Dawn Dunn on the Sharks' devastating defeat
I am quite heartbroken while writing this blog. The Sharks are probably the first defending Currie Cup Champions who do not get to defend their title in a final. By the way, the last time the Sharks did not qualify for a home semi-final was 2006.
I was concerned and worried at the media briefing and I mentioned it to Tera and Novash. I felt that the coaching team were judging the Lions based on the last match we played and won against them, and this, to me was very dangerous. Lions have been extremely difficult to beat at Ellis Park and I knew that they would throw the kitchen sink at the boys.
The Lions just hammered the boys. They re-gathered every single re-start in the first half and turned it immediately into pressure and points. Before we knew it, we were behind 11-3, 20 minutes in. It just got progressively worse after that. Our defence resembled Swiss cheese. We were absolutely dreadful and conceded 20 points by the second half.
You cannot, under any circumstances, concede that many points in the first half and expect to have a chance. The boys were dominated in every aspect of play. They were absolutely smashed in the scrums. I was mortified and embarrassed by the first half performance (if you can call it that).
Sharks played a lot better in the second half with Mvovo, Tera and SP going over for tries. They came close to catching up, but then Boshoff slotted in a pen and put the win beyond reach, eight minutes before the end. After that, the boys gave up and the Lions took full advantage and scored two more tries. It was a devastating defeat with the Lions running rampant and scoring a total of six tries!
The Sharks' coaching team and players have the best facilities in the country. The Sharks' supporters are owed an explanation about this dreadful season and nightmare performance. Tough questions will and must be asked of our Sharks' coaches. To win Currie Cup in 2013 and not be able to go through to a final to defend this title is unacceptable and I will NOT stand for it!
We were quite simply, out-played and out-classed. The Lions coaches and squad team must all take a bow, as they were outstanding. It definitely was a performance of men against boys. #Gutted
Final score: Golden Lions 50 - Sharks 20