Scarlets vs Sharks

2023 - 3 - 25

Post cover — Image courtesy of "WalesOnline"

Costelow, Evans and Williams shine as Scarlets beat Springbok ... (WalesOnline)

Two tries from Steff Evans and the unerring boot of Sam Costelow helped the Scarlets to a crucial win over a Springbok-laden Sharks side in Llanelli.

Getting outside the Sharks defence to break from their own half off first-phase, fly-half Costelow took offload back from Sam Lousi before floating a pass out to Vaea Fifita. A slew of penalties conceded across their back-row kept the Sharks in striking distance. It's a worrying one, too. The Scarlets started strongly, with Johnny Williams - making his first start since October - continually proving difficult for the Sharks' midfield to stop. Sharks try to run it from their own half and Macleod appears to gets over the ball well to win a penalty. However, the penalty goes against the Scarlets - moving the Sharks up into the Scarlets' 22. From the lineout, the Scarlets overplay and give away the interception. Another penalty from Costelow and the Scarlets are moving away from the Sharks here. Sharks win the penalty at the scrum and Bosch nails one from out wide. Sharks try to get a little expansive in their own half, going out the back before trying a kick-pass to the wing. From the penalty, the Sharks go to the corner and once again drive over the line. Two tries from Steff Evans and the unerring boot of Sam Costelow helped the Scarlets to a crucial win over a Springbok-laden Sharks side in Llanelli.

Sharks suffer third straight URC loss after scrappy defeat to Scarlets (News24)

A full-strength Sharks came unstuck in Wales, suffering a third defeat on the bounce in the competition, after losing 32-20 to a Scarlets side that brought ...

Irish referee Eoghan Cross was unforgiving on their ill-discipline, leading to Castelow nailing a 6th and killer penalty to make it 32-20 with four to go. Their rotation policy between the URC and Champions Cup has been nothing short of disastrous. The two-month break some of their biggest stars such as Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth enjoyed seemed to cause them to take steps backwards.

Scarlets vs Sharks: URC LIVE scores (The South African)

Scarlets vs Sharks: URC LIVE scores from 19:00 on Saturday 25 March 2023 at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli.

Scarlets punish poor Sharks (SARugbymag)

Scarlets flyhalf Sam Costelow punished an ill-disciplined performance from a Springbok-powered Sharks with a perfect day off the kicking tee steering the ...

The visitors could only muster up two maul tries from close range, as they struggled to put anything together among their backs. Aside from brief periods in each half, the Sharks never looked like winning the match, as many of the returning Springboks struggled to shake off the rust and made plenty of errors on attack and defence. The 22-year-old Costelow converted all of his eight attempts at goal for a haul of 22 points as the Scarlets claimed a 32-20 victory over a Sharks side that had welcomed a plethora of Springboks back from a training camp.

Evans and Costelow help Scarlets stun Sharks (BBC Sport)

Scarlets celebrate a famous United Rugby Championship (URC) win against a strong Sharks side in Llanelli.

I'm just glad I'm back in a Scarlets shirt. We're looking to kick on with Europe next week. "I don't really think about a Wales recall. It's my second game back after a tough injury with my calf that I really struggled with. It's amazing to be back out here. It's our last home game in the URC so it's good to send it off like that."

Scarlets down the Sharks despite the latter having their Boks back (TimesLIVE)

They have assembled Galacticos but disconcertingly, the players that make up the Sharks appear galaxies apart.

Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2). Penalties: Bosch (2) Penalties: Costelow (6). Conversions: Sam Costelow (2). The Sharks were starting to get a foothold in the set pieces but they still lacked rhythm in their attack. They then held on for the win.

Scarlets produce another shock as Sharks fluff their lines | SuperSport (SuperSport)

The Scarlets continued to build on the momentum that started to turn their way when they beat the Vodacom Bulls two months ago as they shocked the Cell C ...

It was indeed the Scarlets’ indiscipline that let the Sharks back into the game, and also the Sharks’ improved scrumming towards the end of the half after an iffish start. Costello stretched the score to 26-10 before Bongi Mbonambi touched down the second Sharks driving maul try in the 59th minute to give the Durban team some hope. The energy was suddenly well and truly with Scarlets again, even though they continued to give away enough penalties to merit at least one yellow card. At that point their 7-0 lead was nothing less than the hosts deserved as the Sharks were slow out of the starting blocks. Perhaps, for something similar was said about the Sharks’ tactical ineptitude when they made a plethora of poor decisions when they were playing 15 against the 13 when chasing the game in the last 10 minutes of the Stormers game before this. John Plumtree, who is being lined up to take over the coaching reins next season, will tell you about the day his Currie Cup team was shocked by the Cheetahs in a semifinal back in 2009 when he selected too many returning Springboks at once into his starting team.

Springboks-laden Sharks toothless in humiliating URC loss to Scarlets (Independent Online)

Despite naming a side packed with Springboks, the Sharks were toothless in Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash against Scarlets.

Penalties: Bosch (2). Scarlets 32 — Tries: Steff Evans (2). Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2).

Scarlets down the Sharks despite the latter having their Boks back (SowetanLIVE)

Johnny Williams of Scarlets during the United Rugby Championship match against Sharks at Parc y Scarlets on March 25, 2023 in Llanelli, Wales. Image: Chris ...

Penalties: Bosch (2) Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2). Penalties: Costelow (6).

Scarlets vs Sharks

Explore the last week