Thomas Ramos and Antoine Dupont celebrate one of Toulouse’s tries. (Photo: Valentine Chapuis/AFP)
For more than 60 minutes, things looked very promising for the Sharks in the Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse.
Yes, the French were ahead 26–17, but the Sharks did not back down to their opponents and they undoubtedly fought fire with fire.
Curwin Bosch and Grant Williams were keen to run, while Thomas du Toit stood his ground in the scrum.
But to win a rugby match you have to play for the full 80 minutes and Toulouse simply switched to a higher gear to leave the Sharks in the rearview mirror.
When the final whistle blew, a sea of red supporters celebrated in their pavilion seats: After all, a final score of 54-20 indicates a decent performance.
Antoine Dupont managed his players like a waffled Napoleon, while Thomas Ramos was more consistent than his parents [en briljante] was himself. Romain Ntamack’s zoep-zap-en-zirts run in the dying moments of the game – right through the Sharks defenders – was the final nail in the visitors’ coffin.
(•_•)
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■) @RomainNtamack is just too cool ????
A double dummy and he crosses over for @StadeToulousain‘s 7️⃣th try of the game ????#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/WNeAOBm01u
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 8, 2023
Still, some players definitely deserve a pat on the back.
Bosch at times fooled his opponents on the attack like a waffering Cravenweek player, while Williams showed that he has loads of speed.
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An unreal try for @SharksRugby ????
The steps from Curwin Bosch. The pace from Grant Williams. Sublime ????#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/w3omuG9FJ2
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 8, 2023
Then Werner Kok also did his best, while Rohan Janse van Rensburg played with a lion’s courage as is customary.
However, the strong inside center was carried off the field on a stretcher later in the game and although he was able to wave his thumb in the air to the spectators, the Sharks’ game was out.
One understands why Toulouse has held up the silverware in Europe several times.
- Grant Williams and Boeta Chamberlain scored the Sharks’ tries, while Curwin Bosch scored ten points with his kicking boot.
