As we look ahead to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship season that kicks off in a little over two weeks’ time, looking back at some of the exciting matches and accomplishments adds to the levels of anticipation for what the next campaign promises.
Although the Hollywoodbets Sharks were knocked out in the semi-finals, it was their finest season to date.
A third-placed finish on the overall log after 18 gruelling rounds gave the Durban side their first-ever home knock-out match in the history of the competition, hosting Munster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park and after a tight match, the game went into extra-time, scores remained level and it was left to a penalty shoot-out which was won by the home side to the disappointment of the visiting Irish side.
With four wins in six fixtures over local opposition, the Hollywoodbets Sharks also claimed the SA Shield title, taking 19 points off the DHL Stormers (2nd), the Vodacom Bulls (3rd) and the Emirates Lions (4th).
Losing once to the Emirates Lions and once to the DHL Stormers, they captured home and away victories over the old foe, the Vodacom Bulls in Durban and Pretoria.
The season’s success was also underlined by a full-house of victories over both of the participating Scottish, and all four of the Welsh sides.
Home (Glasgow Warriors) and away victories (Edinburgh) achieved the double over the Scots, while they saw off the challenges of the Dragons (33-30) and Cardiff (42-22), both away, and Ospreys (29-10) and Scarlets (12-3) at home.
It was also a season that heralded victories over the former tournament winners, as they dispatched the DHL Stormers (2021/22 champions), Munster (2022/23) and Glasgow Warriors (2023/24).
The respective 21-15, 41-24, 28-24 victories came in successive matches which underlined the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ competitiveness in the competition and gave them the self-belief that would take them all the way to the semi-finals.
Those matches were won at Hollywoodbets Kings Park which became a fortress that visiting opponents came to respect, even fear. Home ground advantage is no fairytale fantasy and the Hollywoodbets Sharks used this to great effect over the course of the season.
In eight pool matches and the quarter-final against Munster, there were eight victories and just one loss, a 10-7 reverse to eventual champions Leinster in late March.
No doubt they will look to ensure another 90% success rate, possibly even better, in the 2025/26 season.
