The Hollywoodbets Sharks surrendered their EPCR Challenge Cup title with a tame 34-21 defeat at the hands of French side Lyon on Sunday evening.
FINAL SCORE #ChallengeCup #LOUvSHA pic.twitter.com/PHz4HGSFCu
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) April 6, 2025
The result was set before the kick-off, with the Sharks choosing to send a virtual B side to the clash, and keep their biggest stars at home. It wasn’t a surprise that the home side used their pressure and power game to turn out a solid win and move into the quarterfinals.
The decision may benefit the Sharks in the long run as a number of young players were thrown into a cauldron and would have learnt a lot from the experience, but it was hardly a satisfying end to the campaign from their fans’ point of view.
It was clear with the selection that the Sharks have decided to turn all their focus on winning the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and it was unfair to expect this young side to take on a seasoned outfit away from home.
Jurenzo Julius, the creator 😮💨🏉
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 6, 2025
That pass from the Boogieman is too clean 💯
📺 Stream #ChallengeCupRugby on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/dAap92i4m4
HANDLING ERRORS
Many of these young players haven’t played for months and even if they have, they had hardly played together, with cohesion missing throughout the game, and handling errors costing the Sharks dearly when they did have chances to score.
Still, they didn’t look totally outclassed, but were beaten by a Lyon side that was more clinical, more physical and exploited the poor Sharks defence with relative ease. The scoreline flattered the Sharks a bit, especially as Tino Mavesere scored at the death to make it look a lot closer than it was. In reality Lyon probably won’t be happy that they didn’t win by more.
It would be precisely the defence that would worry caretaker coach Joey Mongalo, who took charge of the side for the fixture, yet the fact the team hasn’t played together will be a reasonable excuse, even if it is not a satisfying one.
It was also a reminder of some of the talent that the French sides possess. Former Springbok Arno Botha was a colossus in the game, making metres whenever he touched the ball. Botha, who has been forgotten back home, put in such a commanding performance that he was often the start of the Lyon attacks that led to tries.
SOFT TRIES
Lyon scored with their first foray into the 22, and scored almost at will, with all of the four first half tries being soft ones thanks to some poor defensive alignment.
The Sharks were better in the second half when they had the wind at their backs, but hardly threatened Lyon’s defence and when they did, were mostly unable to convert because of handling errors.
Ironically it was the Sharks who scored first and looked as if they were keen on trying to upset the odds as Fez Mbatha powered over in the fourth minute at the back of a rampant driving maul.
But slowly, Lyon took over and their physicality started to tell. They seemed to outmatch the Sharks both up front and out wide, where they beat tackles with ease, and the Sharks had no answer to try and stop them getting over the advantage line.
Leo Berdeu put the home side on the board with a penalty before three tries in 11 minutes allowed them to take control of the game and never look back.
The first would have frustrated any defence coach as former Sevens star Alexandre Tchapchet danced his way on the wing past two poor tackles to score in the corner in a try reminiscent of Cheslin Kolbe.
LAZINESS AROUND THE RUCK
Then, the Sharks laziness around the ruck was exploited as Lyon lock Theo William picked up the ball at the back of the ruck and darted through without a hand being laid upon him. If ever there was a defensive error that would show just how incohesive the Sharks defence was, this underlined it.
Seven minutes later, Lyon extended their lead as Yanis Charcosset burrowed his way over from close range. It was easy to see the Sharks would struggle for the rest of the match but the coup de grace would come shortly before halftime when Theo Millet did a round-the-corner pass to a flying Josiah Maraku, who went between midfielders Andre Esterhuizen and Francois Venter without them coming close to touching him.
At 27-7 at the break, the Sharks were struggling, but they at least put up a fight in the second half with the wind at their backs, and stopped Lyon’s momentum for most of the half.
Eventually, in the 69th minute, the defence broke, with a blindside break putting Vincent Rattez down the sideline for an easy run in for the fifth try.
The Sharks best moment came when Jurenzo Julius sparked a move that took Jean Smith close to the line, leaving Corne Rahl to finish off from the recycled ball, and when Mavesere scored at the death, the scoreline looked a little better.
But in reality there was only one team on the park, and at times it felt like men versus boys.
And with it, the Sharks defence of their title is over, and Lyon move on to face Ospreys in Swansea next weekend.
Scorers
Lyon - tries: Alexandre Tchapchet, Theo William, Yanis Charcosset, Josiah Maraku, Vincent Rattez. Conversions: Leo Berdeu (2), Martin Meliande. Penalty: Berdeu
Hollywoodbets Sharks - tries: Fez Mbatha, Corne Rahl, Timo Mavesere. Conversions: Siya Masuku (2), Jean Smith.