Defeated Sharks fume over ref’s decisions
THE Sharks were left seething following their dramatic 34-29 Super Rugby defeat at the hands of the Lions on Saturday.
They were fuming over what they perceived as inconsistencies in the way incidents of foul play were officiated.
They had a try disallowed when, after many replays, the TMO ruled that lock Etienne Oosthuizen had committed an act of foul play‚ while the same player was guilty of a similar offence just before half time with the Lions on the attack.
Oosthuizen received a yellow card and the Lions got themselves back in the game and then grabbed the lead by scoring two converted tries either side of the break.
“The yellow card cost us 14 points. That tells the story‚” the Sharks’ taciturn coach, Robert du Preez, said.
He was unhappy that TMO Johan Greeff did not apply the law equally throughout the 80 minutes.
“Look‚ that yellow card was so marginal. It’s so marginal.
“Then you have to review every single foul play in the game, not just the one.
“I don’t know. I think there were other incidents in the game that should be looked at. So it is not just those two.”
He was loathe to blame the temporary loss of Oosthuizen for his team’s defeat.
“We had chances right through until the end.
“I don’t think it was the turning point, but it definitely contributed to the result.”
His team brought a robust intensity to Ellis Park which served to knock the Lions out of their stride.
The collisions were brutal and big reputations were dented.
Du Preez gave his team’s intensity the thumbs up.
“It was a tough game, it’s a physical pack.”
What undoubtedly helped put the squeeze on the Lions was the unerring boot of Curwin Bosch, who contributed 19 points.
He is now the competition’s top points scorer with 73.
“He played very well. He showed that he has big match temperament,” Du Preez said.
Bosch received warmer praise from the Lions.
“A guy like Curwin Bosch‚ he’s talent‚” Lions coach Johan Ackermann said.
“He showed under pressure that he can kick. He punished us.”
While he was happy with his team’s fighting spirit‚ Du Preez acknowledged that they had a lot to work on.
“I’m not happy with our discipline,” he said.
“To concede so many penalties, although I need to have another look at the game to see whether some of those decisions were right or not.”
The Sharks failed to knock the Africa Group 2 frontrunners off their perch and now have to reset their sights on another team vying for conference honours‚ the redoubtable Jaguares.
“It is a tough group we’re in‚” Du Preez said.
“The Jaguares at home‚ and then we still have to play them there.
“We have to go for it this weekend and then we have a break after that.
“We have eight games left‚ so there is still a lot of rugby to be played.”