Once again the shortcomings of the Natal Sharks were cruelly exposed at the Absa Stadium on Saturday as they slid to a second successive Vodacom Super 12 defeat against the Waratahs of New South Wales going down 36-13.
The visitors led 16-13 at the break.
The 30-thousand strong crowd had come to the Stadium expecting a sterling effort after the Newlands disappointment against the Stormers last weekend, but in the end left disappointed as clearly there is a lot of work yet to be done to mould this inexperienced side into a powerful unit.
The Waratahs were also unsettled in many set phases but at least they have players of quality to take care of the basics. They had a man of the moment in fullback Matt Rogers who scored nearly all their points, with a try, four penalties and two conversions as the Sharks were shut out in the second half.
Centre Shaun Berne got the decisive bonus point try with minutes remaining after two Lote Tuquiri touch downs.
The Sharks gave away far too many penalties and although they defended manfully as individuals, there was little by way of teamwork especially in the first half. The hosts were glaringly exposed when caught on the counter attack by the swiftly running Waratahs backs and that made all the difference as wing Tuquiri was almost presented with two gift tries early on.
By the same token Brent Russell’s first half score for the Sharks was a gem out of the top draw, after the Sharks pack had won possession in midfield in a fierce exchange of rucking and mauling.
But the truth of the matter was that in the long term the Aussie skills were greater and the Sharks were outgunned on the day.
It took no more than six minutes for the Australians to go ahead with a defence splitting run down the left flank that had Tuquiri score the easiest of tries. Fullback Rogers missed the conversion attempt.
While the Sharks looked good in securing quick ball from set phases, they were woefully weak against the speedy counter attacks of the Waratahs and from the second of these in the space of 14 minutes, Tuquiri was in for a second gift try with Rogers again off target. But those 10 early points were going to be hard to match.
A penalty by Butch James relieved the pressure (10-3) but a second attempt from further out sailed wide of the target.
However, in the 24th minute there was a sign of a Sharks revival as the forwards, always competitive, won the ball in midfield and the terrier-like Russell was given a chance to run down the right wing from his fullback berth. And he made the most of it with another great try by the little man with James converting and levelling the scores at ten a piece.
Suddenly the Sharks were revitalised and the Warratahs were swamped by an avalanche of black and grey jerseys before conceding a desperate defending penalty. James obliged and the Natalians were in front.
Rogers found his kicking boots with an easy penalty to make it 13-13 with three minutes of the half-remaining. Then a silly error by the Sharks gave Rogers another chance after the hooter had sounded for the Warratahs to lead by three with the second half to come.
A third Rogers penalty immediately after the resumption had the Sharks on the back foot again They responded with some pacy attacks as the fitness equation came into play, but were undone when a forward pass was missed by referee Lyndon Bray of New Zealand and Rogers was gifted with a try that was never on. He then converted to rub salt into the wounds.
Finally the deciding blow came when centre Shaun Berne, taking advantage of another error, burst through for the deciding bonus point try.
Scorers
Waratahs: 36 (16): Tries: Lote Tuquiri (2), Matt Rogers, Shaun Berne. Conversions: Matt Rogers (2) Penalties: Matt Rogers (4)
Sharks: 13 (13): Tries:: Brent Russell, Conversions: Butch James (1), Penalties: Butch James (2)