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Saturday 25 Nov 2023
Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Tries
Lukhanyo Am 78'
Aphelele Fassi 75'; 11'
Grant Williams 72'; 55'
Jeandre Labuschagne 63'
Phepsi Buthelezi 60'
Eben Etzebeth 47'
Werner Kok 42'
Makazole Mapimpi 20'
Rio Dyer 55'
Dane Blacker 27'
Conversions
Boeta Chamberlain 80'; 76'; 72'
Curwin Bosch 64'; 62'; 55'; 48'; 13'
Rhodri Williams 56'
Cai Evans 28'
Penalties
Curwin Bosch 7'
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Timeline
End of Second Half
Conversion
Try
Conversion
Try
Conversion
Try
Out: Curwin Bosch
Out: Bradley Roberts
Conversion
Try
Out: Eben Etzebeth
Conversion
Try
Out: Coenie Oosthuizen
Conversion
Try
Conversion
Try
Out: Ewan Rosser
Out: Emile van Heerden
Out: Francois Venter
Out: Ntuthuko Mchunu
Out: Jaden Hendrikse
Out: Aki Seiuli
Out: George Nott
Conversion
Try
Out: Chris Coleman
Out: Luke Yendle
Out: Fez Mbatha
Start of Second Half
End of First Half
Try
Out: Ewan Rosser
Yellow Card
Out: Cai Evans
Out: Will Reed
Conversion
Try
Try
Out: Ollie Griffiths
Conversion
Try
Penalty
Start of First Half
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Top Performers
Ball Carries
AF
A. Fassi
Ball Carries: 14
Tackles
GN
G. Nott
Tackles: 11
Points
CB
C. Bosch
Points: 13
Match Information
Saturday 25 Nov 2023
Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Tries
Lukhanyo Am 78'
Aphelele Fassi 75'; 11'
Grant Williams 72'; 55'
Jeandre Labuschagne 63'
Phepsi Buthelezi 60'
Eben Etzebeth 47'
Werner Kok 42'
Makazole Mapimpi 20'
Rio Dyer 55'
Dane Blacker 27'
Conversions
Boeta Chamberlain 80'; 76'; 72'
Curwin Bosch 64'; 62'; 55'; 48'; 13'
Rhodri Williams 56'
Cai Evans 28'
Penalties
Curwin Bosch 7'
Show more
Timeline
End of Second Half
Conversion
Try
Conversion
Try
Conversion
Try
Out: Curwin Bosch
Out: Bradley Roberts
Conversion
Try
Out: Eben Etzebeth
Conversion
Try
Out: Coenie Oosthuizen
Conversion
Try
Conversion
Try
Out: Ewan Rosser
Out: Emile van Heerden
Out: Francois Venter
Out: Ntuthuko Mchunu
Out: Jaden Hendrikse
Out: Aki Seiuli
Out: George Nott
Conversion
Try
Out: Chris Coleman
Out: Luke Yendle
Out: Fez Mbatha
Start of Second Half
End of First Half
Try
Out: Ewan Rosser
Yellow Card
Out: Cai Evans
Out: Will Reed
Conversion
Try
Try
Out: Ollie Griffiths
Conversion
Try
Penalty
Start of First Half
Commentary
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80’
Full Time
FULL TIME! 69-14. The Sharks have broken their winless run under John Plumtree, running in 10 tries in total. Aphelele Fassi and Grant Williams each scored two tries, while returning Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth and captain Lukhanyo Am also dotted down. Dragons fought valiantly in the first half, but were ultimately outgunned. Next up for the Sharks is a trip to Pretoria to face the in-form Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in a South African derby, while Dragons will also be travelling north to take on the Lions.
80’
Full Time
FULL TIME! 69-14. Chamberlain's successful conversion brings an end to the Sharks' demolition job at Kings Park. The hosts have finally got their first win of the season and they did it in style, completely obliterating Dragons in the second half after a fairly competitive first half.
78’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, AM! 68-14. The Sharks captain gets in on the action! Am breaks through from a wonderfully worked move to score.
77’
Commentary
NO TRY! Dragons think they have scored from the kick-off, but the try is ruled out for a double-movement.
76’
Conversion
CONVERSION, BOSCH, 62-14. Bosch adds another conversion for the Sharks.
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75’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, FASSI! 60-14. Following closely in Williams' footsteps, Fassi now brings up his brace. It comes on the back of more brilliant work from Mapimpi, who breaks through out wide and sends a pass into Fassi's waiting hands.
73’
Conversion
CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH! 55-14. Bosch adds the conversion as the Sharks have surely all but sealed the match as a contest now.
71’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, WILLIAMS! 53-14. Williams gets his second try and brings up the half-century for the Sharks, intercepting a poor pass from Dragons and sprinting clear for the try.
65’
Conversion
CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH! 48-14. Bosch converts the Sharks' seventh try.
64’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, LABUSCHAGNE! 46-14. The Sharks are running riot now. Williams is again involved, breaking the line before passing to put replacement flank Labuschagne over.
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62’
Conversion
CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH! 41-14. Bosch converts the try to re-establish the Sharks' 27-point lead.
60’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, BUTHELEZI! 39-14. The Sharks poach the lineout and burst into Dragons' 22, before Buthelezi bashes his way over the line.
59’
Commentary
Dragons try to put a kick over the Sharks defence, but Bosch fields and produces a magnificent response, booting the ball down near the visitors' 22.
56’
Conversion
CONVERSION, DRAGONS, WILLIAMS! 34-14. Williams lands his first kick of the match to cut the deficit back down to 20 points.
55’
Try
TRY, DRAGONS, DYER! 34-12. Dragons hit back from the kick off! It's a fantastic bit of work from Dyer, who pounces on an error and sprints clear to score.
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55’
Conversion
CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH! 34-7. Bosch converts Williams' try.
55’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, WILLIAMS! 32-7. The Sharks score their fifth try of the match. A powerful carry from Janse van Rensburg gives them momentum, and Williams is on hand to finish off. The substitutes make an immediate impact for the hosts.
53’
Commentary
NO TRY! The try is ruled out for an earlier offsides infringement from Dragons. The Sharks are awarded a penalty and kick for a lineout in Dragons' 22.
51’
Commentary
TMO CHECK! Dyer goes over for a breakaway try for Dragons, but the referee wants to have another look for a forward pass.
48’
Conversion
CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH. 27-7. Bosch converts the try to take the Sharks to a 20-point lead.
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47’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, ETZEBETH! 25-7. That's the bonus-point try for the Sharks. It comes from a bit of clever thinking from Mapimpi, who takes a quick-tap penalty and puts Etzebeth away for a clear run to the tryline.
45’
Commentary
Dragons win a penalty for a high tackle and kick for a five-metre attacking lineout. However, the Sharks hold the ball up and win a penalty from the subsequent scrum.
42’
Commentary
Dragons start on the front foot, after a powerful carry from South African-born hooker Roberts. However, winger Dyer loses the ball into touch with just the tryline in front of him.
41’
Kick Off
KICK OFF! 20-7. Dragons get this second half underway at Kings Park. The visitors have had to scramble and will start the second half with 14 players, as their tighthead prop was yellow carded for repeated scrum penalties. The Sharks will look to make better use of their opportunities, as the humidity has caused plenty of handling errors in this match.
40’
Half Time
HALF TIME! 20-7. Bosch misses his conversion as the Sharks go into the break with a 20-7 lead. It has been a dominant performance from the hosts, but Dragons have done well to hang in there with a retreating scrum and very little to work with from their forward pack. The Sharks' returning Springboks have definitely had an impact on their performance tonight.
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40’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, KOK! 20-7. The try is awarded by the TMO. It's a fantastic piece of skill from Hendrikse, who does very well to stay infield and offload to get Kok over the tryline.
40’
Commentary
TMO CHECK! Werner Kok goes over the tryline, but the TMO is called in to check a knock-on.
40’
Commentary
The Sharks win another penalty, this time at the breakdown, after getting an advantage at the scrum. This time, they opt for a lineout.
38’
Yellow Card
YELLOW CARD! Referee Murphy has had enough of the scrum penalties and sends Dragons tighthead prop Chris Coleman to the sin bin.
37’
Commentary
The Sharks are awarded a scrum on Dragons' 10-metre line after a knock-on from a lineout. A kick from Fassi allows the Sharks to drag a Dragons player into touch in goal, winning a five-metre scrum in the process.
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32’
Commentary
A tough call for the Sharks sees Werner Kok penalised at the breakdown after Evans intercepts a pass and breaks from Dragons' 22. The visitors kick down to the Sharks' 22.
30’
Commentary
The Sharks win yet another penalty from a scrum, after forcing an error from a high kick into Dragons' half. The home side's tight-five has been dominant so far in this contest. Bosch kicks for a five-metre lineout.
28’
Conversion
CONVERSION, DRAGONS, EVANS! 15-7. Having missed his earlier penalty attempts, Evans makes no mistake with his conversion in front of the poles.
27’
Try
TRY, DRAGONS, BLACKER! 15-5. The Dragons roar back to life! It's a wonderful try from an excellently executed set-move from a lineout, with fullback Evans drifting through a gap before passing on his inside to put scrumhalf Blacker over.
25’
Penalty
PENALTY MISSED! Dragons are awarded a penalty for offsides and opt to go for goal from around 40 metres out on the angle, but fullback Evans shanks his kick to the right.
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22’
Conversion
CONVERSION MISSED! 15-0. Bosch fades his conversion away to the right for his first miss of the evening.
20’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, MAPIMPI! 15-0. Mapimpi goes over in the corner! That's a good team try from the Sharks, building plenty of pressure through some powerful carries from their forwards, before some brilliant hands from the backs put Mapimpi over for an excellent finish.
17’
Commentary
HELD UP! The Sharks win a penalty from the scrum and Hendrikse takes a quick-tap, putting Venter into space. However, Dragons do well to adjust and hold the centre up over the tryline.
16’
Commentary
A breathless period of attack from the Sharks comes to an end with a knock-on from Bosch in the 22. It all started from a powerful scrum in the Sharks half and from there, the hosts played some sensational attacking rugby, to fly into a try-scoring position. The Sharks were playing with a knock-on advantage, so they will have the put-in at the scrum.
13’
Conversion
CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH! 10-0. Bosch nails his conversion to take the Sharks to a 10-point lead.
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11’
Try
TRY, SHARKS, FASSI! 8-0. The flying fullback goes over for the opening try of the match! It comes from a big carry from flank James Venter into the 22. From there, Bosch sends a wonderful floated pass over the defence to put Fassi over the line.
10’
Commentary
Rio Dyer does excellently to win an aerial battle in the Sharks' half to set a platform for Dragons. However, Oosthuizen is on hand to make a big tackle and win a turnover penalty for the hosts.
7’
Penalty
PENALTY, SHARKS, BOSCH! 3-0. Bosch lands his first kick at goal, from just outside Dragons' 22, to give the Sharks an early lead.
6’
Commentary
A bit of interplay from the Sharks is ended by a knock-on by tighthead prop Oosthuizen. However, from the subsequent scrum, the Sharks power through the Dragons to win a penalty. Curwin Bosch will have a shot at goal.
3’
Commentary
Dragons have the first attacking opportunity of the match as they counter from a goal-line drop-out from the Sharks. A kick in behind the Sharks defence is well dealt with by Makazole Mapimpi, who wins a penalty.
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1’
Kick Off
KICK OFF! 0-0. The Sharks get this round six URC match underway in Durban. The hosts are playing from left to right on a humid evening at Kings Park. Connacht receive and clear up to the 10-metre line.
0’
Trivia
This game will be refereed by Ireland’s Frank Murphy. He will be assisted by South Africa’s Christopher Allison and Stephan Geldenhuys. The TMO is Eoghan Cross from Ireland.
0’
Team News
Dragons have made four changes from last weekend's win over Ospreys, with Ollie Griffiths leading the side. Dane Blacker comes in at scrum-half, George Nott into the second row, with Samoa international Aki Seiuli and Chris Coleman named as props. Dragons have injury problems of their own having flown out to South Africa without Wales forwards Dan Lydiate, Ben Carter, Leon Brown and Elliot Dee and Argentina scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou.
0’
Team News
Dragons: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Ewan Rosser, 10 Will Reed, 9 Dane Blacker; 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Ollie Griffiths (c), 6 Sean Lonsdale,5 George Nott, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Bradley Roberts, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements: 16 James Benjamin, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Joe Davies, 20 Harri Keddie, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Steff Hughes, 23 Ashton Hewitt.
0’
Team News
The major team news for the Sharks surrounds the return of five 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks. Lock Eben Etzebeth, scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, and wing Makazole Mapimpi are in the starting lineup, while prop Ox Nche and scrumhalf Grant Williams are on the bench. Having made his return from World Cup duty last weekend. Lukhanyo Am takes over the captaincy, while the other change sees Fez Mbatha replace the injured Dylan Richardson at hooker.
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0’
Team News
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Jeandre Labuschagne, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
0’
Trivia
The Sharks have won both previous matches they have played against Dragons: a 19-20 victory at Rodney Parade and a 51-3 demolition at Kings Park in 2022.
0’
Trivia
Dragons gained their opening victory of the season with a 20-5 win over Ospreys at Rodney Parade last weekend but have not won successive matches in the Championship since October 2022. The visitors have not won away from home in the Championship since beating Scarlets in Llanelli in April 2022.
0’
Trivia
Defeat in round five against Irish side Connacht means that the Sharks have won just one home game in the URC at Kings Park in 2023: 43-33 over Benetton in April. The Sharks have also won just one of their last four fixtures against Welsh regions: 25-10 against Ospreys in Durban in December 2022.
0’
Trivia
Both of these two teams come into this match on the back of poor starts to the season. The Sharks have lost all five of their matches - picking up two losing bonus points - and are at the bottom of the table. Dragons, meanwhile, are only two places ahead of the hosts, having won just one of their opening five matches - a 20-5 victory in the Welsh derby against Ospreys.
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0’
Trivia
Friday night’s action saw two dramatic results as Cardiff scored a try after the hooter to snatch a 31-24 win against the Stormers, who suffered a fourth loss in a row, while Benetton held out to beat Edinburgh 24-22 in the Scottish capital for their fourth win of the season. Earlier today, the Lions put nine tries past Zebre in Johannesburg to earn a 61-19 win.
0’
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this United Rugby Championship round six match between the Sharks and Dragons at Kings Park in Durban.
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Top Performers
Ball Carries
AF
A. Fassi
Ball Carries: 14
Tackles
GN
G. Nott
Tackles: 11
Points
CB
C. Bosch
Points: 13
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Match Information
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