Despite a strong showing and territorial and processional advantage, the Cell C Sharks went down 38-13 to the Brumbies in Saturday’s final Vodacom Super Rugby quarter-final.
They team showed great presence on attack, kept the ball through multi-phase attacks and played with determination, but ultimately the Brumbies showed what a dangerous side they are to come away with the victory.
Approaching freezing point, Canberra can be an inhospitable place to tour, with a partisan and vociferous crowd that shows hostility to visiting teams and as early as the first minute there was shock as the Brumbies regained possession from a 22m clearance before sniping inside the centre of the field for a big strike.
Two patient build-ups with some lovely continuity had the Brumbies on the back foot before they conceded a penalty that Curwin Bosch converted from the halfway line to the boos of the crowd.
But the home side showed why they’re one of the top teams for scoring off first phase play, attacking off a lineout on the halfway line and two passes later they were over for their second try inside the opening 10 minutes. The touchline conversion took the Brumbies into a 14-3 lead.
There was further disappointment for the Cell C Sharks as top try scorer of the season Daniel du Preez had to leave the field injured on the quarter hour as Bosch added a further three points with the boot after the Brumbies were penalised for a high tackle.
The industrious Tyler Paul left the field moments later clutching his upper chest before the Brumbies struck another blow on the scoreboard, converting a penalty from right in front.
The Brumbies continued to show why they are Australia’s best team in the competition, particularly their pack which managed to drive the ball over the tryline with a rolling maul off an attacking lineout and together with the touchline conversion, extending their lead to 24-6 after 25 minutes.
The Cell C Sharks then took the ball through 14 phases in a welcome but rare opportunity on attack before the Brumbies defence managed to secure what was remarkably the first scrum of the game on the half hour.
The Brumbies managed to thwart a late penalty that Bosch kicked to the corner to set up an attacking lineout, but the defence was up to the task to hold off from conceding any further points.
With the Brumbies up 24-6 at the half-time break, there was a huge task that lay ahead for the Cell C Sharks, but neither side was able to add to their first half scores in a tentative third quarter although we probably applied greater pressure during that period.
It was the big runner Andre Esterhuizen who finally broke the deadlock, his ninth career try in Super Rugby coming from a strong effort from the rolling maul before the strong centre bust through tackles and somehow managed to remain on his feet to work his way over the tryline for the first converted try to haul in the Brumbies’ lead.
Going into the final 10 minutes of the game, the Cell C Sharks had enjoyed 83% possession and territorial advantage in the second half, but the Brumbies’ defence had been up to the task in countering our relentless smashing the ball up.
Showing how dangerous they are despite just 31% possession in the game, a quick pick and run through the front row defence led to a fourth Brumbies try under the sticks and with it, sadly the result, the 18 point lead a bridge too far to cross in the few remaining minutes.
With 30 seconds remaining, the Brumbies struck again in the midfield, an inside pass which had proved successful numerous times, led to a fifth try, the extra two from right in front securing a trip to Argentina to take on the Jaguares in next week’s semi-finals.
Cell C Sharks captain Louis Schreuder said afterwards, “I think we did well to come back, but we lost it to two quick tries in the end, so we’re very disappointed with the loss.
“We knew they would come at us early and put pressure on us and they managed it with the two early tries.
“From our stand, it wasn’t a good enough season, we didn’t win enough games at home and we would like to improve on this season.”
The post A Bridge Too Far appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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