Sharks limp to draw in drab display

THE Sharks and the Rebels mined such depths in their uninspiring 9-all draw that the former’s coach suggested his players reimburse the King’s Park faithful.

It was one of the drabbest Super Rugby matches since the competition’s inception in 1996.

It is right down there along with the Reds’ soul-destroying 6-5 win over the Sharks at the same venue in 2004.

“Our players should refund the public‚” a demure Robert du Preez muttered. “It was so bad. “I’m very disappointed.” His Rebels counterpart, Tony McGahan, was not impressed either.

Asked whether he thought the match was an advert for the current Super Rugby format, he said: “I wouldn’t have thought so.”

Imprecision‚ mostly the Sharks’ inability to hold onto the ball‚ cost them dearly as they tried to secure an improbable win after centre Andre Esterhuizen was sent off in the 17th minute.

The Rebels also lost their captain Nic Stirzaker to a red card‚ but his arrived in the second half.

Still‚ Du Preez felt his side could have got the job done.

“I think we had all the opportunities in the world to win this game. We just stuffed it up . . . one opportunity after the other,” he said.

“We had 20 opportunities by going into their 22. We should definitely have converted some a lot more.

“There was a complete lack of composure. Obviously, the red card had a big role to play.”

He did not want to blame his side’s questionable discipline‚ conceding however that the six penalties they conceded proved costly.

“It [the red card] was very disappointing. To tip tackle a guy after the whistle has gone, that’s just poor.”

McGahan thought his side did well to eke out a draw. “We didn’t have enough ball in the second half. I thought we were pretty lucky to get away with some points‚ to be honest,” he said.

“We were lucky they missed a few kicks and opportunities to get over the line.

“It was only our resolute defence that kept us in it. They controlled the ball.”

McGahan did not want to blame uncertainty around the Rebels’ Super Rugby future for their performance.

“There are a lot of distractions in Australia that have engulfed the whole game. It’s not just the Force and Rebels‚ everybody is feeling it.”

The Sharks are away to the Jaguares next weekend.