The United Rugby Championship is an international club rugby union competition featuring clubs from the east coast of North America, South Africa and Europe. It comes as a result of controversy in the Super Rugby tournament which has left many fans dissatisfied with their teams’ performance.
The “kings park stadium” is a rugby stadium located in Auckland, New Zealand. It has been the home of the Auckland Blues since they were formed in 2010. The “United Rugby Championship: Sharks 51”.
Highlights from the United Rugby Championship: Sharks 51-3 Dragons
| Sharks (23 points) 51 |
| Mbonambi, Nch, Kok, Volmink, Penalty Try 2 Cons: Bosch 3 Pens: Bosch 4 Pens: Bosch 3 Pens: Bosch 3 Pens: Bosch |
| (3) 3 Dragons |
| Lewis’s pen |
On a challenging night against Sharks, Dragons lost their second consecutive match in South Africa, with Ross Moriarty suffering a catastrophic injury.
Until Moriarty was taken off in significant discomfort during the first half, the Dragons were more than holding their own.
Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche scored tries for the Sharks before Werner Kok scored a magnificent solo try, two penalty tries, and Anthony Volmink’s goal completed a bonus point win.
It was a humiliating evening for Dragons, who had three players yellow carded and were coming off a 55-20 loss to Bulls the week before.
Moriarty was one of nine changes to the Dragons’ lineup after their loss at Loftus Versfeld.
The triumph was the ideal answer for Sharks following their earlier loss to Edinburgh, who made history by being the first northern hemisphere team to win a United Rugby Championship game in South Africa.
Sharks took a 6-0 lead thanks to two penalties from Curwin Bosch, but Dragons answered with a penalty from Josh Lewis.
The Dragons were handed a major setback when Moriarty sustained what seemed to be a catastrophic knee injury. Another Bosch penalty restored the home side’s six-point lead.
The back row seemed to be in a lot of pain as he was treated for a long time before being removed off the field.
At Kings Park, Dragons back rower Ross Moriarty is carried off the field.
Soon after Moriarty’s departure, the Sharks’ forwards showed their might, as prop Nche scored the game’s first try from close range.
Within three minutes, the Sharks had scored their second try, with South African hooker Mbonambi scoring after a driving maul, and Bosch converting.
Kok scored a superb third try for the Sharks, aided by some dubious Dragons defence.
Before the Sharks scored a bonus point, Bosch’s conversion put the hosts ahead 30 points.
After an intentional knock on by fly-half Lewis was ruled to have unlawfully halted a try, they were granted a penalty try. Lewis was yellow carded for his conduct.
With scrum-half Lewis Jones also receiving a yellow card for an intentional knock on, the Dragons were down to 14 men, and the Sharks were granted a second penalty try.
Sharks made good use of their numerical advantage, with full-back Volmink punishing the Welsh side by sprinting in for a try, which Bosch converted.
They should have scored another try, but Nche’s knock on thwarted a promising play started by Bosch’s chip kick.
The Dragons struggled to get inside the Sharks’ 22, particularly in the second half, and Ben Fry’s late yellow card – their third of the night – summed up their performance.
Sharks: Anthony Volmink; Werner Kok, Ben Tapuai, Jeremy Ward, Makazole Mapimpi; Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit (capt), Le Roux Roets, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter, Jeandre Labushagne, Phepsi Buthelezi; Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche
Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Khutha Mchunu, Reniel Hugo, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Siya Kolisi, Grant Williams, Boeta Chamberlain, Reniel Hugo, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Siya Kolisi, Grant Williams, Boeta Chamberlain
Ioan Davies; Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Jack Dixon, Jordan Olowofela; Josh Lewis, Rhodri Williams; Greg Bateman, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Joe Davies, Will Rowlands, Harri Keddie (capt), Ben Fry, Ross Moriarty; Greg Bateman, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Joe Davies, Will Rowlands, Harri Keddie (capt), Ben Fry, Ross Moriarty;
Taylor Davies, Aki Seiuli, Mesake Doge, Huw Taylor, Taine Basham, Lewis Jones, Will Reed, Jordan Williams, Taylor Davies, Aki Seiuli, Mesake Doge, Huw Taylor, Taine Basham, Lewis Jones, Will Reed, Jordan Williams
Ben Blain is the official referee (SRU)
Assistants: Cwengile Jadezweni & Morné Ferreira (SARU)
Marius van der Westhuizen, TMO (SARU)
