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By Ashfak Mohamed 
4h ago
CAPE TOWN – Siya Kolisi made a try on her debut as the Sharks bombarded the Bulls by scoring five attempts in 25 minutes to establish a convincing 45-12 victory at drenched Kings Park in Durban on Friday night.
The attacking effort of a powerful Sharks team in the first half was too much for a Bulls team that was largely second-line in nature.
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Despite many puddles on the field from the rain that fell before the game, the Sharks did not stop in attack, facing the Bulls defense with excellent handling and quick thinking with the ball in hand. to run in seven attempts. the night.
Coach Sean Everitt expressed his joy at the way his players kept the ball alive in the slippery conditions during a second-half television interview, and he had every right to be happy with what his team was able to produce in the last game. of preparation. before the Rainbow Cup begins on April 24.
Forwards set the tone early on with a pair of dominant scrums, in which Bulls tighthead Marcel van der Merwe fought again when he faced serious pressure from Ox Nche.
It didn’t take long for the physical ascent to translate into points, with spirited hooker Fez Mbatha coming off a lineout.
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The hosts had a second in the first eight minutes, with another maul that was knocked down by the Bulls that led to a penalty try and a yellow card for hooker Schalk Erasmus.
Nizaam Carr’s team actually showed some fighting spirit with 14 men on the field, with fullback Richard Kriel claiming a superbly up and down, before center Marnus Potgieter sped on Kolisi and Lukhanyo Am, while wing Diego Appollis produced a wonderful volley to put Carr on the left.
But that was a rare bright moment for Jake White’s side. Sbu Nkosi provided the inspiration for the Sharks’ third five-point, which eventually saw Kolisi hit the mark.
It was soon 31-5 as two quick attempts by Marius Louw and Nche, with the last move with the Sharks’ leading rowers on a few occasions, put the result out of the question.
Flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain also ran the Sharks’ bottom line without a hitch and mixed his game well between spreading the ball and finding space with tactical kicks.
After an opening half hour of rock n ‘roll, the harsh ground conditions seemed to take its toll on the players, who struggled to regain the excellent fluidity they had shown until then.
It was the Bulls who played with the most energy from the start of the second half, with replacement mainstay Mornay Smith making a significant difference at scrums.
They were rewarded for their determination when young midfielder Dawid Kellerman slipped through a Kolisi tackle attempt and got up again after he was not held to the ground to get to the line.
FULL TIME:
The @cellc Sharks had their full value in their 7 attempts of 2 wins over @BlueBullsRugby at JONSSON King’s Park, with an adventure game that faced conditions that left visitors speechless. #OurSharks #SHAvBUL #FrontlineFighters pic.twitter.com/RjN9goo8gP
– Sharks (@TheSharksZA) March 26, 2021
Kolisi left the field at that 50-minute mark, and Everitt said during a mid-game television interview that he was satisfied with the Springbok captain’s first outing in a black and white jersey.
But the Sharks boss would have been concerned about what looked like a hamstring injury to No. 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe in the first half that forced him to leave the field, especially with the Rainbow Cup starting four weeks from now.
The Bulls never gave up until the final whistle, but a series of handling errors in attack prevented them from increasing their point count.
The game would have provided White with a series of answers to questions he may have had about his depth, especially among forwards, although the rainy conditions made it difficult at all times.
The Sharks finished things off in style with late attempts to replace Rynhardt Jonker and Sanele Nohamba, and the victory would have been very sweet for Everitt after his team lost three of four games, including the Currie Cup final, to the White’s Bulls last season. .
Point scorers
Sharks 45 – Tries: Fez Mbatha, Penalty Try, Siya Kolisi, Marius Louw, Ox Nche, Rynhardt Jonker, Sanele Nohamba. Conversions: Boeta Chamberlain (4).
Bulls 12 – Attempts: Nizaam Carr, David Kellerman. Conversion: Morné Steyn (1).
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