More heartbreak for Sharks as Hurricanes run in last-gasp winner

DURING this Super Rugby campaign, Sharks coach Robert du Preez went slightly off script by saying winning is all that matters, regardless of how it is done, and what the performance looks like.

It will be interesting if he still feels that way after a heartbreaking 38-37 loss to the Hurricanes in Napier yesterday morning.

There is no doubting the Sharks have turned a corner since they hit New Zealand shores. They said it loudly, that they were inches away from clicking, and against the Blues, and the Hurricanes, they certainly clicked.

The Sharks were by far the better team in Napier on the night. They dominated most facets of play and played a brand of rugby which has been in the works for some time now, and is clearly quite effective.

Hard and direct when it counted, and silky and skilful when needed, the Sharks first battered the Hurricanes up front before playing into them outside.

Excellent kick-off, an unerring Robert du Preez Jnr book, and the physicality of Andre Esterhuizen, Thomas du Toit

and Jean-Luc du Preez – to name a few – put the Canes right on the back foot.

But, despite this excellent display of clinical rugby, the Sharks were not perfect. Any team which faces a New Zealand side knows there is at least a try or two which needs to be sacrificed to their incredible counter attacking ways.

The Canes had their moments, keeping themselves in the game, but what really sunk the visitors is how their discipline started to let them down, especially when it got tight towards the end.

Even before the lead up to the final try, four minutes into extra time, the Sharks had given away more than double the amount of penalties than the Hurricanes. Then, with the Canes kicking a much needed three points to get them in sight with the time ticking, the Sharks gave away three penalties in a row before that fateful Laumape try.

There is no doubt Du Preez will be fuming about the disciplinary lapse that led to the Hurricanes snatching victory, especially after making a point about how costly their yellow card was against the Blues; it saw three tries being scored against them in Auckland.

But other than the lack of discipline, and the result of course, the Sharks have everything to proud of. They rode the wave of optimism from the Blues into the Hurricanes game, and deserved the win.

And, if the cliche is anything to go by, you learn more from your losses than your wins.

Captain Ruan Botha said after the match that the team was excited to be heading home, after their four week stint abroad, and they will be coming home to two tough derbies against the Bulls and Stormers.

But the Sharks also return with a lot more respect and credibility behind their name, and a platform on which to seriously mount a challenge into the second half of this season.