Sharks survive late Zebre comeback

The Cell C Sharks were made to sweat as a second half comeback from Italian side Zebre ran them close, eventually winning 42-37 in a high-scoring Vodacom United Rugby Championship match in Parma on Friday night.

The Sharks surged to a 28-3 lead after a half hour and looked to have the game wrapped up by halftime, but a second-half surge by the home side saw them come within touching distance of a shock win.

Eventually a crucial TMO decision went the Sharks' way four minutes from the end and instead of the home side levelling the scores at 39-all, the Sharks got a penalty way down the field and took the game to 42-34 before holding out in the end.

For South African sides who have often been at the wrong end of the decision-making process, the TMO picking up a off-ball shoulder charge on Werner Kok from the kickoff that led to the try was something to savour.

It meant that instead of fighting for their lives at 39-all with a conversion to come, the Sharks had a 10-point swing as Boeta Chamberlain put over the penalty to give them some breathing room.

But there will be a lot of questions asked of game management, especially as the Sharks were on top for the first 40 and then were backpedaling as Zebre stormed back into the game in the second half on the back of a rampant maul and some beautiful running on the outside.

Much like Zebre did to Leinster last week, they fought back from a lost cause to be the dominant side with momentum as the game closed out and it was the visitors who were more than relieved to hear the final whistle.

As a contrast of two halves, you couldn’t get a better example and the Sharks will need to work on how they manage their leads in the future if they want to make an impact in the competition.

One thing is sure, if Zebre could sort out their discipline, they would be a big threat to all sides in the competition.

That’s what cost the Italians dearly in the first half as they spent the opening 25 minutes with two yellow cards, conceded four tries and basically lost the game in the first half, similar to what happened against Leinster the previous week.

ZEBRE ENERGISED, SHARKS LETHARGIC

It was a string of seven penalties and the two yellow cards that gave the Sharks an easy start and they capitalised with glee as the Italians were backpedaling the entire time.

It didn’t take long for Reniel Hugo and Kerron van Vuuren to cross the line, but the real beauty was when the Sharks executed a beautiful setpiece play with Ben Tapuai slicing through and sending an inside ball to Boeta Chamberlain, who in turn gave Rohan Janse van Renburg the perfect pass for his debut try for the Durban team.

The Sharks dominated virtually everything in that half and Zebre were lucky to only concede two yellow cards in the string of penalties they created.

At 28-3 a few minutes before the end of the half it looked done and dusted and the only real question being how big the scoreline would be.

But then Zebre woke up and their rolling maul caused the Sharks problems, with hooker Luca Bigi grabbing back a try to send the sides into the break at 28-10.

The second half was something different. Zebre emerged energised while the Sharks looked lethargic. The momentum swing came quickly as the Italians punched up the field and then went wide, catching the Sharks' defence out a number of times.

The impressive Taina Fox-Matamua made inroads, and eventually added their third try, but it was the fourth and fifth by Gabriele Venditti and Jacopo Trulla, the two substitutes, that brought the crowd alive.

It meant that the Sharks were hanging on as Zebre stormed back to 39-34 behind and then scored a beauty of a try from the kickoff, only for referee Craig Evans and the TMO to go back and check.

The replays showed Werner Kok clearly being taken out off the ball and the Sharks were saved.

Zebre added a late penalty to give themselves a chance of the upset, but the Sharks managed to hold out for the win.

But it was a lesson for Sean Everitt’s side about the fighting spirit of the opposition and leaves so many questions unanswered for the Sharks as they head into their second tour match.

SCORERS

Zebre Parma - tries: Luca Bigi, Simone Besi, Taina Fox-Matamua, Gabriele Venditti, Jacopo Trulla. Conversions: Tiff Eden (3). Penalties: Eden (2).

Cell C Sharks - tries: Reniel Hugo, Kerron van Vuuren, Werner Kok, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Dan Jooste. Conversions: Boeta Chamberlain (4). Penalties: Chamberlain (3)