The Hollywoodbets Sharks put up a powerful performance, grabbing a bonus point in the first half and scoring five tries as they smashed Munster 41-24 in their United Rugby Championship match in Durban on Saturday.
The Sharks, sporting several of their Springbok stars, were a step up from last week and recorded their second consecutive victory, scoring their first try within 43 seconds of the game kicking off and getting their bonus point by the 36th minute.
Munster rallied hard in the second half and two late tries saw them get a bonus point for their efforts, although they were soundly beaten.
The Irish province, who were champions in the 2022/3 season, have now won just two of their opening six matches and the bonus point was the only point they will return home with from their two games in South Africa.
The return of the Boks continues to do bits for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the #VURC 🦈🔥
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 26, 2024
It's the third win of the season for the men from Durban ✅🏉 pic.twitter.com/Aq3EXAOj9c
MAESTRO PERFORMANCE BY WILLIAMS
The Sharks pack was superb and laid a firm foundation for their victory, but it was orchestrated by a mature performance at halfback by Bok scrumhalf Grant Williams.
The diminutive nine was everywhere, and with so much good ball at his disposal he chose the right option on so many occasions, making him an easy man of the match candidate.
Williams was like a conductor, highlighting the strengths and putting players through gaps, taking them himself when it mattered and offloading for the perfect final pass.
If that alone doesn’t make him a strong candidate to start the test matches in November for the Boks, it will have to be a massive surprise.
He was aided and abetted by some strong performances by Vincent Tshituka, James Venter and Ox Nche, while virtually the entire backline had good games and made an impression.
But given the amount of good ball they had, that wasn’t a surprise.
What was a surprise was the way they got out of the blocks before those in the stadium had even caught their breath.
TRY FROM FIRST RUCK
It took just 43 seconds from the kickoff, from the first ruck of the game, that Williams saw a gap and darted, offloading to a flying Aphelele Fassi to weave his way past the last defence to score.
.@SharksRugby have come flying out of the traps! 📷
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 26, 2024
A try in the first minute here in Durban!@Vodacom #URC | #SHAvMUN pic.twitter.com/JjUNVPEd8U
The dead-shot boots of Jordan Hendrikse were always adding the extras, as he ended with a tally of 16 points for the night.
Four minutes later and the Sharks had troubled the scorers again.
This time, winning the ball back from a contestable kick, it was quickly shifted wide, where Andre Esterhuizen drew the defence and put Makazole Mapimpi in a position to use his jet shoes, rounding his opposite number on the outside and scoring in the corner.
Hendrikse’s extras and a penalty made it 17-0 in less than 15 minutes, and Munster were reeling.
But the proud Irish province - whose theme song is “Stand up and fight”, were not to be outdone.
While the Sharks won the ball back from another contestable kick, the ball spilt out the side of the ruck, only for big Tony Ahern to gallop 35 metres to score in the corner despite a desperate tackle from Williams.
Williams was in the thick of it again shortly afterwards as a poor clearance kick was gathered by Fassi, who chipped over the defence and a wicked bounce landed for Esterhuizen, who immediately went inside to put Williams away under the posts.
Munster again hit back after several phases, this time Mike Hayley was the last pass to beat a tired defence and score.
SLUGFEST
But the slugfest continued and the Sharks got their bonus point in the 36th minute in sparkling fashion, with a powerful scrum getting a perfect right shoulder for Williams to attack from and send the ball to Esterhuizen, who powered his way over the defence to score.
🎙️"Easy like Sunday morning" 🤌🔥
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 26, 2024
Andre Esterhuizen effortlessly powers through defenders to score before the break!@Vodacom #URC | #SHAvMUN pic.twitter.com/wARvn2ge3T
That left the Sharks 31-10 up at the break, with the game virtually won.
The second half contained few highlights, and Munster were much better, and at one point saw Venter dispatched to the sin bin for an infringement close to the line.
But even with 14 men, the Sharks held firm and Tshituka added their fifth try by charging down Billy Burns’s attempted clearance, earning himself an easy pick up and score.
Vincent Tshituka is bringing his A-game and a whole lot of heart today 📷📷@Vodacom #URC | #SHAvMUN pic.twitter.com/OQE00rcSB0
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 26, 2024
Munster came back at the end, with tries to Calvin Nash and Tadgh Berne making the scoreline look more respectable and giving them something for their troubles.
But they were well-beaten, with the Sharks' first 40 a warning on how good they can be.
And if they can stretch that to an 80 minute performance, they would give their fans a lot to shout about.
Scorers
Hollywoodbets Sharks - tries: Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams, Andre Esterhuizen, Vincent Tshituka. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (5). Penalties: Hendrikse (2).
Munster - tries: Tom Ahern, Mike Hayley, Calvin Nash, Tadgh Berne. Conversions: Billy Burns (2).