MAYBE it is the escalating speculation that Siya Kolisi is to rejoin the Sharks that spurred their young Currie Cup team to great heights in Mbombela last night, but they probably did it for themselves in a wonderfully entertaining 44-44 draw.
The Pumas salvaged the game with a post-hooter penalty that was well taken by Clinton Swart, the centre who had kicked brilliantly all day, and if you had seen how badly the Sharks started the game, this was a great result for them.
But back to the breaking news in this story. In France, it has been confirmed that Springbok captain Kolisi has severed ties with Paris club Racing 92 after a post-World Cup season that had the chairman of the club unimpressed.
Kolisi was described as “invisible”, but the good news for South Africa is that he is returning to South Africa, and almost certainly to Durban. Enquiries to the upper hierarchy of the Sharks were entertained yesterday but neither confirmed nor denied as negotiations continue.
But before we have the green light on what would be a happy homecoming for the Springbok captain, given that the Sharks currently boast Bok forwards in Eben Etzebteh, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane, and Vincent Koch, let’s address a spirited performance by former Bok JP Pietersen’s team in Mpumalanga.
Going into this game, the Sharks had broken their duck in the Currie Cup with a defeat of the Lions in Johannesburg, but they did not look like they would back this up when Pumas wing Phiko Sobahle scored a hat-trick within 30 minutes.
It was 24-3 and approaching half-time when Jurenzo Julius, the Sharks’ hero from the win at Ellis Park, showed nimble hands to put wing Eduan Keyter in for a strong finish.
Mark the words of your humble scribe, Julius is going to be a Springbok great. He can break the line as a centre almost at will, but he prefers to put his wings away, and that is a rare gift and unselfishness is what makes the best midfielders.
Another youngster who took his chance was former Zimbabwean flank Tino Masewere. He started the Currie Cup with a bang only to be suspended for a head-high tackle, but he is back and was impressive in creating a try for left wing Jaco Williams.
The tries came thick and fast as these teams’ desire to attack emulated the previous day’s 34-34 draw between the Bulls and the Cheetahs.
To cut to the chase, with seven minutes to go, Sharks scrumhalf Bradley Davids kicked an ice-cool penalty to give his team a 44-41 lead, only for the Pumas to win a penalty after the hooter as Swart did the business.
Scorers
Pumas — Tries: Phiko Sobahle (3), Eddie Swart, Ross Braude (2). Conversions: Clinton Swart (4). Penalties: Swart (2)
Sharks — Tries: Eduan Keyter, Jaco Williams, Lili Bester, Jannes Potgieter, Nick Hatton, Dan Jooste. Penalties: Lionel Cronje, Bradley Davids. Conversions: Cronje, Bradley Davids (2)