Super Rugby Unlocked - Sharks vs Lions on 9 October 2020



October 9, 2020 - The match was played in Durban on Friday 9 October 2020, and kicked off at 19:00 SA Time.

Due to Covid-19, the normal Super Rugby competition was suspended during March 2020, and no further matches was played. Instead, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa went ahead with their own, internal versions of the competition, with South Africa calling theirs "Super Rugby Unlocked", with the first round of matches played on the weekend of 9 and 10 October 2020.

The home team had the better start in the match, keeping possession and starving the Lions of the ball and pinning them in their own half. The pressure eventually lead to a try by Werner Kok, converted by Bosch.

Curwin Bosch then added two penalties, to take the home side in a 13-0 lead.

The Lions fought back towards the end of the first half, but their only reward was a penalty by Elton Jantjies, to make the score at the break 13-3 for the home side.

Early in the second half, the Lions scored their first try when Jamba Ulengo gathered a cross-kick from Jantjies, who also converted the try, and suddenly the score was 13-10, a great fight back from the Lions after a poor start in the match.

The two flyhalves then kicked a further two penalties each, to make the final score 19-16 in the favour of the home side.

Officials

Referee: AJ Jacobs
AR1: Rasta Rasivhenge
AR2: Paul Mente
TMO: Marius Jonker

Teams

Sharks: 15. Manie Libbok, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Werner Kok, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Sanele Nohamba, 8. Sikumbuzo Notshe, 7. Phendulani Buthelezi, 6. James Venter, 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Dylan Richardson, 1. Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Mzamo Majola, 18. John-Hubert Meyer, 19. JJ van der Mescht, 20. Mpilo Gumede, 21. Grant Williams, 22. Jeremy Ward, 23. Thaakir Abrahams.

Lions: 15. EW Viljoen; 14. Jamba Ulengo, 13. Burger Odendaal, 12. Dan Kriel, 11. Rabz Maxwane; 10. Elton Jantjies (Capt), 9. Dillon Smit; 8. Len Massyn, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Marvin Orie, 4. Willem Alberts, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16. Jan-Henning Campher, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19. Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20. MJ Pelser, 21. Hacjivah Dayimani, 22. Morné van den Berg, 23. Gianni Lombard.

Scorers

Sharks: 19 (13): Tries: Werner Kok. Conversions: Curwin Bosch. Penalties: Curwin Bosch (4).

Lions: 16 (3): Tries: Jamba Ulengo. Conversions: Elton Jantjies. Penalties: Elton Jantjies (3).

“Forwards win games, backs decide by how much.”