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First-half double from World Cup hero Ox Nche inspires big Sharks win
Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok Ox Nche has helped the Sharks claim a much-needed win in front of their home fans as the prop crossed for a double during the 38-7 demolition of Oyonnax on Saturday.
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With the Sharks anchored to the bottom of the United Rugby Championship standings – having won just one of nine matches – the Durban-based side would’ve been desperate to give their fans something to smile about this weekend.
The memories of last weekend’s two-point defeat to South African rivals the Lions may play on the mind for quite some time, but the Sharks did what they needed to do in the Challenge Cup.
Match Summary 
0
Penalty Goals
0
6
Tries
1
4
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
80
Carries
100
6
Line Breaks
1
13
Turnovers Lost
13
9
Turnovers Won
1
Prop Ox Nche – who famously coined the phrase “salads don’t win scrums” – opened the scoring at Kings Park Stadium in the ninth minute.
Fullback Aphelele Fassi reeled in an up-and-under down the left touchline before finding lock Corne Rahl with a pass. The second-rower was stopped five metres short of the try-line, though, which gifted Nche the opener with a pop pass.
Then, after a try to playmaker Curwin Bosch was disallowed, ‘The Ox’ helped the Sharks make amends by completing a rapid brace in the 21st minute.
Springboks wing Makazole Mapimpi added the Sharks’ third score in the 34th minute as the hosts ran away with a commanding 19-nil half-time lead.
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Mapimpi completed a two-try haul of his own during the second term, while two-time World Cup winner Lukhanyo Am also crossed for a score of his own.
In the end, the result was never in doubt as the Sharks registered an utterly emphatic 38-7 win. After leading the way with an early double, prop Ox Nche also received the Sharks’ Challenge Cup Player of the Match honours.
The Sharks have moved up to the top of Pool 1, although the Cheetahs can leapfrog them with a win over Pau. Those two teams will go head-to-head in the final Challenge Cup match of the round on Sunday.
Other results this week include a big 57-18 win for Benetton over Newcastle, while Ospreys and Clermont also registered victories in the Challenge Cup.
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Castres defeated Black Lion 28-6, Zebre bested the Dragons 30-7, and Montpellier overcame the Lions 13-3.
Scottish side Edinburgh fell painfully short of a win, too, as they were pipped 20-21 by Gloucester at Hive Stadium.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments