The Hollywoodbets Sharks arrived in Johannesburg with the destination of the Shield trophy awarded to the top local team in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship very much in their hands, but after this comprehensive 38-14 defeat their chances lie in tatters and dependent on other results.
Instead of the Sharks welcoming the Emirates Lions in Durban next Saturday playing for the Shield and pressing, along with the Vodacom Bulls, for a top two spot on the overall log, the Gauteng team will head to Hollywoodbets Kings Park with their own URC hopes very much alive and rejuvenated after this impressive domination of Vincent Tshituka’s team at Emirates Airlines Park.
Bring on next week's rematch 💪@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvSHA #OriginRound #GrassrootsToGreatness pic.twitter.com/gfqugqVV3Q
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 1, 2025
A lot has been written recently, particularly on this computer keyboard, about the Sharks’ impressive culture, resilience and never- say-die temperament that has seen them home against the odds in other URC derbies as well as significantly against these same opponents in last September’s Currie Cup culture.
The Lions went to the break 19-0 up after a half where their territory and forward dominance completely shut out the Sharks.
With rain falling on the players on the field and the people in the stands, it was clear that the Sharks would need to surpass all their Houdini Acts in order to prevail.
And when Richard Kriel wriggled over for the Lions’ bonus-point try within two minutes of the start of the second half, it was clear it was a task that would be beyond them.
The Lions were impressive in their execution. They made sure they made hay while the sun shone, in the sense that before the rain really started falling heavily they scored 14 points through two well taken tries.
The hosts were into the Sharks’ half from the outset, and it was from an attacking lineout that they launched the two strong drives that eventually saw hooker PJ Botha barge over near the posts.
LEAD WAS HUGE IN THE CONDITIONS
That was after seven minutes so when Gianni Lombard converted it was 7-0 after as many minutes.
It became 14-0 after as many minutes when No 8 Francke Horn scored an almost identical try from another Lions visit into the Sharks’ 22 seven minutes later.
A 14 point advantage in a game that was played in such wet conditions was a big edge for the hosts.
From there the Sharks had to play, which was always going to be difficult in the period when the ball was like a cake of soap, and apart from their handling errors some poor lineout work and six turnovers against them meant they failed to get any momentum.
It isn’t disrespecting the Lions to suggest the Sharks just didn’t pitch in those early minutes, and once they were behind they were always up against it.
The Lions by contrast just grew more and more in confidence as the game went on.
While they played perfect wet weather rugby in the first half, when the sun started to smile through the clouds on the Lions around the halfway point of the game they started to then also put the passes together and punish the Sharks in their more traditional style.
The third try came shortly before halftime when wing Edwill van der Merwe ran a good line off a deft inside pass from the ever impressive scrumhalf Morne van den Bergh to dot down for a try that wasn’t converted but left the Lions well ahead at the halfway mark.
This link up between Linden High School Morné van den Berg & @MatiesRugby's Edwill an der Merwe 😍@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvSHA #OriginRound #GrassrootsToGreatness pic.twitter.com/WgnTFo16pF
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 1, 2025
Sharks prop Ntuthuko Mchunu was off the field at that point after being shown a yellow card, that the referee couldn’t initially locate in his pocket, and he was still off the field when former Sharks stalwart centre Marius Louw sent Kriel in at the corner going blind shortly just after halftime.
FORWARDS SET IT UP
The pick and go ploy of earlier was back to the fore when the Lions crossed through Jeppe old boy Jarod Cairns on the hour mark, much to the delight of the Jeppe schoolboys present for this round of the URC’s State of Origin innovation.
Lombard was on target with that conversion to stretch his team into a 31 point lead but it was replacement scrumhalf Nico Steyn who converted the final Lions try that was rounded off by flyhalf Lombard and was inspired by a great attack that featured some of the Lions props in a rare role as offloaders, runners and passers.
It looked like the Sharks were headed for the ignominy of being whitewashed but they ensured they have some momentum to take with them into the return game next week after scoring two good late consolation tries to wing Ethan Hooker and replacement loose-forward Siya Kolisi.
If the Sharks are going to reverse the result next week they are going to have to find a way to contain the Lions’ physical and abrasive pack, with the forwards being the real heroes of what was an outstanding performance from the home team.
The full house of bonus points lifts them into strong contention for a top eight finish, while for the Sharks this was a severe setback to their quest for a top two finish.
When it comes to the Shield, it left the Bulls playing for the trophy in the late game at Loftus, with their opponents from Cape Town also in the mix now for local success should they get across the line as winners.
A Stormers win will leave the Sharks needing to win next week to beat them to the Shield.
Scores
Emirates Lions 38 - Tries: PJ Botha, Francke Horn, Edwill van der Merwe, Richard Kriel, Jarrod Cairns, Gianni Lombard; Conversions: Gianni Lombard 3 and Nico Steyn.
Hollywoodbets Sharks 14 - Try: Ethan Hooker and Siya Kolisi; Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse 2.