Sharks outclassed by the Highlanders
Home team’s shabby efforts lead to a humiliating result
THE Sharks, who are the country’s last remaining hope at Super Rugby glory, were humiliated 34-18 by the Highlanders in Durban last night but the defeat had been coming.
For the previous two weeks, coach Jake White ignored the signs of his team’s decline in performance and was clouded by the eight points they picked up against the Lions and the Cheetahs.
But the mistakes were there and they were glaring. The Sharks seldom found good rhythm of phases in Johannesburg and at home against the Cheetahs they were downright awful in attack.
Last night, when they needed a good blend of defence and offence they cracked at both ends.
The Highlanders looked more like the team on top of the Super Rugby combined log while the Sharks looked like a cross between the Rebels and the Cheetahs.
Sure, pre-match injuries to Bismarck du Plessis and Jean Deysel disrupted the team but there was no excuse for the poor showing.
Highlanders outside centre Malakai Fekitoa’s try, the fourth for the visitors, explained everything that was wrong with the Sharks.
He broke two tackles at will on the halfway line, ran past two defenders, and then out-paced JP Pietersen to score under the poles.
Ideally, the point is not to kick possession away to a team with capable attackers such as Ben Smith, Fekitoa and Aaron Smith but the Sharks learnt this the hard way.
Right wing Richard Buckman was the first beneficiary of the sloppy Sharks play, scoring in the corner after being put through behind the defence by a neat Shaun Treeby grubber 18 minutes into the game.
More errors led to more Highlanders tries.
This time they capitalised on the Sharks defence not setting themselves up in their usually solid formation and Aaron Smith darted close to the line to score under the posts midway through the first half.
The Highlanders would have more to say on the scoreboard before the break, this time scoring from a lineout drive through Shane Christie.
The Sharks showed better urgency and ball retention in the second half but then their handling went to the dogs.
Rookie flyhalf Tim Swiel’s six penalties put them within touch at 24-18 at the beginning of the final quarter but the error rate needed to drop dramatically if they were to pull themselves out of the dungeon.
But they crumbled, letting Fekitoa through to score a similar try as he did against the Bulls two weeks ago, and the Sharks succumbed to their first defeat at home this season.
Scorers Sharks 18: Penalties: Tim Swiel (6) Highlanders 34: Tries: Richard Buckman, Aaron Smith, Shane Christie, Malakai Fekitoa Conversions: Lima Sopoaga (4) Penalties: Lima Sopoaga (2)