Seven-try Sharks power past Munster to create Champions Cup history
The Sharks made history as the first South African team to reach the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup as their forward power inspired a 50-35 win over Munster. The Irish side were unable to compete at the breakdown, gave away far too many penalties and earned only three penalties of their own in the entire match.
The visitors did score five tries, but they were blown away by a four-try burst in the 18 minutes after half-time as the home side ran in seven of their own. The heat and humidity would have been strange for Munster in this first Champions Cup knockout game on South African soil. The selection talking points were around the half-backs, with Craig Casey and Jack Crowley getting the nod for the visitors.
When Munster did get the ball from a turnover they showed they had clearly studied the Sharks blitz defence, using depth to get the ball wide and put wing Shane Daly in loads of space. He still had a bit to do to beat the covering defence but got over for the try, with Crowley adding the conversion.
The Sharks had the advantage in terms of power at the breakdown and scrum and turned that into points as wing Makazole Mapimpi made a half-break and put scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse through for the try. Curwin Bosch converted.
Hendrikse was injured in the act of scoring, but there was no change in the home side’s forward power and the penalties that brought. Pressure on the line was eventually finished off from short range by lock Eben Etzebeth, Bosch again converting.
Munster wings Calvin Nash and Daly were able to find space, but Munster’s response eventually came from short range through the forwards, with prop Dave Kilcoyne burrowing his way over. Crowley converted to bring his side within three points at half-time.
The Sharks lost Etzebeth at the break in a big blow for the hosts, but the home forwards showed their undiminished power from a lineout near the Munster line, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi breaking away to go over. Bosch added the conversion.
More penalties put the Sharks in position for a repeat just a few minutes later and once again Mbonanbi finished off, this time with greater ease. Werner Kok was the next to touch down before loose ball from a Munster attack was picked up by Bosch and his 50-yard run to the line made it four tries in 18 minutes after half-time.
Munster did hit back through a lineout drive of their own, replacement hooker Diarmuid Barron going over, but another loose pass gave Mapimpi another 50-yard run to the line to seal the result. Full-back Mike Haley sliced through the defence for another Munster try and Fineen Wycherley touched down their fifth, but it was the Sharks’ day in the heat of Durban.
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You forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time.
Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
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