Center Robert du Preez yesterday scored a try among his 38 points as the Durban-based Sharks crushed the Auckland-based Blues 63-40.
Both teams scored six tries in a match of non-existent defense, but Du Preez kept a flawless record with seven penalties and six conversions to give the Sharks their fifth win over the Blues in six matches in Auckland.
The Sharks had one win from five games — and the Blues one win from four — entering yesterday’s match, but that gave no indication of what was to come in likely the most humiliating home defeat for a New Zealand team.
Photo: AFP
The Blues were simply incapable of marshaling an organized defense and the Sharks picked them apart, scoring four tries in the second half, including the last in the third minute of injury-time.
The best aspect of the Blues’ performance was their rally at the start of the second half when the Sharks were reduced to 14 men by a yellow card.
Akira Ioane, Patrick Tuipulotu and flyhalf Stephen Perofeta scored tries which took the Blues into the lead with 28-26.
However, they faltered again, losing a man to the sin bin and forgetting their defensive structure as the Sharks applied constant pressure.
“We knew the two sides were physical sides, we knew we just had to outwork them and I think the guys did exceptionally well tonight,” Sharks captain Ruan Botha said. “Yellow cards are not ideal in the game, but I thought the guys stuck in there.”
“They almost came back at us, but the guys got stuck in and kept them out,” Botha added.
Du Preez scored the first points of the game — a penalty in the third minute — and the last, the conversion of a try by fullback Curwin Bosch.
His own try, in the 60th minute, helped clinch the Sharks’ win, pushing them to a comfortable margin after they had reclaimed the lead from the Blues with a try to Lubabalo Mtembo.
The Sharks scored first-half tries through Botha and Jean-Luc du Preez to lead 26-7 at half time, playing at pace and with confidence in their ability to run and pass against a reluctant defense.
They lapsed at the start of the second half, allowing three tries, but Mtembo’s try put the Sharks ahead again.
With penalties by Du Preez, the Sharks opened a 46-28 lead and broke away with tries to Kobus van Wyk and Bosch on either side of a late try for the Blues by George Moala.
In Canberra, the New South Wales Waratahs beat the ACT Brumbies 24-17.
The Waratahs lost star fullback Israel Folau in the fourth minute with a hamstring injury, but a two-try performance from Taqele Naiyaravoro led the Waratahs to their third win of the season, reducing the gap behind the Australian conference-leading Melbourne Rebels to six points.
David Pocock had a quiet night in his first match with the Brumbies since 2016 after recovering from knee surgery following a 12-month sabbatical.
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