• Fixtures
• Results

Pienaar boots Sharks to win in thriller

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:38

Match winner: Ruan Pienaar kicked the winning penalty for the Sharks

Scrumhalf-cum-flyhalf Ruan Pienaar kicked a long range penalty in injury-time to give the Sharks a dramatic 29-26 Super 14 victory over the Hurricanes in Wellington  on Saturday.

The win by the Sharks over the Hurricanes at Wellington's Cake Tin came after the men from Durban had lost their first five matches of the Super 14 season.

For the Hurricanes it was their fourth straight loss to South African teams - following defeats against the Cheetahs, Stormers, Bulls (all on SA soil) and now the Sharks.

Anybody watching the match can be excused for not having any fingernails left after an incredibly tight finish to what was a very physical clash, with numerous big hits and heavy collisions.

Both teams opted to play an exciting running game with far less kicking than we have become accustomed to and the tackle count from both sides will be very high as the defensive lines were continually tested.

In the first half the Sharks were playing the majority of the rugby and held a 13-6 lead going into the break, and might have been annoyed with themselves for not converting more of their territory and possession into points, although the defence for the Hurricanes was impressive as they absorbed a lot of sustained pressure.

The big change at half time was when the Hurricanes changed both of their halfbacks and brought on Piri Weepu and Aaron Cruden who injected oodles of much needed energy and life into the home sides attacking momentum, as Cruden looked dangerous every time he touched the ball, beating the first tackler on a number of occasions and getting his arms through the tackle to release the supporting runners.

It was a game that ebbed-and-flowed, producing two tries each, but the Sharks should be applauded for their staunch defence - with the Hurricanes having to wait until the 70th minute before finding a way through the visitors' defensive line to get over the tryline.

With time running out it seemed headed for a draw as both sides went in search of a late win and then came the all important penalty, that Pienaar stepped up confidently to seal a well earned triumph for the Sharks.

The Sharks had an early opportunity to get on the score sheet in the second minute through a Pienaar penalty as the Canes collapsed a rolling maul after a missed drop-goal from Andy Goode. Pienaar's kick went wide, but that was the last one he would miss in the match.

Good sustained pressure from the Sharks going through a number of phases led to a first Super 14 try for rookie fullback Patrick Lambie. Conrad Smith was pinged for not rolling away and Pienaar took a quick-tap in side the 22, where Alberts nearly got over and Pienaar passed out to Jacques Botes to Lambie who was unmarked on the touchline to go over after just six minutes. Pienaar curls the kick in well this time (0-7).

Obstruction from the next kick-off by Bismarck du Plessis after Ryan Kankowski took the ball in and Willie Ripia added three points from 45 metres out (3-7).

Good attack from the 'Canes when Cory Jane took a high ball and then Ripia made good run, followed by a drive from Jeremy Thrush and then Jacob Ellison lost the ball two metres from the line and the chance was gone.

From three consecutive penalties the Sharks tried to set up the rolling maul, three times without managing to get points on the board and could have rued that lost opportunity.

There was then a long period where the Sharks had all the possession and couldn't put points on the board as the Hurricanes defended manfully in their own half.

The Hurricanes kept the ball in hand and patiently recycled the ball with some good cleaning out, until the Sharks made an error as Willem Alberts didn't roll away and Ripia put over a penalty from bang in front to make it 6-7 after 36 minutes.

A minute later Neemia Tialata does the same offence from the kick-off [not rolling away] and Pienaar was happy to reply with a penalty of his own. (6-10)

On the half time hooter Tyson Keats doesn't release in the tackle just outside his 22 and Pienaar obliges his captain wishes by adding three more points to extend the lead going into the break. (6-13)

Second half and Swanepoel took the ball up and was turned in the tackle brilliantly by Ma'a Nonu and the Sharks centre didn't make the ball available. Weepu puts the kick through the uprights. (9-13)

The Hurricanes have made some inroads in with sustained pressure and good ball skills from Conrad Smith in particular and Botes plays the ball with his boot from inside a ruck to allow Weepu to add another penalty and make it a one point ball game with 26 minutes to play (12-13).

There was a 30 metre rolling maul from the Sharks before the ball came out to JP Pietersen, who run through stepping past a defender and almost got over the line but for a great tackle by Weepu.

The Sharks attacked with a run from deep by Pietersen and there was lazy running by a tired looking Tialata who is caught offside. The penalty is right in front on the 22 and Pienaar says thank you very much (12-16).

From the resulting kick-off Stefan Terblanche ran the ball down the right hand touchline and exceptional support play by Rory Kockott, Botes and finally Pietersen who crosses for a top class try in the 67th minute and Pienaar added the extra two (12-23).

From a Hurricanes 5 metre scrum, they earned a penalty when Tendai Mtawarira went down. A quick tap by Weepu and through the hands to Aaron Cruden and Nonu ran in for a try in the 70th minute with nobody touching him. Weepu makes it only a four point margin with nine min to play. (19-23).

The Hurricanes look to attack from deep to get their noses in front and Cruden chips onto and tackles him but doesn't release in the tackle in a desperate attempt to get the ball back. From 30 metres out Pienaar gave the Sharks some breathing space and a seven point lead (19-26).

The Hurricanes decided to go for an attacking scrum and keep the ball in hand and going through a few phases before the ball came out to Victor Vito, who slid over for the try. A pressure conversion attempt for Weepu who tied the game up with three minutes left on the clock (26-26).

In the final minute both teams desperately searched for victory, and Cruden held onto the ball on the ground after being tackled by Mtawarira. Penalty on the halfway line as the siren sounded while Pienaar was lining up his kick. The kick had the legs and crept over the crossbar for one of the most dramatic victories you will ever see. Amazing BMT from Pienaar to win the game for the Sharks (26-29).

A thrilling match that could indicate a change in the luck for the Sharks who have started to play a much better brand of rugby, and silence their critics from the first few rounds of the competition.

Man of the match: For the Hurricanes the work rate by Victor Vito with one eye almost swollen shut was good and Aaron Cruden and Piri Weepu made a big difference after coming on in the second half. It was no accident that the Sharks got John Smit back on the park when it was suddenly close in the dying stages, with another big effort by the big man. The number of tackles made by Jacques Botes, who was everywhere, made him a stand out performer. But it is the much more confident looking Ruan Pienaar who wins our man of the match for his sniping breaks, crisp passing and fantastic goal kicking under pressure.

The scorers:

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Nonu, Vito
Cons: Weepu 2
Pens: Ripia 2, Weepu 2

For the Sharks:
Tries: Lambie, Pietersen
Cons: Pienaar 2
Pens: Pienaar 5

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Andre Taylor, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Bryn Evans, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 David Smith.

The Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Stefan Terblanche, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 John Smit (captain).
Replacements: 16 Tendai Mtawarira, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Waylon Murray, 22 Odwa Ndungane.

Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

By Timmy Hancox

Contact Us | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Advertising

This site requires cookies to be enabled!

Send Feedback on Rugby365!

News | Tournaments | SA Schools

Copyright © 2009 Primedia Online. All rights reserved. Developed by Primedia Online