Sharks vs Leinster

All the action, as it happened, from the RDS, where Leinster saw off the Sharks in a humdinger of a United Rugby Championship encounter.

Eight tries for Leinster in what was a thrilling spectacle at the RDS, although the home side's coaches may beg to differ. Sexton misses his first conversion attempt of the game. He's just seen red for a violent shoulder to the jaw to Byrne, but he also overstepped the mark with a challenge on Ringrose. Meanwhile, Leo the Lion is banging his drum in an attempt to rouse the fans. 52 mins The excellent Van Rensburg breaks through the middle before finding Fassi with a pass, but it's one he bungles. Two tap-and-gos later and Porter crashes over the line following a number of patient phases. 42 mins Leinster start well with a turnover and Sexton offloads to the pacey Russel. A thriller at the RDS. Abrahams and Fassi combine, with Kok released and he saunters over the tryline. 19 mins Leinster go to ground in a promising position deep in their opponent's half, with Jenkins flopping in the ball. The Sharks conceded a penalty and it's the South Africa Jenkins who crashes over for the home side's first try. Sexton starts for Leinster and captains the side, but we've a late change.

The scoreline won't reflect it but the Sharks were well in this entertaining, blow-for-blow URC clash at the RDS Arena before they completely disintegrated ...

The Sharks weren't done. But that was as good as it got for South Africans, whose run of no losses to European teams in the first three URC rounds came to a crashing halt. Ladies & Gentlemen, we have a try of the SEASON contender ??— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) But again, the Sharks hit back with a first-phase move from the first scrum of the game, which saw Ben Tapuai, Boeta Chamberlain, Thaakir Abrahams and Fassi playing a role in getting Werner Kok in at the righthand corner. Unfortunately, rugby is an 80-minute game and the Sharks learnt a harsh lesson about playing and defending for the full course after the home side scored four of their eight tries in the final 20 minutes to take the game completely away from the Durbanites. But the Springbok quickly let himself down again when he let Garry Ringrose get through him in the tackle in a move that led to Leinster's second try, scored by the Irish international centre.

James Venter and Dylan Richardson, both traditionally openside flanks, will continue to play in tandem in a mobile loose trio that sees Springbok Sikhumbuzo ...

“So we need to get consistency in both of those areas. Last weekend our defence was good but the attack was poor. The amount of work that Dylan and James gets through stands us in good stead. He’s good on the ground too,” Everitt said. We’re under no false illusions, but teams have beaten Leinster and “But they do concede turnovers, and if we defend well then that could be a source of attacking possession for us.

The match report from the RDS as Leinster beat the Cell C Sharks 54-34 in the United Rugby Championship on 8 October 2022.

There was almost another breakthrough when Leinster came calling through Ringrose. Then, van Rensburg was red carded for a high hit on Ross Byrne in what was a signal for John McKee to break away from a maul for the eighth try. It wasn’t long before they were back on the attack, the forwards peppering in carries and replacement scrum-half Foley whipping the ball away for Russell to pounce on the right to set up another Sexton conversion for 42-27 in the 67th minute. A wayward clearance by Grant Williams invited Leinster’s maul to march forward. The big Sharks forwards were making ground on every carry and Rohan Janse van Rensburg’s surge created the space for Abrahams to scoot in for 20-14 in the 35th minute. Sexton’s timing of the pass was matched by the footwork and acceleration of Garry Ringrose, just on for Larmour, for their second try, Sexton’s conversion making it 14-10 in the 27th minute.

Johnny Sexton celebrates his try. Image: Dan Sheridan/INPHO. Leinster 54. Cell C Sharks 34. THEY MAY HAVE left their Springboks at home but the Sharks ...

Cormac Foley stepped in and flicked a superb pass wide to Rob Russell, who marked his first start at the RDS with his first try for the province. Having provided a number of brilliant moments to tee up his teammates, the captain then decided to get in on the action himself. Evans gave the decision in the Sharks’ favour, Chamberlain converted and it was a one-point game. Both players dived at the ball, and both appeared to get a hand on it. Leinster still found time to reply before the break, with Robbie Henshaw swinging a perfect kick out to tee up Ringrose for his second try of the game. Chasing a kick on the right touchline, Baird was caught in the air by Abrahams as the Leinster flanker jumped to claim the ball. A penalty followed, Sheehan stuck it up the jumper, and after a bit of huffing and puffing Andrew Porter eventually squeezed over for the bonus point try. Working off first phase from a Sharks scrum, the South African side creating an overlap and moved the ball wide at speed as Leinster were sucked infield, with Werner Kok darting over in the corner unchallenged. With their tails up, they were now playing all the rugby and they soon extended their lead. It was an outstanding try from a team that had looked a little out of sync in the early stages. Boeta Chamberlain converted and with 10 minutes in the clock, the game was level. Sexton added the extras and Leinster were up and running.

Despite snapping at the heels of their opponents for the majority of their Vodacom United Rugby clash on Saturday, the Sharks suffered their first campaign ...

[October 8, 2022]

Irish powerhouse Leinster proved to be too strong, handing the Cell C Sharks, and South African teams their first loss in the Vodacom United Rugby ...

The Sharks played their part in a scintillating 13-try United Rugby Championship tussle which Leinster clinically closed out for a 54-34...

Henshaw scored from Charlie Ngatai’s clever kick and [Cormac Foley](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/cormac-foley/) set up Russell for his first provincial try. [Ryan Baird](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ryan-baird/) to a worrying head injury. [Ben Tapuai](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ben-tapuai/) and [Boeta Chamberlain](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/boeta-chamberlain/) sent Fassi knifing through in the ninth minute, with Chamberlain’s conversion levelling it. [Rohan Janse van Rensburg](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/rohan-janse-van-rensburg/) then sent Abrahams over. [Andrew Porter](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-porter/), [Robbie Henshaw](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/robbie-henshaw/), [Rob Russell](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/rob-russell/), captain [Johnny Sexton](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/johnny-sexton/) – who converted all bar one of the eight tries – and John McKee all crossing after the break. [Rhys Ruddock](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/rhys-ruddock/), a late replacement himself, forced a reshuffle. [Sharks](https://www.rugbypass.com/teams/sharks/) played their part in a scintillating 13-try United [Rugby Championship](https://www.rugbypass.com/the-rugby-championship/) tussle which [Leinster](https://www.rugbypass.com/teams/leinster/) clinically closed out for a 54-34 bonus-point win at the RDS. [Aphelele Fassi](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/aphelele-fassi/) traded early seven-pointers and the South Africans surged thanks to back-to-back efforts from Werner Kok and Thaakir Abrahams. Henshaw’s deft kick out to the right saw Ringrose complete his brace in the 37th minute, the conversion from Sexton giving Leinster a one-point interval lead. [1 Crusaders rival on how much chat Dane Coles dishes out](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/quite-a-bit-crusaders-rival-on-how-much-chat-dane-coles-dishes-out/) [2 Owen Farrell is 'the best rugby league player'](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/owen-farrell-is-the-best-rugby-league-player-of-the-last-10-years/) [3 Will Skelton has his say on Kerr-Barlow's Wallabies ambition](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/will-skelton-has-his-say-on-kerr-barlow-wallabies-ambition/) [4 Stormers prop Sandi cops ban for red card hit on Jamie Ritchie](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/stormers-prop-sandi-cops-ban-for-red-card-hit-on-jamie-ritchie/) [5 Ollie Lawrence's Bath future in doubt](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ollie-lawrences-bath-future-in-doubt-after-van-graan-comments/) [More News](https://www.rugbypass.com/) Fassi and Abrahams went on to bag braces, but Leinster piled on the points, with

Leinster scored eight tries to prevail 54-34 in a back and forth tussle with the Sharks, maintaining their 100% record in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Sexton maintained his 100% record off the tee to reestablish the eight-point lead at 35-27. A thriller at the RDS. Spinning out of a tackle attempt by Fassi, Ringrose jinked back inside and sprinted towards the posts to dive over and score his side’s second try. [https://t.co/vTeSwye8Ra] [pic.twitter.com/8UmNF8AvGU] [October 8, 2022] [https://t.co/vTeSwye8Ra] [pic.twitter.com/BHLjxqUa2n] [October 8, 2022] [https://t.co/vTeSwye8Ra] [pic.twitter.com/2HduJXqYCo] [October 8, 2022] [https://t.co/CStwnXf2cB] [https://t.co/vTeSwye8Ra] [pic.twitter.com/VVXR58XJBL] [October 8, 2022] [https://t.co/vTeSwye8Ra] [pic.twitter.com/5t8TqswB2T] [October 8, 2022]

Irish powerhouse Leinster proved to be too strong, handing the Cell C Sharks, and South African teams their first loss in the Vodacom United Rugby ...