Springboks-laden Sharks avoid Exeter slip after three late yellows while Clermont manhandle Benetton
A Sharks side that had three yellow cards in the last 20 minutes managed a 39-21 bonus point win over Exeter Chiefs in a frenetic Investec Champions Cup clash.
It was an absolute try fest in Durban with a whopping eight tries on the day. Five of those went to the hosts with Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi leading the way with a brace while Makazole Mapimpi, Phepsi Buthelezi and Grant Williams.
Jordan Hendrikse who started at fly-half and moved to full-back later on had much kicking practice with four conversions and two penalties.
The brave Exeter side showed tremendous passion and resilience with Dan Frost scoring a brace in the first half to keep them in the clash while Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored off a delightful cross kick. Full-back Josh Hodge was brilliant with his kicking off the tee nailing all three conversions.
Ultimately the Sharks’ Springboks were the difference on the day and Exeter will be proud of their scrum in particular despite not bagging the result.
Benetton blank against a strong Clermont side
While the Durban clash was loaded with tries from either side it was not the same story in France where hosts Clermont muscled Benetton out of the game.
The Top14 side ran in four tries to the nill of Benetton with Peceli Yato and Barnabe Massa both scoring braces. Massa’s brace was scored in a seven-minute span just before half-time while Yato scored the first and last try of the game.
Meanwhile, Argentine Benjamin Urdapilleta kept it clean off the tee with a perfect four conversions for his side.
It certainly was not the start Benetton were looking for after their best-ever finish in Europe last season.
The teams
Sharks v Exeter
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Francois Venter
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Ben Hammersley, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Tommy Wyatt, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Stu Townsend, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Jacques Vermeulen (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Franco Molina, 4 Richard Capstick, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Will Becconsall, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Will Rigg
