The captain was gone inside a minute. Twenty-two minutes from the end, the lead was gone too. And still the Sharks leave Wales with five log points and a story worth telling at every braai in Durban this weekend.
The Cardiff v Sharks result was a 36-21 win for the visitors at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday night: six tries to three, a try bonus point and the last 19 points of the match. SA Rugby magazine, SuperSport and Rugby365 all gave that score in their full-time reports, and BBC Sport Wales confirmed the six tries to three and the 17-7 half-time lead.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Result | Cardiff 21-36 Sharks |
| Half-time | Cardiff 7-17 Sharks |
| Sharks tries | Ethan Hooker, Matt Romao (2), Jason Jenkins, Thomas du Toit, Ethan Bester |
| Sharks kicks | Gianni Lombard 2 conversions, Siya Masuku 1 conversion |
| Cardiff points | Josh Adams and James Botham (2) tries; Jarrod Evans 3 conversions |
| Venue | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff |
| Competition | United Rugby Championship, round four |
A fast start and an early blow
Andre Esterhuizen, back in the side and leading it, went off in the first minute. The Sharks had not said anything on the record about his injury when we checked on Saturday morning, so we will not guess at it.
His team did not wait around to feel sorry for themselves. Within two minutes Jurenzo Julius offloaded and Ethan Hooker scored. Cardiff answered through Josh Adams, who finished a move created by Cam Winnett, with Jarrod Evans converting. Matt Romao crossed before the half-hour and Gianni Lombard added the extras, and late in the half the Sharks kicked a penalty to the corner for lock Jason Jenkins to go over. Ten points clear at the break. It looked under control.
Botham turns it around
It was not. Cardiff came out with real intent, and flank James Botham went over from close range after a tap penalty early in the second half. On 58 minutes Evans found touch with a penalty, Cardiff drove the lineout and Botham had his second. Evans converted both, and the home side led 21-17, SA Rugby magazine reported.
That was the moment this trip could have slipped away. Cardiff do not lose often at home: SuperSport points out that only one other URC side had won in Cardiff since the start of last season.
How the Cardiff v Sharks result swung back
This is where the bench earned its keep. Replacement tighthead Thomas du Toit finished off a spell of hammering at the line for the try that put the Sharks back in front, and Lombard’s conversion made it 24-21. It was also the bonus-point try.
On 74 minutes another replacement, hooker Ethan Bester, steered a driving lineout over. Cardiff chased bonus points of their own in the closing stages, but the final word went to Romao, his second of the night. It could have been seven tries: BBC Sport Wales reported that a Zekhethelo Siyaya try was ruled out by the TMO for a knock-on.
Why it matters for the Sharks
The Sharks and Cardiff started the night one log point apart, fifth and sixth, each with two wins from three. The Sharks now have three wins from four and, with the full five points, 15 on the log. Where that leaves them in the table depends on the rest of the round.
It also changes the mood after round three, when the Stormers beat them 39-22 in Cape Town. Since then they have won 40-33 in Lyon and now in Cardiff, two away wins in six days. A side that can lose its captain, fall behind and still finish this strongly is building something. Follow the whole season on our Sharks page.
What comes next
The tour ends in Limerick against Munster on Saturday 31 October. Before that, the other two franchises are at home today: Ulster visit Loftus Versfeld at 13:45 SAST and Scarlets are in Cape Town from 16:00. Catch up on the Bulls and the Stormers, and every kick-off is in our weekend fixture guide.