It is a long way to go for just a point, but Saracens all but took the maximum against Sharks in biblical weather in Durban. Now that South Africa has been incorporated into the Champions Cup, these long trips are part and parcel. It meant Saracens changing 10 of their starting lineup. It meant Sharks changing 14 – and a head coach to boot.
JP Pietersen, the former Springbok, stepped up to fill his new role this week when John Plumtree resigned after the Sharks’ heavy defeat in Toulouse on Sunday. One match, one win, his record now reads. For Sharks this was only a second win of the season. They were just about worth it, but still they must despair at finding any rhythm among a squad packed with Springboks.
Four tries against Saracens is not to be sniffed at, even if the visitors travelled short of a few stars themselves, but only a stolen lineout at the death denied the visitors a fourth try of their own and the win. Andy Onyeama-Christie could not quite gather James Hadfield’s throw-in at a five-metre lineout, the clock in the red. In the slippery chaos that followed, Ethan Hooker belted the ball into the stand in relief.
Those high, steepling banks of seats (mostly empty) at Kings Park rattled throughout, as the wind whipped in from the Indian Ocean. Handling was a skill at a premium. As was kicking. Charlie Bracken and Fergus Burke harnessed the conditions well to bombard the Sharks’ back three, against whom Angus Hall wreaked havoc in pursuit.
But the Sharks forwards had the edge in the tight. In the first few minutes, in particular, their scrum was destructive. In only the fourth, their lineout was pretty unanswerable too, Bongi Mbonambi finishing one devastating drive after a penalty to the corner.
Sale finished strongly to give their campaign liftoff with a 35-14 victory over Clermont at the Stade Marcel-Michelin. Responding to their home defeat by Glasgow on the opening night of the competition, the Sharks built a 20-7 half-time lead through tries by Tom O’Flaherty, Marius Louw and Arron Reed. They were then forced to weather a Clermont storm when Lucas Zamoa crossed in the 47th minute and at 23-14 down the fallen European heavyweights were pressing hard to add another score.
However, a spirited Sale showed their hunger by scrambling a try through Joe Bedlow and when Alex Wills went over in the 73rd minute it was all over. The England fly-half George Ford and flanker Tom Curry were both missing but that did not stop the Sharks from becoming only the second away team to win at the Stade Marcel-Michelin this season. The lock Ben Bamber, the scrum-half Raffi Quirke (pictured) and the centre Marius Louw played starring roles in the bonus-point demolition.
Craig Casey starred as Munster swept aside an inexperienced Gloucester side 31-3 after bursting into life in the second half in Cork. An ugly first-half that was full of errors ended with the hosts holding a 7-3 lead after Dan Kelly had crossed in the 21st minute. But with scrum-half Casey acting as the catalyst, they found their rhythm to conjure further tries for Mike Haley, Ruadhan Quinn, Tom Farrell and Tadhg Beirne. Munster finished with a bang and benefited from yellow cards shown to Gloucester’s Jamal Ford-Robinson and Caio James in each half.
Bordeaux, the holders, overpowered Scarlets 50-21 as they scored five first-half tries at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. The Welsh side, edged out by Bristol last weekend, had taken an early lead from Fletcher Anderson’s try before Bordeaux hit back through Matthieu Jalibert, who made the conversion himself.
Bordeaux then took control with tries from Jefferson Poirot, Gaetan Barlot and a second for Jalibert on the counterattack to secure a bonus point. Although Henry Thomas barged over for Scarlets after 29 minutes, Bordeaux extended their lead to 31-14 when South Africa’s Tiaan Jacobs touched down just before half-time.
The French outfit, who beat Bulls last weekend, continued their momentum in the second half as Pablo Uberti touched down in the corner for a sixth try just ahead of the hour. Anderson then scored his second try before Xan Mousques powered over and Louis Bielle-Biarrey touched down to complete an impressive display. PA Media
Saracens rode the early storm. Theo Dan replied in kind 10 minutes later to open their account and Sam Spink claimed a second. Eliot Daly played a wicked chip behind, which Aphele Fassi, making his first start since he injured his ankle in the Springboks’ famous victory in Wellington in September, completely missed. Spink fell gratefully on the loose ball.
Suddenly Saracens reversed their fortunes at the scrum. With a penalty at that set piece, Burke put them more than a score ahead with 10 minutes until the break. That ought to have been enough, but Sharks scored twice in the last three minutes of the half.
The seesaw contest at the scrum continued. The Sharks won another penalty at the next, sending it to the corner. Andre Esthuizen, captain on his 100th appearance, carried hard off the lineout and George Whitehead found Fassi in plenty of space.
Still Saracens held the lead and had seemingly lasted to the break, but Onyeama-Christie tackled Grant Williams late, allowing the Sharks one last tilt. A brilliant pass from Williams was taken by Hooker, who engineered a brilliant pass of his own to send Edwill van der Merwe to the line. The Sharks went in 21-15 ahead.
Sharks: Fassi (Jordan Hendrikse 50), van der Merwe, Hooker, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi, Whitehead, G. Williams (Jaden Hendrikse 67), Ganyane (Mazibuko 68), Mbonambi (Swart 52), Jacobs (Mdanda 67), Jenkins, van Heerden (Orie 73), Kolisi (Romao 52), Tshituka, Buthelezi (Hatton 67) Tries Kolisi (4), Fassi (37), van der Merwe (40), Williams (59) Conversions Whitehead (5, 38, 40, 60) Yellow card Hatton 80
Saracens: Daly, Segun (Simpson 69), Spink (Lozowski 63), Hartley, Hall, Burke, C. Bracken, Mawi, Dan (Christie 69), Riccioni (Street 55), Isiekwe (Earl 55), H. Wilson (Tizard 55), McFarland (Sodeke 76), Christie (Hadfield 60), Willis Tries Dan (15), Spink (26), Willis (66) Conversions Burke (27) Burke (33, 55) Yellow card Dan 58
Referee: Luc Ramos (Fra)
A Burke penalty pulled Sarries to within three in the third quarter, at the end of which came the turning point. Another accidental collision involving the head meant a yellow card for Dan, who caught Makazole Mapimpi high as Theo McFarland tackled the latter. Sharks scored from the next play, Williams sent to the post by Hooker, who had split the Saracens defence.
That opened up a 10-point lead, but the visitors would not go away. They sent a series of penalties to the corner and finally forced their way over, the tireless Tom Willis finishing the lineout and drive. Bonus point secured, but Saracens could not repeat the feat in the dying seconds.
The result keeps Pool 1 tight. Saracens host Toulouse in the next round, in January, while the Sharks make an even longer journey to Manchester to take on their namesakes from Sale, who won with a bonus point in Clermont Auvergne and sit level on six points with Saracens. Every point is likely to prove valuable. Saracens will settle for theirs in Durban.
