With the Bulls having won their last two games against the Sharks and being fired up after losing to the Stormers, it was sure to be a close United Rugby Championship derby at Kings Park on Friday night, but the KwaZulu-Natalian produced tremendous. focused and strong performance because they blew away visitors 47-20.
The opening quarter was tightly contested with Chris Smith and Curwin Bosch trading penalties, before the Bulls got the opening try in the 19th.Th minute. An impressive hand created wide space for wing Canan Moodie, who got his own chip in front, albeit with a lucky bounce.
But then the Bulls found themselves in the eye of the storm, many of which they made themselves because they were very ill-disciplined. After Bosch’s penalty, after prop Thomas du Toit won the turnover, which closed the gap to 9-13, the Sharks took a quick tap penalty and found space out wide, but Moodie beat the final pass out into touch, leading to a yellow. card and trial penalty.
The Sharks piled on the pressure and, with two minutes to go, flanker Cyle Brink was also sent to the sin-bin after repeatedly fouling the Bulls. A big Sharks scrum – an area where they held a big advantage – was followed by scrumhalf Grant Williams going one way and then the other and sniping through for a try.
At the time Bosch was converted – the flyhalf got back to success with eight of the nine kicks on goal – the halftime hooter was about to go, but referee Marius van der Westhuizen warned the Bulls twice that they could not kick the restart directly into touch.
However, what Smith did and the Bulls paid a heavy price. The Sharks attacked from the scrum in the middle of the field, the wing Kurt-Lee Arendse conceded a penalty for an intentional knock-on, which allowed the Sharks to go to 22. From there they got another penalty, also kicked to touch, and a patient lineout maul saw the hooker Bongi Mbonambi score . After just three points two minutes before halftime, the Bulls suddenly trailed 13-30 at the break.
Automatic pilot
The Sharks, brimming with confidence, went on autopilot in the second half and scored a brilliant try in the 51st.St minutes to open the scoring after the break. Outside the center Lukhanyo Am popped the inside ball to the wing Marnus Potgieter, who broke before the center Rohan Janse van Rensburg quick hands sent the ball to fullback Boeta Chamberlain, who stopped at 22 but produced a super offload for Janse van Rensburg to score.
The Bulls responded with a try of their own, Moodie and Johan Goosen combining well for the fullbacks.
But the result was never in doubt as Bosch’s penalty put the Sharks back into the lead at 40-20.
Moodie then received a red card, for his second yellow card, when he tackled a dipping player. It’s a harsh penalty when the wing Bulls do a little wrong, and officials should pay more attention to the neck-intercept more dangerous in Arendse. But because it happened later in the passage they played as a small mistake Moodie, it was ignored.
The shellshocked Bulls then conceded another try after the final hooter when Janse van Rensburg grabbed an interception and tipped it over the post.
New Year’s Eve at Kings Park is sure to be a good one.
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Goal scorer
Shark: Try it – Penalty try, Grant Williams, Bongi Mbonambi, Rohan Janse van Rensburg (2). Conversion –Curwin Bosch (4). Punishment – Bosch (4).
Bull: Try it – Canan Moodie, Johan Goosen. Conversion – Chris Smith (2). Punishment – Smith (2).
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