HOLLYWOODBETS Sharks players will have to ask themselves some questions after playing two different halves and consequently losing to Connacht to exit the Challenge Cup on Friday night.
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If ever there was a “game of two halves”, this was it as the Sharks crashed out of the Challenge Cup after dominating Connacht for 40 minutes and then sinking without trace in the second stanza.
The 29-12 defeat means the Sharks’ focus shifts entirely now to their last four matches in the United Rugby Championship. They simply have to win all four to have a chance of qualifying for the playoffs by making it into the top eight.
A place in the URC quarterfinals would save their season because it would mean Champions Cup participation next season.
Coach JP Pietersen was crestfallen after his team had led 12-7 at halftime, only to go scoreless in the second half while conceding 29 points.
“We are obviously disappointed with how we finished the second half,” he said.
“We set ourselves up well in the first half. We dominated territory and possession, and to go into the break 12-7 up gives you a lot of confidence going into the second half.
“But in the second half, a lack of concentration and a bit of ill-discipline let us down. We gave away penalties, they kicked into the corners, put us under pressure, and took their opportunities when they came into our 22.”
Connacht had been lucky to have seven points at the break —they had scored an against-the-run-of-play try — but their second-half tries via centre Cathal Forde (2) and flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton were well worked.
“At half-time you always feel like you’re one score away from putting yourself in a strong position, but they had defended well to keep the score down,” Pietersen said. “So yes, it’s a disappointing feeling.”
Going forward, Pietersen said the Sharks will look to build on that commanding first half. They completely outplayed Connacht, with Eben Etzebeth leading from the front in his comeback match. He had a busy performance and showed little rust from his 12-match absence.
“There are a lot of positives we can take into the last four URC games,” he said. “We played the conditions well in that first half and won territory.
“And even at the end of the game, it showed we didn’t give up. We could have easily lost by 50 points with the possession Connacht had in the second half, but we stayed in the fight until the last minute.
“That shows there’s grit in the group and there’s fight, which is something we can build on.”
Pietersen took a squad to Galway that was heavily hit by injuries. He is likely to get reinforcements for the Sharks' next fixture, an away game against the Ospreys on April 18.
They are also away to Edinburgh the following week before finishing with home matches against Benetton (May 9) and Zebre (May 16).
“Going forward, we just want to put a collective 80-minute performance together,” Pietersen said. “That’s what we’ve been asking for – consistency and an 80-minute performance. We haven’t had that this season; it’s been very up and down.
“We’ve got a couple of injuries, so we’ll reassess, make a plan, hopefully get some players back, and then go again for the last four games.
“It’s an opportunity for us to get 20 log points from those four games and possibly set ourselves up for a top-eight finish.”
Scorers
Connacht — Tries: Chay Mullins, Cathal Forde (2), Shamus Hurley-Langton. Conversions: Sam Gilbert (3). Penalty: Gilbert.
Sharks — Penalties: Jean Smith (4).