1
Hanrahan's kick sees Sharks slump to a fifth successive URC defeat
Fly-half JJ Hanrahan’s second-half penalty edged Connacht to an outstanding 13-12 United Rugby Championship victory over the Sharks in Durban. After away losses against Munster, Leinster, Ospreys and Zebre, rock-bottom Sharks slumped to a fifth successive league defeat.
ADVERTISEMENT
Connacht, though, made it four wins from five and consolidated a place among the competition’s early-season movers and shakers. They led by five points at half-time following an early Sean O’Brien try that Hanrahan converted while Hanrahan also landed a penalty following Sharks number eight Sikhumbuzo Notshe’s try.
Sharks improved after the break, going ahead through wing Werner Kok’s try that Curwin Bosch converted, but Hanrahan had the final say and Connacht could celebrate a statement away win. They looked to capitalise on the Sharks’ brittle confidence and they made a dream start by scoring from their first attack.
The forwards built an imposing platform, driving their opponents backwards from a close-range lineout before patient phase-play ended with O’Brien powering over and Hanrahan adding the extras.
Sharks were boosted by the return of double World Cup-winning Springboks centre Lukhanyo Am and he made his presence felt early on by running hard at Connacht’s defence. But the visitors coped impressively through strong defensive organisation, highlighted by the Sharks making six handling errors during the opening quarter.
? @connachtrugby have ??????? in South Africa ??
They lead by 5 with 35 minutes to play. #BKTURC #URC | #SHAvCON pic.twitter.com/Y7ve5ruoeX
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 18, 2023
They eventually got it right, though, cutting the deficit eight minutes before half-time when Notshe rounded off a spell of pressure to claim an equalising score. Bosch missed the straightforward conversion attempt and Sharks infringed virtually from the restart, allowing Hanrahan an easy penalty chance that he accepted.
Sharks continued to spill possession in promising positions and Connacht comfortably preserved their advantage, leading 10-5 at the interval. The third quarter followed a similar pattern in stamina-sapping humidity, yet Connacht’s cause was not helped when referee Craig Evans yellow-carded lock Oisin Dowling following a technical infringement.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Sharks took just two minutes to capitalise as they worked a one-man overlap and Kok sprinted over for a try that Bosch converted, giving his team a two-point lead. Connacht had to dig deep, given the Sharks’ improvement, but they stuck to their task impressively and Hanrahan kicked them back in front 13 minutes from time.
Sharks had a chance to go ahead after 74 minutes but replacement Boeta Chamberlain could not find the target from an angled penalty attempt, which summed up Sharks’ season so far.
- Click here for all the RugbyPass stats from the Sharks vs Connacht match
Comments on RugbyPass
Danny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy 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!
5 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 …
35 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to comments