GILCHRIST: WE HALF TO PLAY MUCH BETTER
EDINBURGH second row Grant Gilchrist slammed his side for a toothless second-half performance that allowed the Sharks to bite back and win.
Gilchrist, who was hoping to celebrate his 200th appearance for the club with a Challenge Cup quarter-final victory, was angry at how they let slip a two-point half-time lead.
The Scotland star said: “We came to South Africa to win as we knew we were more than good enough. We certainly didn’t come here to be plucky losers.
“We stuck to our task in the first half and deserved to go in ahead. Then we go and have a poor 20 minutes and that is where the game was lost for us.
“We gave away too many penalties, couldn’t exit our half and paid the price.”
Head coach Sean Everitt added: “We let ourselves down and I’m gutted.”
Edinburgh took an early lead through the trusty boot of Ben Healy who put over two penalties within the first 15 minutes.
The Sharks got on the scoreboard after a break from winger Makazole Mapimpi set up a try for Lukhanyo Am.
Two-time South African World Cup winner Eben
SHARKS......... EDINBURGH..
Etzebeth then made his presence felt. First, he held up Edinburgh hooker Ewan Ashman over the line to save a certain try.
The big second row’s next involvement was up the other end when he played a try-scoring pass to James Venter who scored in the corner.
Etzebeth was then sent to the sin-bin for taking Sam Skinner out in the air at the line-out.
Edinburgh took full advantage of having an extra man and prop Pierre Schoeman crashed over. A minute before the break a Healy penalty gave his side a two- point cushion at half-time.
But two penalties from Siya Masuku within the first 12 minutes of the second half gave the home side a four- point lead. They went further ahead when Sharks captain Bongi Mbonambi dived over.
Six minutes from time Hamish Watson scored a try for Edinburgh. Sharks replacement Curwin Bosch replied with a penalty, although David Cherry went over for the visitors in the last play of the game.