Details

Date Time Competition Season
30 April 2022 3:05 pm United Rugby Championship 2021/22

Match Report

URC: Connacht failed to do back-to-back in South Africa

Connacht’s trip to South Africa ended in disappointment, as Andy Friend’s team were blown away by the Sharks in a 41-21 loss at Kings Park Stadium in the United Rugby Championship. 

Andy Friend’s team were looking to become the first team to win back to back games in South Africa and started promisingly in Durban. Connacht produced a terrific first half display as they carried a 10-21 lead into the break and successfully rode out John Porch’s first half sin bin. 

Connacht outscored the Sharks 8-5 in that 10 minute period, but that proved to be as good as it got for the visitors. Friend’s men were outscored 31-0 in the second period as Connacht were blown away.

The Sharks came out of halftime flying, as they added three tries in a devastating 13 minute spell to take the game away from the visitors before LeRoux Roets added a try at the death to add further gloss to the scoreline.

The win keeps the Sharks hopes for a home quarter-final alive heading into next weekend, and Sean Everitt’s team will be keeping a close eye on Leinster’s game against the Stormers this evening. 

As for Connacht, their question to complete the 4-0 season sweep over the South African teams has come to an end, but Friend’s team will be anxiously awaiting news on Finlay Bealham’s arm injury ahead of next weekend’s clash against Zebre.

Connacht started the game strongly as Conor Fitzgerald traded penalties with Springbok Curwin Bosch to give the visitors an early 3-6 lead. 

Friend’s team were soon left against the odds though, after Porch was sin binned for a high tackle on Ben Tapuai. It didn’t take long for the Sharks to capitalise on their numerical advantage as Gerbrandt Grober carried over from close range to make it 10-6.

Connacht produced an emphatic response as Gavin Thornbury charged down Jaden Hendrikse’s box kick and picked up the loose ball to score the visitors first try of the afternoon. 

Fitzgerald added his third penalty of the afternoon minutes later, before Caolin Blade marked his 150th appearance in Connacht colours with a try to make 10-21 at the break. 

The Sharks clicked into second gear as Marius Louw scored just after the break, before Bongi Mbonambi gave the hosts a 24-21 lead. The floodgates quickly opened up as Grobler added his second try of the afternoon to make it 31-21.

Everitt’s team settled into the groove and continued to add to the scoreboard, with Bosch slotting over his second penalty of the afternoon and LeRoux Roets added the hosts fifth try of the game at the death to earn the Sharks a comfortable win at home. 

Sharks

15Aphelele Fassi Full-Back
14Werner Kok Winger
13Ben Tapuai 22 Centre
12Marius Louw Centre 44'
11Makazole Mapimpi Winger
10Curwin Bosch Fly-Half 25', 45', 49', 54'
14', 73'
9Jaden Hendrikse 23 Scrum-Half
1Ox Nche 17 Prop
2Bongi Mbonambi 16 Hooker 49'
3Thomas du Toit 18 Prop
4Le Roux Roets 19 Lock
5Gerbrandt Grobler Lock 23', 53'
6Siya Kolisi Flanker
7Henco Venter 20 Flanker
8Phepsi Buthelezi 21 No. 8
16Kerron van Vuuren 2 Hooker
17Ntuthuko Mchunu 1 Prop
18Khutha Mchunu 3
19Reniel Hugo 4 Lock
20Jeandre Labuschagne 7
21Sikhumbuzo Notshe 8 No. 8
22Grant Williams 13 Scrum-Half
23Boeta Chamberlain 9 Fly-Half

Connacht

15Mack Hansen Full-Back
14John Porch Winger 23'
13Tom Farrell Centre
12Tom Daly Centre
11Alex Wootton 23 Winger
10Conor Fitzgerald Fly-Half 36'
8', 20', 31'
9Caolin Blade 21 Scrum-Half 35'
1Denis Buckley 17 Prop
2Dave Heffernan 16 Hooker
3Finlay Bealham 18 Prop
4Gavin Thornbury Lock 26'
5Leva Fifita 19 Lock
6Cian Prendergast Flanker
7Conor Oliver Flanker
8Jarrad Butler 20 No. 8
16Dylan Tierney-Martin 2 Hooker
17Jordan Duggan 1 Prop
18Jack Aungier 3 Prop
19Niall Murray 5 Lock
20Oisin Dowling 8 Flanker
21Kieran Marmion 9 Scrum-Half
22Jack Carty Fly-Half
23Tiernan O’Halloran 11 Full-Back

Ground

Jonsson King's Park Stadium
Jonsson Kings Park, Isaiah Ntshangase Road, eThekwini Ward 27, Durban, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, 4056, South Africa