The Sharks scored seven tries in their 50-22 win over the Sunwolves at Kings Park on Saturday, writes MARIETTE ADAMS.
It was the Sharks’ first victory of the season and snapped a three-game winless streak at home.
Tellingly, it was the Durban-based side’s improved discipline and handling skills that made the difference. They won the gainline and breakdown contests and dictated the pace at which the game was played.
Despite a gutsy effort from the Sunwolves, this was yet another away defeat for the Japanese team. Their set piece was solid, but being competitive for limited periods of a game just does not cut it in Super Rugby.
The hosts got into their work early on to take a 10-point lead. After a Rob du Preez penalty goal, a midfield break by André Esterhuizen and patient build-up – including a couple of strong carries by Beast Mtawarira – earned the Sharks their first try through wing Makazole Mapimpi.
The Sunwolves refused to take backward step and created several scoring opportunities, but poor finishing let them down. Sione Teaupu did well to charge down a clearance kick by Curwin Bosch, but with the tryline at his mercy, the outside centre knocked on.
Three minutes later, they were made to rue another missed chance. Inside centre Michael Little carved open the Sharks defence and freed up William Tupou, but with no support runners, he had to take on the last defender, Bosch, who made a dominant tackle to stop Tupou in his tracks.
Suddenly all the momentum was with the visitors. They were innovative off the set piece, flummoxing the Sharks’ defence with little wraparounds and dummy runs. Their first points came via a penalty from Harumichi Tatekawa.
There wasn’t much fluidity in the Sharks’ play, but they did regain control towards the end of the half. First, hooker Akker van der Merwe went on a storming run down the right flank to score, and then Tera Mtembu, who had survived an injury scare earlier in the contest, touched down.
Trailing 24-3, the Sunwolves came out firing in the second half. They breached the Sharks’ defence two minutes after the restart, but the try was disallowed because of an obstruction on Du Preez. It didn’t matter, though, as the continued onslaught eventually resulted in a well-worked try for fullback Lomano Lemeki, which temporarily took away the Sharks’ bonus point.
The Sharks ruthlessly added four more tries from Mapimpi, Jacques Vermeulen, Sbu Nkosi and Cameron Wright, while Wimpie van der Walt went over for the Sunwolves.
The visitors finished strongly. Holding onto the ball and camping inside the Sharks’ 22, they forced their way through the opposition’s defence for a consolation effort scored by William Tupou.
Sharks – Tries: Makazole Mapimpi (2), Akker van der Merwe, Tera Mtembu, Jacques Vermeulen, Sbu Nkosi, Cameron Wright. Conversions: Rob du Preez (5), Curwin Bosch. Penalty: Du Preez.
Sunwolves – Tries: Lomano Lemeki, Wimpie van der Walt, William Tupou. Conversions: Kotaro Matsushima, Kotaro Matsushima. Penalty: Harumichi Tatekawa.
Sharks – 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Wian Vosloo, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Ruan Botha(c), 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Akker van der Merwe/Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Akker van der Merwe/Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Keegan Daniel, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
Sunwolves – 15 Kotaro Matsushima, 14 Lomano Lemeki, 13 Sione Teaupa, 12 Michael Little, 11 William Tupou, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Keisuke Uchida, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Kazuki Himeno, 3 Takuma Asahara, 2 Yusuke Niwai, 1 Craig Millar.
Subs: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Shintaro Ishihara, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Wimpie van der Walt, 20 Lappies Labuschagne, 21 Yutaka Nagare, 22 Ryoto Nakamura, 23 Robbie Robinson.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
