If the Hollywoodbets Sharks were accused of arrogance for thinking they could take an under-strength team to Ellis Park and expect to win against the Lions, the accuser would be difficult to argue against.
While the Durbanites have been almost faultless against the other big two South African teams in Vodacom URC rugby in the last two seasons, the inaugural winners and 2023 beaten finalists the DHL Stormers and the three time losing finalists the Vodacom Bulls, their record against the Lions, who have yet to finish in the URC top eight, reads played four, lost four.
However, the 34-22 defeat suffered in Johannesburg at the weekend at the hand of Cash van Rooyen’s charges does need to be put into perspective - it wasn’t so much a case of the Sharks’ newly appointed permanent coach JP Pietersen choosing to field an understrength team against the Lions, but rather his hand was forced.
It is true that he can choose when to rest his Springboks and when not to, and his admission after the Johannesburg game that they will be back for the big derby against the Bulls on Saturday did send out a clear message about which game ranks higher on the priority list.
Just like the resting of Boks for the Champions Cup games in January told us everything about how seriously the Sharks were taking their two games against the Stormers.
A DILEMMA THAT WAS UNAVOIDABLE BUT SELECTION COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
But it is a fact that with so many Boks on his books, a situation that was created before he arrived and indeed before his immediate predecessor John Plumtree arrived to take up the Sharks coaching reins two and a half seasons ago, the dilemma Pietersen faced at the weekend was going to have to be faced down at some point during these months of the season.
The Boks are due an eight week rest due to welfare issues and South Africa’s commitment to a northern hemisphere season at club level and the southern season at international level through the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. As Plumtree memorably said last year, players aren’t robots, and they do need to rest if you are going to get the maximum out of them.
What may be questionable is the contracting policy that has led the Sharks into a situation whereby when they play without their Boks they have to field almost a completely new team - something that prevents the Sharks from getting into a groove through continuity in selection and which on this past Saturday’s evidence will be as much of a headache for Pietersen as it was for Plumtree.
The Lions can be formidable opponents on their home ground and when it was learned that the Sharks were going under-strength into the game, meaning without Ox Nche, Siya Kolisi, Grant Williams, skipper Andre Esterhuizen, his midfield partner Ethan Hooker and others, the Lions immediately became the favourites. In the supersport.com preview, we made the Lions winners by at least eight points, which was pretty much on the money.
Perhaps Pietersen could have selected his team better for Ellis Park. After his two outstanding performances against the Stormers, surely Phepsi Buthelezi should have started, rather than coming onto the field from the bench when the game was already effectively lost?
And for continuity's sake, there would have been a lot of merit in continuing with Jordan Hendrikse, also good against the Stormers and well acquainted with his former home ground, in the No 10 jersey.
AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN
There was unfortunately an injury that prevented Nick Hatton, one of the Sharks’ most important leaders particularly on those days when the Boks aren’t there, from playing at Ellis Park. So you could say the defeat was an accident that had been waiting to happen.
However, while it is tempting to suggest the game was a rerun of the corresponding fixture last year, when the Lions won 38-14, in reality there were differences that should give Sharks fans some hope.
Firstly, while the Sharks that got beaten last year were a stronger team and played without energy and passion, and were effectively blown away early in that game, this Ellis Park game was a different story.
While the Lions did start strongly and did the early attacking, the Sharks more than fronted in the collisions in the first half, although it was noticeable that some of their forwards were blowing air bubbles by the time halftime came into sight. It is tough to expect a coastal team to play a 2pm kick-off at altitude in February.
There was no lack of commitment from the Sharks this time, and while Pietersen spoke in a way afterwards that suggested the game was a microcosm of the season so far, in the sense that he pinpointed a tendency for high moments to be followed by soft points, it was really the two try burst from the Lions when the Sharks were down to 14 men that decided the fixture.
JURENZO AND APHELELE COULD HAVE SWUNG IT
And with a bit of luck, the exciting long range attacks late in the game that featured Jurenzo Julius and Aphelele Fassi as key components could even have made a come from behind win possible. The Sharks were still throwing everything into it in the last quarter, something that might not have been the case with some previous Sharks teams.
Julius did score later on, but he had a try chalked off when there was still time left on the clock due to Tino Mavesere obstructing Lions flyhalf Chris Smith at the genesis of the transition deep in Sharks territory that led to the score.
Considering he is playing behind two Springboks in Esterhuizen and Hooker, you do wonder if the highly talented Julius shouldn’t be considering an alternative franchise where he might get more game time. For on the evidence of his performance in Johannesburg and in previous games, he would certainly find a starting place in most teams.
Right now though he is at the Sharks, and Pietersen has too much of a high regard for him to let him leave easily.
“Jurenzo was very good today and I love the way he backs himself,” Pietersen said after the game.
“His decision-making was good and he showed what he can do at 12. In the modern game you need to play more than one position. If he can master 13 and 12, he’s a proper weapon for us.”
Indeed, Julius has played mostly at outside centre for the Sharks at senior level, but he adapted well to the inside centre role.
Given thought that his captain is likely to wear the No 12 at Loftus at the weekend, he’s more likely to be a late game impact at outside centre in a game that the Sharks now have to win if their quest for a top eight finish on the URC log is not to be thrown into jeopardy.
The Johannesburg defeat means the Sharks go into the Loftus game in 10th position on the log, with the eighth placed Bulls, who have 25 points to their 24, having played one game less than them.