Weekly South African URC Team Highlights - Round Twelve
In a nail-biting clash, it was the Sharks who clinched the South African Shield with a thrilling 25-22 victory over the Lions at Kings Park, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.
The rescheduled United Rugby Championship Round One encounter was a rollercoaster, with the Sharks requiring Jaden Hendrikse's late penalty goal to edge ahead and seize the triumph. The Durban side added the South African Shield to their trophy collection, which previously included the Currie Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.
Our Team of the Week reflects the contest's intensity, but unlike the result, it's the Lions who take the lead with eight representatives to the Sharks' seven.
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15: Tapiwa Mafura (Lions) - Player of the Match
Mafura was electric, with his lighting speed and nimble footwork. He left six defenders in his wake, scored an impressive try, and made a heroic rescue tackle in the game's decisive hour.
14: Richard Kriel (Lions)
Kriel made a wise decision to hold onto the ball and score, had a fantastic day in the air, and was a constant thorn in the Sharks' side.
13: Jurenzo Julius (Sharks)
Julius edged out Manuel Rass for this spot, thanks to his faultless assist for Grant Williams and his jaw-dropping hit on Mafura.
12: Francois Venter (Sharks)
Venter stepped up for the Sharks, making a joint-match-high 11 carries, including a couple of powerful breaks, and delivering a crucial surge that sparked the momentum for Siya Kolisi's first try.
11: Ethan Hooker (Sharks)
Hooker shone on the day, displaying supreme determination to win a turnover and driving his team forward with his work ethic.
10: Gianni Lombard (Lions)
Lombard continued his brilliant form, with sound decision-making, reliable goal-kicking, and a brave catch under the high ball in his own territory.
9: Morne van den Berg (Lions)
The driving force behind the Lions' performance, van den Berg played superbly, winning the Man of the Match award despite his team's loss. He dazzled the crowd with a stunning break from one end of the field to the other, set up Kriel's try with a skip pass, and showcased top-notch kicking and outstanding cover defense.
8: Siya Kolisi (Sharks) - Captain's Choice
Kolisi was unstoppable, with his quick hands key in the opening try, a perfectly-timed run to score the Sharks' second, and a pick-and-go to dot down their third.
7: Siba Qoma (Lions)
Qoma seized his rare opportunity to start, making an immediate impact and demonstrating his physical prowess with dominant hits and a match-leading 14 tackles.
6: Jarod Cairns (Lions)
Cairns capitalized on his chance, magnetically drawing the ball and excelling at the breakdown, securing no fewer than five turnovers.
5: Darrien Landsberg (Lions)
Landsberg contributed strongly across the board, making a significant impact in the lineout and showcasing versatility in his play.
4: Ruben Schoeman (Lions)
The stalwart Schoeman turned in a sterling performance, demonstrating his strength and workhorse mentality, as well as closing out the game with 12 tackles.
3: Vincent Koch (Sharks)
Koch played a crucial role in the Sharks' scrum success, displaying good vision to snatch an intercept and create a try-scoring opportunity.
2: Fez Mbatha (Sharks)
Mbatha ensured the hosts' victory by getting the better of the lineout exchanges and winning a crucial penalty on the deck late in the match.
1: Ox Nche (Sharks)
Nche returned from injury in top form, making a Sharks-best five successful carries and dominating at the scrums, resulting in a try for his team.
Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a veteran sports journalist with over 15 years of experience, including a stint as the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group. Formerly deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com, and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he has been a freelance sports writer since 2016.
Jarod Cairns, a standout player in the match, magnetically drew the ball and excelled at the breakdown, securing no fewer than five turnovers for the Lions.
Jaden Hendrikse, a Sharks player, kicked a late penalty goal to edge ahead and secure the victory for his team in the rescheduled United Rugby Championship Round One encounter.
This thrilling South African Shield win by the Sharks was added to their trophy collection, which previously included the Currie Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.
Ethan Hooker, a Sharks player, showed determination by winning a turnover and driving his team forward with his work ethic during the match.
In a nail-biting clash, it was the European-leagues' premier-league team, the Sharks, who clinched the South African Shield with a 25-22 victory over the Lions at Kings Park.
