The Hollywoodbets Sharks eked out a narrow 20-17 victory over the Vodacom Bulls to win a tough Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby in Durban and get their campaign back on track.
But the win came under controversial circumstances as a penalty try that will be much debated in the coming week brought them back into the game from 17-10 down and allowed them to sneak home in sweltering, humid conditions in Durban.
The home side was disrupted before the game, losing Springbok captain Siya Kolisi on Thursday to an injury, but only announcing his absence before kickoff.
While they were missing a number of Springboks, many may point out that their squad depth is far deeper than most teams.
Still, in the conditions, the ball was always going to be slippery and it was going to be the side that held their nerve in the crucial moments that would come out victorious.
And after missing two penalties with the teams level at 17-all, Jordan Hendrikse slotted a third penalty straight afterwards to put his side ahead for the final minutes of the game.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks hold on for a vital victory against the Vodacom Bulls 💪💪#VURC pic.twitter.com/N5LiMpSycC
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) December 21, 2024
PENALTY TRY SWUNG MOMENTUM
But it may not have been as it seemed the Bulls had control of the game at one point, but the controversial penalty try swung the momentum firmly back in the favour of the home side.
Jordan Hendrikse kicked the ball through and the chase was on between the Bulls' Sebastian de Klerk and the Sharks’ Ethan Hooker, with the former illegally knocking the ball over the dead-ball line to beat an oncoming Makazole Mapimpi.
However, replays showed that in the chase, Hooker had touched the ball and since it had moved forward, it should have been a knock-on, but referee Morne Ferreira inexplicably ruled that there was “no clear knock-on” and awarded the penalty try, giving De Klerk a yellow card in the process.
With the TMO and touch judges silent, the Bulls suddenly were down to 14 men and the scores were level - a crucial moment in the game.
While Ferreira made his decision, it is tough to explain. Surely if a player touches a ball and it moves forward, even a centimetre, it is a knock-on?
BULLS HAD ENOUGH CHANCES
Nevertheless, the Bulls still had enough chances afterwards to win it, with Johan Goosen missing two penalties at goal and the pack fluffing a half dozen chances at the death on the Sharks line.
The Sharks probably needed the win much more than the Bulls in the bigger sceme of things, but the Pretoria side now end the year off with three straight losses, something they won’t be happy with, especially with a trip to Castres ahead of them in the new year when the Investec Champions Cup returns.
Both sides were guilty of atrocious game management at times, but it would be unfair to say the conditions didn’t have a hand in matters, as rugby this time of year in Durban is never a pretty thing to watch.
The Bulls had the scrum dominance, winning penalty after penalty but failed to make that dominance count, with the same old problems of execution coming in the second half when they needed to be clinical.
During the game there were too many poor passes - notably from the likes of Goosen and Le Roux, with the attacking game often coming down to chips over the top that didn’t work and one-off runners, who were picked off easily by the Sharks defence.
Where the Bulls go from here is an interesting question, because at least two of the last three games they have created enough chances, but their execution has been exceptionally poor.
Things won’t get easier in the new year with two Champions’ Cup games and then the Lions, Sharks and Stormers as their next opposition.
SHARKS DEFENCE STOOD FIRM
The Sharks, however, will be buoyed by their victory, especially as they targeted this game, and then lost several big name players in the build-up.
After their scrum was demolished, the way that a number of players stood up - including the likes of Corne Rahl, Phepsi Buthelezi and Andre Esterhuizen in particular - underlined how important this victory was for the side.
They did go 10-0 up early though after Hendrikse added a penalty and then his brother Jaden went over for the opening try.
The try came from a simple backline move that saw Yaw Penxe cut in at the angle, flat-footing Stedman Gans, but being stopped 10 metres short.
A few drives upfield, most notably from Emmanuel Tshituka, opened the way for Jaden to pick up and dive over with no defence in front of him.
The Bulls struck back twice to retake the lead, with both tries coming from lineout moves.
Embrose Papier featured heavily in both, with the first coming after Cameron Hanekom was taken around the neck but managed to pop the ball to him, where Papier stepped one tackle and surged forward to offload to Cobus Wiese to score.
Sensational footwork from Embrose Papier 😮💨
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) December 21, 2024
The scrum-half with a lovely try assist for Cobus Wiese to give the Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby the lead 👏 @Vodacom #URC | #SHAvBUL pic.twitter.com/MfZN9xzztX
The second came after De Klerk took the ball at speed and went through a hole, passing inside to Harold Vorster who had enough power over the line.
The Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby at their brilliant best 💯@Vodacom #URC | #SHAvBUL pic.twitter.com/b4SqkqqTNK
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) December 21, 2024
At 14-10 the game was evenly poised before Johan Goosen put the Bulls ahead with a penalty, and it seemed they were taking control with 20 minutes left.
But then the dropped ball was kicked through and the chaos led to the penalty try, and suddenly the Sharks were back in it, and looking stronger than ever.
The Bulls were rocked by back-to-back penalties, which allowed Jordan Hendrikse to put his side ahead, and the Sharks defence held out, although Bulls fans would be frustrated at the options their side took in this period of the game.
What a kick from Jordan Hendrikse 🚀🚀
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) December 21, 2024
The Hollywoodbets Sharks lead by three with ten minutes to go 👀
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/pEpOkSLWon
The Sharks head to Cape Town this week for the showdown with the Stormers, while the Bulls will now have 10 days off to contemplate what went wrong and how to fix it before heading to France.
SCORERS
Hollywoodbets Sharks - tries: Jaden Hendrikse, Penalty try. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse. Penalties: Jordan Hendrikse (2).
Vodacom Bulls - tries: Cobus Wiese, Harold Vorster. Conversions: Johan Goosen. Penalty: Goosen.