In the clear: Odwa Ndungane
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The Sharks moved into the top half of the Super Rugby table after battling past the Brumbies for a 29-26 bonus-point win in Canberra on Saturday.
It had been a long time since the franchise from Durban had won in this Australian city, 1998 to be exact, but they managed to hold on for vital points.
Tries came from Riaan Viljeon (2), Willem Alberts and a second-half length-of-the-field effort from Lwazi Mvovo, which was a key score in the game.
Mvovo's converted try had made the score 29-19 with 18 minutes left and despite the Brumbies' late try from Nic White, they ultimately fell short.
Jesse Mogg scored the other try for the home side while Christian Lealiifano added 16 points from the tee with four penalties and two conversions.
Viljoen went over for his first try in the 22nd minute after good phase play from the Sharks led to Fred Michalak firing out the final pass to his full-back.
The Brumbies replied when Mogg pulled off the try of the day - latching onto a team-mate's pass and delivering a kick-and-chase that bounced perfectly over Odwa Ngundane's head and back into his hands before the line. It was a nice moment after his poor start kicking out of hand.
Viljoen crossed again in the 35th minute to give the Sharks the lead once again before the Brumbies clawed it back before half-time from a penalty from inside centre Lealiifano.
The Sharks returned in top form and when a fumble from Lealiifano occurred close to his own line, Alberts pounced before Michalak added the two to make it 22-16 on 44 minutes. They were looking good, with Jean Deysel and Jacques Botes waiting on the bench.
Lealiifano did reduce the arrears again just before the hour, but then the Sharks opened up a cushion with their fourth try as Mvovo collected the ball from lock Steven Sykes and backed himself to outpace the chasing Brumbies. Michalak converted once again to make it 29-19.
Credit to the Brumbies though, who did not give up the ghost as they looked for a way back into the game with 18 minutes left. And they did get some reward for their spirited efforts as replacement scrum-half White went over for a consolation try to claim the bonus-point.
The scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: Mogg, White
Con: Lealiifano 2
Pen: Lealiifano 4
For Sharks:
Tries: Viljeon 2, Alberts, Mvovo
Con: Michalak 3
Pen: Michalak
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Leon Power, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ruadhri Murphy.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Scott Fardy, 19 Ita Vaea, 20 Nic White, 21 Zack Holmes, 22 Joe Tomane.
Sharks: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Jandre Marais, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Louis Ludik.
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Comments
Carpelone says...
Trinats
I am sure that meneer is not a Rooinek.
But I agree that his comment was not from a Meneer. At least, it was fun.
Posted 14:32 03rd April 2012
Jazz says...
I just don't get the breakdown laws. On both both sides the cleaners were allowed to charge in and go off their feet over the ball. It was clearly allowed in the Highlander/Rebels match too. Then also some fetching is allowed with daylight, whilst others are not. At scrum time these days, all the teams are allowed to put the ball in basically under the eighth man's feet, and line out throws need only be marginally straight. That there should even be something like "playing the ref" is ridiculous. There should be rights and wrongs and anything else should be openly criticized as inconsistency.
Posted 10:04 02nd April 2012
meneer says...
Trinats I think you have been listening to the commentators too much, that Kearns really - if we believed them the Sharks should have lost by 50. Try watching without the sound/noise next game, you may see a different game.
Like a I said last week after the Bulls/Reds game, don't read too much into that Trinats - it is difficult to travel & the Bulls have been on the receiving end in Brisbane.
Posted 09:08 01st April 2012
zuluboy11 says...
Should have been 20 points difference to the sharks. Once again shocking ref especially the forward pass and many others. Spotted the sharks forward pass!!!! These refs are killing the game something has to be done...people are loosing interest. Naas asked the question why Autralasian refs are so bad, can anyone answer this? Well done Cheetah's - game of the tournament so far!
Posted 07:16 01st April 2012
SACanuck says...
Better thIs week Sharks, but still not playing 80 min.
Posted 15:23 31st March 2012
meneer says...
Lucky to get a bonus point, really wish the Sharks had pushed through the last 3 minutes and finished in style. Having said that I believe Jake White placed a huge order for viagra after the game, something about his players impotence......Reds last week, Brumbies this week - not sure even Trinats can talk himself out of this one.
Posted 12:11 31st March 2012
letsgoboks says...
NICE ONE! Aussie commentators... eish.
Posted 11:25 31st March 2012