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Sharks overcome Lions to make it two Rainbow Cup victories from as many games

By PA
(Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

The Sharks made it two wins from two in the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA with a 34-26 success against the Lions.

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Jeremy Ward scored the Sharks’ first try in only the third minute, with PJ Botha responding for the Lions as both teams’ mauls caused problems.

Grant Williams and Thomas Du Toit profited from sharper play by the Sharks with further tries and it was 24-12 at half-time after Andre Warner crossed for the Lions just before the break.

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    The Sharks were down to 13 men for a period after half-time when Du Toit and Fezokuhle Mbatha were both yellow-carded for offences at the ruck but the Lions failed to capitalise on their advantage.

    Francke Horn did finally cross for another try but Kerron Van Vuuren added a score for the Sharks to maintain a healthy lead.

    Vincent Tshituka ensured the Lions at least finished with a bonus-point try, with the kicking of Curwin Bosch proving a major advantage for the Sharks.

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    F
    Flankly 24 minutes ago
    Maro Itoje: What was said as Lions fell 'far behind' on scoreboard

    This is what dreams are made of

    Umm. Credit to a winning team, but to be clear … the team you beat is ranked 6th in the world, did not make it out of the pool stage of the last RWC, and came last in the 2024 Rugby Championship. Not sure any bookie has them as favorites for the 2025 RC either.


    Australia have made progress for sure, and of course that matters. But for a team made up of 4 leading rugby nations, including two that are ranked much higher than this opposition, a win is expected and a loss would be humiliating. Furthermore, with weeks of playing together, planning together and living together it is hard to argue that the Lions have had less opportunity for cohesion than Australia.


    A win is a win, and no-one should question that. But a last-minute one-score win that depended on a 50/50 penalty call is one to humbly accept, rather than to crow about. It was neither a beating, nor even a compelling win. I thought win was not undeserved, but it’s a close call on which was the better team on the day.


    And let’s get off this nonsense about it being like a world cup final. The local pub teams may feel that their big game is like a world cup final, but it’s stupid to pretend it is the reality. The RWC final is played by two of the top teams in the world, and there is no evidence that either of these teams fits that description. There is a game in Eden Park later this year between the #1 and #2 ranked teams that would be a lot closer to it, of course.


    Well done to the Lions, and congrats to the Wallabies. Let’s enjoy a good game for what it was, without pretending it was something bigger than it was.

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