Sharks too strong for ordinary Edinburgh
EDINBURGH’S miserable recent record in knockout rugby continued in Durban as the Springboks-laden Sharks turned on the power to reach the Challenge Cup semi-finals.
Since reaching the final of this competition in 2015, the Scottish side had only won one of their subsequent 11 knockout matches in domestic and European competition until last week’s round-of-16 victory against Bayonne.
They turned round a 14-6 deficit to lead 16-14 at halftime here, but conceded a slew of penalties in the third quarter as the hosts surged 33-16 clear before two tries in the final six minutes gave the scoreline a slightly flattering look.
“This hurts, we didn’t come here to be plucky losers, we came here to win,” said Edinburgh co-captain Grant Gilchrist, following his 200th game for the club.
“That 20 minutes after half-time we gave away too many penalties and paid the price against a quality Sharks side.”
With tournament rules preventing South African sides from hosting semi-finals, the Sharks will face Clermont, 53-14 winners over Ulster, at Harlequins’ Stoop home next month.
Edinburgh, beaten 2313 at Kings Park in URC action a fortnight ago, started well in the heat and were 6-0 to the good via two Ben Healy penalties. But Sharks burst into life with a brilliant try, wing Makazole Mapimpi chipping over the top and regathering before releasing centre Lukhanyo Am for the line.
Their second score also stemmed from a clever kick over the top, this time by No.10 Siya Masuku, and several offloads later Eben Etzebeth fed James Venter to cross in the corner.
Etzebeth was in the thick of things as usual, holding up hooker Ewan
Ashman over the line before being sent to the sinbin for bringing down a lineout maul.
The visitors took immediate advantage as prop Pierre Schoeman dummied over from close range. Healy’s conversion and penalty with the last kick of the half put Edinburgh ahead, but Sharks cranked up the pressure on the resumption.
With their scrum earning penalties and field position, Masuku landed two shots at goal as Edinburgh were pinged six times in a row. The decisive score came after 55 minutes as Sharks sent another penalty to the corner and hooker Bongi Mbonambi peeled off a maul to score with a swan-dive before departing, having appeared to injure himself in the act.
Two more Masuku penalties effectively sealed the outcome before Edinburgh roused themselves late on, Hamish Watson and Dave Cherry both crossing from lineout mauls either side of a Curwin Bosch penalty.