Curwin Bosch. (Photo: ANA)
There are many things in rugby that a team must master in order to win.
Like being able to scrum and jump well, good to compete for possession in the loose, defend well, kick well, handle well, have a good link pair and have enough skills, speed and muscle to be able to score tries and have enough discipline.
On Friday night at Kingspark in the United Rugby Championship against Benetton, the Sharks scrummed especially well, did well in the lineouts, won enough possession in the loose, kicked well, had a link couple who pulled the strings and scored six tries to beat the Italians with 43- 33 to beat.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom, as Curwin Bosch had to hit the post in the dying seconds to make sure the home team stayed in the race to finish in the top eight to qualify for the quarter-finals.
The Sharks trailed 0-14 early in the first half, turned around at half-time at 14-10 and gradually gained the upper hand in the second half.
Thanks to this victory, they are sixth in the standings (46 points) and look quite safe to qualify for the knock-out rounds.
But then they will still have to win over Munster in their last group game at Kingspark in Durban this coming weekend to finish ahead of Connacht and the Bulls.
At the other end of the scale, Leinster (74), Ulster (64), the Stormers (61) and the Glasgow Warriors (58) are certain to have home ground advantage.
The Sharks are not the perfect product, as there were tense moments against Benetton, who in the end kept fighting and scored five tries with enterprising play.
Actually, one freezes to think what the final score would have been if they had the Sharks’ pack of forwards.
On the plus side, the Sharks have match-winners like Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Bosch and Grant Williams, with iron forwards like Thomas du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi, Oxe Nche, Siya Kolisi to dominate up front.
They are physical and dangerous in attack, but there are still gaps.
If they iron it out, they can progress further.
Points: Sharks 43 (14): Threes: Vincent Tshituka, Grant Williams (2), Siya Kolisi, Short Coats (2). Goals: Curwin Bosch (5). Penalty Goal: Bosch.
Benetton 33 (14): Tries: Sebastian Negri, Ignacio Brex, Joaquin Riera, Edoardo Padovani, Tomas Albornoz. Goals: Bathrobe (4).
