Sharks v Clermont: Five takeaways as ‘next-gen’ Springboks stamp their mark while ‘diabolical’ comments underplay seriously dangerous action
Jurenzo Julius of the Sharks and an inset of Matt Romao. Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart/EPCR Rugby
Following the Sharks’ 50-12 victory over Clermont at Kings Park Stadium, here are our five takeaways from the Investec Champions Cup pool one clash.
Top line
The Sharks kept their slender hopes of progressing to the round of 16 stages of the Investec Champions Cup courtesy of a dominant second-half display in Durban.
JP Pietersen’s men scored 36 unanswered points in the final 40 minutes after labouring to a 14-12 lead in the first half.
Aphelele Fassi opened the scoring for the hosts after he regathered the ball from a smart and skilful chip over the top by scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse. Clermont looked to be in a heap of trouble when Yerim Fall was given his marching orders after a nasty challenge in the air inside the first 10 minutes, but the 14-man French outfit rallied well and cut the lead to just two points when Joris Jurand latched onto Irae Simone’s cross kick to score.
Hendrikse went from provider to scorer as he flopped over the line in the 17th minute, but it was Clermont who had the final say of the half with experienced full-back Kylan Hamdaoui punishing Jordan Hendrikse’s misplaced pass.
While Clermont battled manfully throughout the game, the second half very much belonged to the hosts with Vincent Koch, Phiko Sobahle, Fassi, Siya Masuku, Phepsi Buthelezi and finally, Jurenzo Julius adding their names to the scoresheet.
Rightly red-carded despite puzzling commentary
Rather perplexingly, Owen Nkumane and Tera Mtembu, who were on commentary duty for Super Sport, felt that Clermont winger Yerim Fall was harshly punished when referee Christopher Ridley issued a 20-minute red card in the seventh minute of the game. A stance that Jean de Villiers doubled down on at half-time.
Fall attempted to compete for a high ball with Yaw Penxe, but was completely beaten in the air and made matters much, much worse as he effectively tackled the Sharks winger in the air and flopped him onto his back.
It was the kind of action that, had it been even marginally worse, would have not only ended Penxe’s career but also may have lost his ability to walk too. The review from the commentary? ‘That seemed harsh’, arguing that it should have been a penalty at most. Had they argued that Fall’s actions warranted a yellow card instead, like De Villiers did, then maybe, maybe there was some debate to be had, but the winger’s actions were highly dangerous and could have had severe consequences. In fact, a full red card wouldn’t have been completely out of the question.
Instead, Clermont were restored to 15 men courtesy of the polarising 20-minute red card. Ultimately, referee Ridley got the decision spot on; the commentary did not. It’s frankly diabolical that two former professional rugby players who understand the dangers of the game, the risk of injury and the potential consequences were of the view that it warranted just a long arm, citing the lack of malicious intent, is simply diabolical. Those comments underplayed a seriously dangerous action.
What will frustrate Pietersen is that with a man advantage, his charges failed to stamp their authority. A superb cross kick from Irae Simone landed perfectly in the grasp of Jurand, escaping Fassi’s breadbasket, putting the hosts 5-0 behind during the sin-binning period. The Sharks did hit back through Jaden Hendrikse, who benefitted from Matt Romao’s brilliance, but the interim boss would have demanded a better outcome from that quarter of the game than just 7-5.
Sharks youth comes to the fore
Much is made about the star-studded squad that the Sharks have at their disposal, but today, many of those big names were absent and rested, with Pietersen giving many of the ‘middle tier’ players an opportunity with a healthy mix of youth and experience. And for the most part, the youth were those who rose to the occasion, even if it wasn’t a compelling and utterly dominant display.
Front and central to their cause was the performance of rookie back-rower Matt Romao, who picked up the man of the match award. The 20-year-old has already garnered much fanfare for his efforts with the Junior Boks last year and has put in solid shifts from the bench for the Durbanites, he certainly made the most of his starting opportunity here. He didn’t have a flawless display, conceding a couple of penalties, but that’s to be expected from a youngster.
Romao led the defensive charge for the side and was an effective and busy carrier throughout. On Friday evening, we witnessed the brilliance of the Bulls’ rising star Cheswill Jooste, while Haashim Pead has shone for the Lions too, as has Batho Hlekani – both for the Jorburgers and Durbanites. It’s fair to say that last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship champions are starting to make waves at the senior level, and that only bodes well for Rassie Erasmus with the next-gen Springboks stamping their mark.
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Flanker Romao was not the only young Shark to shine as Jurenzo Julius built on his solid outing in his new role as an inside centre against Sale Sharks with a fine outing against Clermont in Durban. Gifted with a lethal side step and pace to burn, Julius is just lacking the size to earn him Ma’a Nonu or Tana Umaga comparisons, but that did not stop him from punching holes in the French club’s defence time and time again. He, too, has a lot to learn in the number 12 channel to make it his own, but Pietersen’s ploy to get the youngster closer to the ball paid dividends today.
Additionally, captain Nick Hatton emptied the tank in a busy 51-minute shift. The number eight was a handy lineout option for the side and threw his weight around on both sides of the ball while fellow 23-year-old Phatu Ganyane was strong around the park after the scrum contest was removed for much of his shift.
South African teams have struggled to build the depth needed to compete in both the URC and Champions Cup and it starts with that middle tier and youth, which the Sharks look to be developing. Finally, a note for Le Roux Malan, who impressed in the outside centre position.
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Clermont heart
The French outfit arrived on South African shores with an understrength side, with the knowledge that they had no chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the competition.
However, they certainly deserve credit for not rolling over and allowing the Sharks to rampage past them. Sure, the scoreline was bloated into somewhat of a thumping in the second half, but the Top 14 outfit made a good fist of the game and didn’t lack effort.
They spent 30 minutes of the match down a man and lost both their hookers, which could have been catastrophic, but time and time again the nigh-on academy outfit rose from the deck and fought back.
There were undoubtedly positives that their boss Christophe Urios can take from the encounter, like 18-year-old Timeo Frier, who took his opportunity in the midfield with both hands, with some brave defence and threatening moments in attack. Axel Guillaud and Tom Raffy also got around the park well on both sides of the ball.
Their focus now shifts to the Top 14, where they are well placed to reach the knockout stages as they continue their bid for a first Bouclier de Brennus since 2017.
Sharks still in it
Attention now turns to the Stade Ernest-Wallon and Scotstoun as Toulouse host Sale Sharks this evening, while the Saracens are away to Glasgow Warriors.
A slip from Toulouse would not only see the French giants fail to progress past the pool stage, an unimaginable thought at the start of the campaign, but would pave the way for the Durban side to continue their journey in the Champions Cup.
Saracens need just a point from their trip to Glasgow to secure their place, but that is easier said than done against Franco Smith’s men.
It remains a long shot for Pietersen’s men, who will likely end up in the Challenge Cup knockout stages.
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