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Sharks player ratings vs Toulouse | Investec Champions Cup
By Josh Raisey
Sharks player ratings: The reigning Investec Champions Cup winners Toulouse booked their place in this year’s play-offs on Saturday against the Sharks in Durban, leaving the hosts empty-handed in an 8-20 win.
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With a daunting trip to Bordeaux-Begles next week, this was nothing short of a must-win match for a Sharks side that were shorn of some of their superstars. With that said, they were not lacking in Springboks against a Toulouse side dripping in internationals.
While much of Europe battles icey temperatures and frozen pitches, the vastly different climactic conditions in Durban proved just as problematic. The heat and humidity saw the slippery ball spilt time and time again in an error-strewn match.
In his first-ever start in the southern hemisphere, Antoine Dupont was at his imperial best, leading the match for line breaks and metres carried. But the visitors were not able to take their opportunities, and only held a ten-point lead at half time despite dominating the territorial battle.
The second half was not too dissimilar, with an early Blair Kinghorn try putting the game to bed. Toulouse would not score again after that try, and though the Sharks stayed in the fight – and closed the lead in the final quarter with a try – it was a game that did not live up to the hype.
Here’s how the Sharks players rated:
15 Hakeem Kunene – 3
Committed the cardinal sin of rugby- the 21-year-old let the ball bounce from a long kick from Romain Ntamack early on. This resulted in a 50:22 for Toulouse and subsequently their first try. Exposed by some wily Toulouse kickers, and taken off at half time after a gruelling 40 minutes.
14 Yaw Penxe – 6
Very assured under the high ball throughout with the ball tough to handle. His offload to Nick Hatton for the Sharks’ try was one of their few bright moments in the match. A brainless slap of the ball after it had gone out late on was perhaps a result of a frustrating match where he was starved of the ball.
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13 Ethan Hooker – 5
Called upon defensively more than anything else, which included a strong shot which forced an error from Dupont.
11 Makazole Mapimpi – 4
Most of his afternoon was spent tracking back to cover Toulouse kicks and scrambling in defence.
12 Francois Venter – 5
Plenty of carries, but without a great impact. Had the ball snatched from his clutches by Ntamack which is not particularly flattering.
10 Jordan Hendrikse – 5
Against a team of Toulouse’s calibre, kicking a penalty to the corner dead was a sloppy error which could have led to an early lead for the hosts. Toulouse opened the scoring with a try just minutes later. Coughed up possession a few times when taking the ball into contact, but his powerful right boot helped stave off wave after wave of Toulouse attacks in the first half.
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9 Jaden Hendrikse – 4
Scrambled back to stop Ntamack when Toulouse looked destined to score their second try of the match following a Dupont break. A crucial intervention to keep his side in the game. But struggled to control the game with some wayward kicking. His shift to fly-half at the break did not result in any more attacking fluency for his side. Produced the same error as his brother late on kicking a penalty dead to cap off a tough afternoon.
1 Ox Nche – 6
Found both feet lifted well off the ground in one scrum up against Dorian Aldegheri, which is a very rare sight in rugby. But in the loose he took the fight to Toulouse, throwing his weight around in defence in some testing conditions and slowing the ball down well.
2 Bongi Mbonambi – 4
Back after a hand injury, but looked slightly rusty at times. Slipped off a tackle on opposite man Peato Mauvaka in the opening stages, but Toulouse did not capitalise on the break. Did not seem to be in sync with his lineout jumpers, with a few poorly timed throws. The blame does not lie solely with the hooker though, and the lineout still managed to function.
3 Vincent Koch – 6
Got the upper hand over France international Rodrigue Neti at the scrum, but left the field before half time with a head injury.
4 Corne Rahl – 4
Filling the void left by Eben Etzebeth and did an admirable job, but could not provide the power in the scrum needed. Could not stop 145kg of Emmanuel Meafou from close range for the opening try of the match, then again, not many could. Looked dead on his feet at the end of the first half in the heat and humidity, and was caught offside in the final play of the half, resulting in three more points for the visitors. Didn’t return after the break.
5 Jason Jenkins – 5
Exerted a huge amount of pressure at the lineout on a Test hooker in Mauvaka. Not the best conditions for a 125kg lock, but he topped his side’s tackle count in his 70-minute stretch, which is commendable.
6 Phepsi Buthelezi – 3
Cost his side three points when his push on halfway resulted in a penalty reversal. Big swing as it would have given the Sharks some rare decent field position. Bossed by a rampant Toulouse back-row, who outclassed their opposing trio handsomely.
7 Emmanuel Tshituka – 4
Spilt a pass early on, and that was not the only time his handling was was poor in a match where handling errors were excruciatingly frequent. Tightened his game up in the second 40 and reduced the errors.
8 Siya Kolisi – 4
Very quiet for the Springbok captain’s elite standards, outshone by the man who replaced him, Nick Hatton.
Replacements
16 Dylan Richardson – 4
Did not have a great time at the lineout in the final 35 minutes of the match, but had an industrious defensive display.
17 Ruan Dreyer – 5
Won a penalty with his first scrum which is what every prop wants.
18 Trevor Nyakane – 7
Found himself on in the first half and won a scrum penalty within moments of coming on, albeit a dubious call.
19 Jeandre Labuschagne – N/A
Only managed nine minutes at the end.
20 Vincent Tshituka – 5
Caused plenty of problems in the lineout for Toulouse alongside Jenkins in the second half.
21 Nick Hatton – 6
His break and offload for the Sharks’ second-half try gave the Sharks hope, and had a few punchy carries in his cameo.
22 Bradley Davids – 5
Not an ideal time for the 22-year-old to come on with a makeshift backline that was already struggling.
23 Jurenzo Julius – 7
Not only finished the Sharks’ opening try off by stepping Kinghorn, but created it too with his offload before contact leading to a line break. ‘The Boogie Man’ looked dangerous on the ball in his second-half stint.
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