Following the Lions’ emphatic 38-14 victory over the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship (URC), we pick out our winners and losers from the game.
Winners
JC Pretorius
A somewhat puzzling Springboks alignment snub considering the sheer raft of players that Rassie Erasmus invited to the camp. However, that omission has not gone to JC Pretorius’ head as the former Springbok sevens star produced another brilliant performance.
He beat Sharks defenders with regular ease, topping that statistic in the match, while he was a real pest at the breakdown. Erasmus preferred to get a closer look at Pretorius’ younger teammate Renzo du Plessis, who was not involved today, but perhaps he will have a change of heart after the Lions star produced yet another Kwagga Smith-esque performance.
Edwill van der Merwe
Edwill van der Merwe was robbed of a second Springboks Test cap in 2024 due to injury but looks hellbent on making sure that he will not go down as a one-cap wonder.
He scored his fifth try of the URC season on the hour mark and that was just reward for his efforts up to that point but he did not let his standards drop from there.
Van der Merwe is renowned for his electric pace and stunning footwork but today, he showed that he is not just all about the flashy bits as he defended well and was sublime under the high ball.
With Italy and Georgia on the schedule this July, the scrum cap winger will fancy his chances of doubling his Springboks appearance tally and frankly, that would be the bare minimum considering his club form.
Manuel Rass
Henco van Wyk’s absence for this fixture was seen as a massive blow for the Lions’ chances but Manuel Rass rose to the occasion and had a blinder. He picked some excellent lines on attack and defended superbly.
Much of the Lions’ downfall in recent seasons is their lack of depth but that is slowly but surely being rectified and there is no better example of the double punch the side gets with Van Wyk and Rass.
Bulls
The fate of the SA Shield in the URC is now all in Jake White’s charges hands as they face off against the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld.
The Sharks had the opportunity to keep the pressure on the men in blue but now a win will seal the title for the men from Pretoria, who can go into an unassailable lead with a victory over the Stormers.
White will be targeting much more than a shield win this season but it will give them a real spring in their step as they continue to keep the pressure on Leinster at the top of the table.
Returning Springboks
There was not too many positive aspects about the Sharks’ performance today outside of the shifts off the bench by returning Springboks Siya Kolisi and Vincent Koch.
The pair added real direction, physicality and class in the latter stages with Kolisi assisting and scoring a try while Koch improved the scrums while carrying and tackling well too.
Both players returned from their mandatory rests while Grant Williams starred off the bench again after impressing in the starting role against the Bulls.
Losers
Sharks
Despite a much improved season compared to last, the Sharks still remain painfully inconsistent. Last time out, John Plumtree’s men were superb defensively against the Bulls in Pretoria but not nearly as effective on the other side of the Juskei river. It wasn’t just on defence as they failed to find the same kind of gain-line success as they did against the Bulls as Jaque Fourie-coached Lions’ defence shut the door time and time again.
One cannot take away from just how excellent the hosts were today but again it was just another example of the Sharks impressing one week but not the next.
The conditions were wet and slippery but Plumtree’s men should be used that considering the climate in Durban. In the Sharks’ last visit to Ellis Park, they faced far worse and emerged victorious thanks to a clutch kick via the boot of Jordan Hendrikse in extra-time but today it wasn’t even close to a stalemate. They were completely outplayed and while a lot can be pinned down to the plethora of injuries, it’s not an excuse as the same players were unavailable – more in fact – against the Bulls.
Plumtree’s charges now have to brush themselves off and prepare for a home match against the same opposition and need to bounce back quickly if they are to avoid another embarrassing defeat.
Bongi Mbonambi
Bongi Mbonambi was clearly frustrated by the officiating today and while some of his pleas may well be warranted, it wasn’t a good look that it forced referee Christopher Allison to remark “Bongi is not your captain” to skipper Vincent Tshituka.
As Eddie Jones alluded to in his analysis of England’s victory over Scotland in the Six Nations, staying on the right side of the referee is not a dying art and Mbonambi did not help his side with his actions.
He still produced a solid performance in his duties as a hooker but needs to keep his cool better.
Nthuthuko Mchunu
With the Springboks coaches undoubtedly keeping a close eye on the action in Johannesburg, Nthuthuko Mchunu did not have his best outing. Mchunu is held in high regard as a real prospect for the Green and Gold jersey and while he was strong in the loose, he was given a tough time in the scrums.
That’s not forgetting his yellow card with the Lions benefitting hugely with the man advantage before and after half-time.
Jurenzo Julius
Another rising star that has the raw talent and showed just how lethal he can be in recent matches. However, today was just not Jurenzo Julius’ day as the Lions regularly found space in the Sharks’ defence with the centre missing multiple tackles out wide at key moments.
He is just 20 years old and has shown what he is capable of but sometimes it just doesn’t go your way and that was the case for him at Ellis Park as he also spent ten minutes in the sin bin.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/lions-v-sharks-winners-and-losers-as-electric-edwill-and-springboks-snubs-shine-in-emphatic-ellis-park-victory
