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URC shock: Cardiff rout the Sharks in Durban

By PA
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 27: Thomas Young of Cardiff Rugby celebrates scoring a try during the United Rugby Championship match between Cell C Sharks and Cardiff Rugby at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on November 27, 2022 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Thomas Young starred for Cardiff as they thrived in the Durban rain to claim a famous 35-0 victory over the Sharks.

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No Welsh region had previously won in South Africa since the inception of the United Rugby Championship last season, but the Blue and Blacks – without a victory outside of Wales since March 2021 – adapted better to a torrential downpour in the first half to take control of the match.

Dai Young’s men punished their hosts’ numerous errors and chalked up a penalty try and a Young touchdown as they opened up a 23-0 half-time lead, with Jarrod Evans kicking 11 first-half points.

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Young went over again after the break before Ben Thomas wrapped up the bonus point, with Evans adding two more points with the boot.

Both sides were without their Wales and South Africa stars due to Saturday’s out-of-window internationals, but Cardiff’s achievement was nevertheless a hugely impressive one.

Evans got the visitors off the mark from the tee after two minutes, but the they suffered a setback when Josh Turnbull was yellow-carded following a clash of heads with Anthony Volmink.

Conditions worsened as the half progressed and were reminiscent of those witnessed at Hollywoodbet Kings Park in the Sharks’ defeat to Edinburgh last season – their only previous home loss to European opposition.

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Evans doubled Cardiff’s advantage as the match entered the second quarter and the capital region were awarded a penalty try after Marnus Potgieter was deemed to have deliberately knocked the ball dead to prevent Young from touching down. The Sharks wing was also sin-binned for his troubles.

Another Evans penalty made it 16-0 and a Volmink spillage opened the door for Young to race over after Cardiff picked up the pieces, with Evans’ conversion sending the tourists in at the break with a margin they could only have dreamed of ahead of kick-off.

The rain had relented somewhat by the second half, but Cardiff had not.

A driving maul guided Young over for his second try 10 minutes after the restart, although Evans was unable to add the extras on this occasion.

Cardiff had the bonus point in the bag eight minutes later when they got the ball out to Thomas on the left to go over in the corner, and Evans rediscovered his range to convert.

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The Sharks looked to have finally opened their account after 65 minutes, only for Francois Venter’s try to be disallowed for a knock-on in the maul.

Evans missed a penalty before time was up, but there was no taking the gloss off the victory as Cardiff kept their hosts pointless.

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TI 4 hours ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

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