Reflecting on the Cell C Sharks’ 22-all Vodacom United Rugby Championship draw with Munster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell pointed out that it had been a game of two halves
He lamented the start to the second half from his team which saw the visiting Irish side haul in a sizable lead they had conceded in the first stanza and then close out the game in dramatic style.
Having enjoyed a rather substantial lead at the break, the Cell C Sharks witnessed Munster coming back strongly in the second half to snatch what was an unlikely draw after finding themselves 19-3 down at the conclusion of an epic first half.
“Looking back at the game, when we were so in control at half-time, we just didn’t respect the game enough in the first 10, 15 minutes of the second half, that’s basically where it went wrong,” Powell admitted after the match.
“Munster started to get momentum and belief that they could get back into the game and we weren’t clinical enough in that first part of the second half to put them away.”
Although the Cell C Sharks finished the pool stages in eighth spot and secured a place in the URC quarter-finals, they sadly lose out to a place in the Heineken Champions Cup tournament to 10th placed Cardiff who won the Welsh Shield.
“We had to beat Munster to give ourselves a chance and it is certainly disappointing that we miss out.
“There were certain focus areas in preparation for this game where we took a massive step up, a lot of things the guys did well. There was a huge effort, defensively they worked hard, committed to the system, so it’s unfortunate that we didn’t get a better result from this game.”
Losing captain Siya Kolisi was a huge blow so early in the game and Powell admitted that, “We have enough quality players to stand in for him, but he is a really good player and it was unfortunate to lose him when we did. He is an influential leader and player.”
The draw has determined that the Cell C Sharks will meet top-placed Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on 6 May. Leinster return home following a 62-7 loss to the Vodacom Bulls, but will be a different prospect in Ireland in two weeks’ time.
“Leinster are a quality side who play a good brand of rugby and to beat them at their home is going to be a massive challenge,” Powell admitted.
“But in the first 40 minutes of the game [against Munster], we showed glimpses of what this team is capable of: they were really good, really clinical and if we put an 80 minute performance like that together, then we give ourselves an opportunity to go away and beat a quality side like Leinster.
“The Bulls showed that when they beat them last year in the semi-final; it’s not going to be easy, but it is possible.”