Following the Sharks’ 7-10 defeat to a youthful Leinster outfit, right here’s how we rated John Plumtree’s males within the United Rugby Championship conflict.
Sharks participant rankings v Leinster
15 Yaw Penxe: He has been in a superb run of type of late, however that didn’t prolong to his 64 minutes at full-back at the moment. He botched an early attempt, one he actually ought to have completed and was put underneath stress with the excessive bombs. 4
14 Ethan Hooker: Held up able the place he has repeatedly grabbed tries from. That was extra defensive brilliance than something he did flawed, in equity. A stable outing as he made good out of the scraps that got here his means. 6
13 Jurenzo Julius: A bit fortunate to keep away from an early card and shortly after remoted himself with ball-in-hand, giving up a threatening place. Not horrible, however less than his normal commonplace. 5
12 Andre Esterhuizen: Can maintain his head up excessive as he, like lots of the different Springboks, put in a powerful efficiency when it comes to their positional necessities. He thundered over the benefit line time and time once more, however his teammates had been simply unable to take advantage of it. 7
11 Makazole Mapimpi: Stopped the Leinster assault a number of occasions with sharp reads and interventions defensively. Continues to be a nuisance for the opposition, however would have beloved some more room to stretch his legs. 6
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10 Jordan Hendrikse: Often efficient when carrying the ball to the road however was rapidly shut down by the Jacques Nienaber-led defence and failed to essentially get the backline firing. The Sharks wanted their 9 and 10 to steer the ship, and so they didn’t. 4
9 Jaden Hendrikse: He’s undoubtedly an clever participant, however he was too good for his personal good as he swiped his leg out to dislodge the ball from a carry so near the road. Hendrikse was duly despatched to the sin bin as his darkish arts trickery finally led to Leinster’s opening attempt. It was not solely that motion that proved expensive, as for the following 10 minutes the Sharks lacked actual rhythm in assault with forwards frequently plugging his void. Nonetheless, his type is less than scratch, and it proved pivotal at the moment. 3
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Again-five forwards
8 Siya Kolisi: After scoring back-to-back braces within the URC, Kolisi has set a excessive benchmark, and whereas he didn’t rise to that commonplace, he was nonetheless efficient within the tight and on defence. 6
7 Vincent Tshituka: A thorn within the Leinster lineout’s facet and a relentless work-rate on defence. Blame for the defeat can’t be laid at Tshituka’s ft. 7
6 James Venter: Topped the deal with rely (17) together with Tshituka regardless of departing proceedings within the closing quarter. Wanted to be a bit extra of a risk over the ball, however an honest first begin again from damage. 6
5 Emile van Heerden: Lineout fell aside when he and Mbonambi left the pitch. Efficient on the breakdown and a pleasant hyperlink man between forwards and backs. 6
4 Jason Jenkins: A moderately quiet outing towards his former employers. Good within the tight, which is stock-standard for him, however didn’t impose himself as he used to do within the blue jersey. 5
Entrance row and bench
3 Vincent Koch: Dominated Cian Healy most of the time in a powerhouse scrummaging show because the Springboks veteran performed his half in one of many few actually optimistic areas of the Sharks’ efficiency. Highly effective in defence, too. 8
2 Bongi Mbonambi: The set-pieces labored successfully when he was on the park and grabbed his facet’s solely attempt of the sport, working the proper angle off the again of the rolling maul. The highest canine had a much bigger chew than bark as he continues to point out that he’s a world-class operator. 8
1 Ox Nche: Finishing the hat-trick of Springboks entrance rowers who put in a efficiency worthy of their calibre. The loosehead prop did have one poor second with the ball in hand, however he was put in a tough scenario. Nonetheless, he dominated newly capped Thomas Clarkson within the scrums and was glorious within the unfastened. He earned his cake. 8
Replacements: The Sharks wanted a Bomb Squad-esque explosion of depth within the closing moments of the match, however their lineout and maul imploded as an alternative. After his heroics towards the Lions, Fez Mbatha’s darts had been wayward whereas his fellow alternative forwards merely didn’t present the impression wanted. Fly-half Siya Masuku wanted to kick his penalty deeper into Leinster’s half proper on the finish of the match. The Sharks wanted extra. 3
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