MATCH REPORT: The Sharks paid the price for sending an inferior squad to France.
A powerful Lyon Olympique Universitaire side sent the South African visitors packing, booking their place in the Challenge Cup quarterfinals with a comprehensive 34-21 drubbing at Matmut Stadium de Gerland, in Lyon, on Sunday.
The result means the 2022 champions, Lyon, march on in the competition, while 2024’s winners crash out.
* To recap the drama, CLICK HERE!
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The experience and physicality of the French team made it appear like a contest between men and boys – the Sharks fielding a number of very young and inexperienced players.
They may look at some moments and two tries in the final 10 minutes, but by then Lyon had already cleared their bench and the game was long over as a contest.
Apart from their naivety on attack, the South African visitors were undone by a significant number of turnovers (25) and missed tackles (34).
The biggest culprits were Hakeem Kunene, Yaw Penxe, Litelihle Bester, Francois Venter and Siya Masuku (turnovers), along with Penxe, Nick Hatton, Corne Rahl, Masuku, Litelihle Bester and Andre Esterhuizen the worst defenders.
It was an electric start for the visitors in Lyon, Fez Mbatha scoring in the opening five minutes to give the Sharks an early lead.
However, it wasn’t long before Lyon Olympique Universitaire found their way back into it through Alexandre Tchaptchet which, together with a Theo William cross three minutes later, secured the hosts an eight point lead.
It was a lead that kept on growing for the hosts as Yanis Charcosset and Josiah Maraku went over for two more scores before half-time.
The defending champions had it all left to do at half-time – trailing 7-27.
A slower start to proceedings was how the second half started, with both Lyon and the Sharks exchanging gains.
The home side were eventually the ones to go over first in the second period though, when Vincent Rattez’ cross put yet more distance between the two sides.
The South African visitors did get two consolations back late on through Corne Rahl and Tino Mavesere, but with the second coming in the last minute, nothing could be done to reduce the deficit.
The scorers
For Lyon
Tries: Tchaptchet, William, Charcosset, Maraku, Rattez
Cons: Berdeu 2, Meliande
Pen: Berdeu
For the Sharks
Tries: Mbatha, Rahl, Mavesere
Cons: Masuku, Smith
Teams
Lyon Olympique Universitaire: 15 Alexandre Tchaptchet, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Theo Millet, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Léo Berdeu, 9 Baptiste Couilloud, 8 Arno Botha (captain), 7 Liam Allen, 6 Dylan Cretin, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Theo William, 3 Irakli Aptsiauri, 2 Yanis Charcosset, 1 Hamza Kaabeche.
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Jérôme Rey, 18 Valentin Simutoga, 19 Killian Geraci, 20 Maxime Gouzou, 21 Charlie Cassang, 22 Martin Meliande, 23 Alfred Parisien.
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Litelihle Bester, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Mawande Madande, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Bathobelo Hlakane, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Jurenzo Julius.
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy) & Luca Bisetto (Italy)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
* Source: @ChallengeCup_
