The Sharks slumped to a second successive defeat in Australia as they were thrashed 46-14 by the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
For South African sides, it’s an eighth consecutive loss in Australasia this season as serious travelling woes continue.
The Sharks’ campaign has well and truly unravelled. After five games, they have managed just a solitary win, while they still have to contend with upcoming games against the Blues and Hurricanes in New Zealand, where more pain surely lies in wait.
On the basis of the Sharks’ performance in Melbourne, serious questions need to be asked about where things are going wrong as they once again came off second best in the forward exchanges, while their discipline and defence let them down.
The Sharks endured a nightmare opening quarter on Friday, which saw them miss as many as 12 tackles and had to contend with just 31% of possession as the Rebels took complete control of the early proceedings.
As it was, the Rebels opened up a 10-point lead as Anaru Rangi barged over for the opening try in the 11th minute, although the hosts could have quickly moved well out of sight if not for several missed opportunities.
The Rebels also failed to capitalise on a 10-minute period when Sharks fullback Curwin Bosch was in the sin bin, and they saw their lead cut to just three points when Lwazi Mvovo finished off a well-worked try just before the half-hour mark.
However, it was another indictment for the Sharks that their pack continued to be bullied in the physical exchanges, and after the Rebels had won a scrum penalty, they set up a dominant driving lineout – with Rangi scoring again from the back of a rampaging maul.
That handed the Rebels a 15-7 lead after an opening half that saw them feast off 65% of possession. The Sharks had proved to be their own worst enemies as they slipped 17 tackles and conceded six penalties.
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Momentum remained firmly in favour of the Rebels after the restart, and after an extended period of pressure, stalwart Will Genia scored a superb try to send his side into an unassailable 18-point lead heading into the final quarter.
The Rebels simply continued to pile on the punishment from there as Billy Meakes and Ross Haylett-Petty scored to extend the advantage to a whopping 32 points.
Although the Sharks did manage to score a late consolation try through Marius Louw when Rebels fullback James Maddocks was in the sin bin, the hosts completed the annihilation with a final try by Fereti Sa’aga.
Rebels – 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Will Genia, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman (c), 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner.
Subs: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Fereti Sa’aga, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Ross Haylett-Petty, 21 Richard Hardwick, 22 Michael Ruru, 23 Tom English.
Sharks – 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Ruan Botha (c), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Wian Vosloo, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Kobus van Wyk, 23 Garth April.
Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
