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Sharks boost top-four prospects with comeback win over Connacht

By PA
(Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Connacht were blown away in the second half by the Sharks as they fell short of completing a clean sweep of the United Rugby Championship’s South African sides, losing 41-21 in Durban.

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The Westerners were unbeaten against southern hemisphere opposition this season coming into the fixture but could not build on a 21-10 half-time lead earned through tries from Gavin Thornbury and Caolin Blade and 11 points from the boot of Conor Fitzgerald.

The Sharks looked re-energised after the break and racked up touchdowns from Marius Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, a second for Gerbrandt Grobler and one for Le Roux Roets while keeping their visitors pointless, earning a valuable bonus point in the race for a home play-off.

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The result makes absolutely certain of a place in the quarter-finals for Sean Everitt’s men, for whom Curwin Bosch kicked 16 points, while Connacht were already out of the play-off picture.

Fitzgerald kicked Connacht into a 6-3 lead in the first quarter, with Bosch missing one of his two attempts, but they were dealt a blow when John Porch was yellow-carded for head contact.

The Sharks quickly made their man advantage count, with Grobler barging over from close range and Bosch adding the extras.

The visitors regained the lead three minutes later, however, when Thornbury charged down Jaden Hendrikse’s clearing kick and chased the ball down himself to score.

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Fitzgerald could not add the conversion but split the posts with a subsequent penalty and there was soon daylight between the sides.

On his 150th appearance for the Westerners, Blade sent Finlay Bealham into battle before taking the return pass to run in under the posts, with Fitzgerald’s kick making it 21-10.

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The Sharks sent on Grant Williams at half-time and he made an instant impact, breaching the Connacht defence before feeding Louw to go over next to the posts – a try converted by Bosch.

The hosts had their tails up and Bosch chalked up another conversion after Mbonambi muscled his way over following a sustained period of Sharks pressure.

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Connacht were struggling to stem the tide and Grobler burrowed over before Roets added a fifth, with Bosch converting both.

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Trevor 49 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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