Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse has received plenty of criticism for his behaviour during his team’s United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final victory over Munster in Durban on Saturday.
The Sharks and Munster’s play-off clash was deadlocked at 24-24 after 80 minutes and following 20 minutes of extra time before the home side advanced to the semi-final courtesy of a 6-4 penalty shootout win.
However, Hendrikse actions during the shootout left the Irish province’s players and fans in an angry mood as the Springboks star delivered what appeared to be an act of shameless gamesmanship.
Received treatment during the penalty shootout
Hendrikse, who was one of the Sharks‘ goal-kickers during the shootout, went down with what seemed to be cramp after succeeding with his second penalty and then received treatment on the spot where Munster fly-half Jack Crowley was set to line up his second shot at goal.
And while he was laying on the ground – for a few minutes – television cameras caught the 2023 Rugby World Cup winner winking at Crowley.
Despite Hendrikse’s antics, Crowley kept his composure an nailed his penalty but got involved in a heated argument with a Sharks staff member who he told to “f**k off” as they finally left the field.
Earlier, Munster replacement back Rory Scannell had missed his second shot at goal which led to Munster’s defeat in the penalty shootout and the Sharks eventually advanced to the URC‘s semi-finals where they are set to face the Bulls in Pretoria next weekend.
Despite their triumph, Hendrikse’s behaviour was the main talking point after the game and several rugby fans on social media condemned his actions while the Telegraph newspaper described it as “shameless gamesmanship”.
Munster fans were livid on X, formerly known as Twitter, with one supporter Barry Murphy making his feelings clear by saying: “Jaden Hendrikse is my least favorite rugby player that has ever played the game of rugby. Like and share if you agree. Go f**k yourself.”
Another one called duddy said: “Hopefully, Jaden Hendrikse will someday be found at the bottom of a ruck, with 15 sets of stud marks on his back.
‘Disgraced his club’
“Sharks v Munster was a brilliant game, but #JadenHendrikse disgraced his club. #SHAvMUN #URC”
Irish sports website Balls.ie did not hold back either and simply posted: “Disgraceful” on their X feed.
And Will Slattery said: “Thoughts and prayers with Jaden Hendrikse after that awful injury. Crowley fully justified in telling him and the Sharks backroom team where to go.”
Despite that backlash, South African fans had the opposite reaction with Darrel Bristow-Bovey saying: “I didn’t really like Jaden Hendrickse before that wink. Now I love him.”
Meanwhile, another supporter, Emily Maher, replied: “Its hard to ever know what SA rugby stands for, just so many contradictions in their fanbase.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/springboks-stars-shameless-gamesmanship-in-the-spotlight-after-sharks-urc-triumph-over-munster
