The Sharks claimed a crushing 53-7 victory over the Bulls XV in their pre-season friendly in Durban on Friday.
On Thursday, Sharks coach Robert du Preez announced an almost full-strength starting lineup for this match, while the Bulls played with a second string XV since their Super Rugby squad had travelled to Australia for their warm-up against the Chiefs and the Brisbane Tens.
Consequently the hosts were the dominant side as they ran in nine tries to brush aside the Bulls. The Sharks’ new recruit Kobus van Wyk, who signed on from the Stormers, scored a hat-trick.
The Bulls broke the deadlock with an early converted try, but from there it was all Sharks.
Van Wyk crossed in the right hand corner to narrow the deficit, before injury-returnee Cobus Reinach’s try put the hosts in the lead following a quick-tap penalty inside the 22. Van Wyk scored his second and third tries, before Lwazi Mvovo finished off the first-half scoring spree. Flyhalf Pat Lambie kicked three conversions, as the Sharks led 31-7 at the break.
HIGHLIGHTS: Bulls vs Chiefs friendly
It was more of the same after the resumption, despite Du Preez making a raft of changes to his team. Replacements Jeremy Ward, Wian Vosloo, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Sibusiso Nkosi added their names to the scoresheet as the Sharks moved past the 50-mark just before fulltime.
Despite his team’s strong performance, the goal-kicking should be of concern to Du Preez, with Lambie only adding one conversion in the second half for an overall four place-kicks from nine attempts.
Sharks – Tries: Kobus van Wyk (3), Cobus Reinach, Lwazi Mvovo, Jeremy Ward, Wian Vosloo, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Sibusiso Nkosi. Conversions: Pat Lambie (4).
Bulls XV – Try: Lourens Steenkamp. Conversion: Tony Jantjies.
Sharks – 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie (c), 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 John-Hubert Meyer, 17 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Wian Vosloo, 20 Jean Droste, 21 Jacques Vermuelen, 22 Jean Deysel, 23 Francois Kleinhans, 24 Rohan Gouws, 25 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 26 Sibusiso Nkosi, 27 Jeremy Ward, 28 Johan Deysel, 29 S'bura Sithole, 30 Clement Poitrenaud.
Bulls XV – TBC
Photo: Steve Haag Sports
