishing off the move. Smith made it 20-37 on the hour mark, slotting the conversion.

Bosch slotted his fourth penalty to stretch the lead to 20 points again – 40-20.

The Bulls still chased some consolation – a four-try and/or losing bonus point from the game.

However, it was replacement scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse who thought he had scored next – sniping around the blind side from a ruck. The call went to the TMO, who ruled that Siyamthanda Kolisi had obstructed a defender from getting to Hendrikse.

The Bulls still played from deep inside their 22, trying to run the ball out from their in-goal area again. They only succeeded in turning it over inside the Sharks’ half.

It got worse for the Bulls and Canan Moodie, who was yellow carded for a high tackle – which became an automatic red card.

The game ended with Janse van Rensburg intercepting a pass and scoring his second and the Sharks’ fifth. Bosch added the extras – finishing the carnage, 47-20.

Man of the match: You can look at backs like Lukhanyo Am, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Makazole Mapimpi and a flyhalf master class from Curwin Bosch, . Up front Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Henco Venter, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Mbongeni Mbonambi and Retshegofaditswe Nché. Our award goes to the man of the moment – Sharks and Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi. Not only did he make a game-high 13 tackles, but he also carried like a demon and was masterful in his tactical appreciation of the game.

The scorers

For the Sharks
Tries: Penalty try, Williams, Mbonambi, Janse van Rensburg 2
Cons: Penalty try doers not require a conversion, Bosch 4
Pens: Bosch 4

For the Bulls
Tries: Moodie, Goosen
Cons: Smith 2
Pens: Smith 2

Red card: Canan Moodie (Bulls, 78 – two yellow cards)
Yellow cards: Canan Moodie (Bulls, 30 & 78 – cynical foul, deliberate knock-on & foul play, high tackle)), Cyle Brink (Bulls, 37 – repeated infringements, offside)

Teams

Sharks: 15 Henry Chamberlain, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Phendulani Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Yaw Penxe.

Bulls: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco Van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 David Kriel.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa, Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

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* Picture credit: @SharksRugby